St. Mary's County Birth Records
St. Mary's County birth records are handled by the St. Mary's County Health Department (SMCHD) in Leonardtown, where the vital records office offers same-day walk-in service for certified copies of birth certificates for anyone born in the county since 1940. The office accepts cash and credit cards, charges $25 per copy, and can often complete your request the same day you come in, as long as you bring valid photo ID and meet the eligibility requirements.
St. Mary's County Overview
St. Mary's County Health Department Vital Records
The St. Mary's County Health Department, known locally as SMCHD, is where you go to get a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in St. Mary's County. The Medical/Vital Records Program at SMCHD handles all local birth certificate requests. Walk-in service means you can come in during business hours without a scheduled appointment, and if the record is on file, you can often walk out the same day with your certified copy.
The office is at 21580 Peabody Street in Leonardtown, MD 20650. Phone is 301-475-4330. You can also email the health department at smchd.healthdept@maryland.gov for general questions before your visit. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Plan your visit with enough time to complete the process before 4:00 p.m., as the office closes at that time. Arriving early in the day gives you the best chance of a fast turnaround.
The fee for a St. Mary's County birth certificate is $25 per certified copy. Payment is accepted by cash, check (made out to "St. Mary's County Health Department"), Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. The office does not accept other forms of payment, so bring the right type when you visit. The $25 covers the cost of one certified copy. If you need more than one, each additional copy costs the same amount.
The SMCHD birth certificates page has the current requirements and instructions for requesting a St. Mary's County birth record in person.
The page above shows the current service information and requirements for getting a birth certificate at the St. Mary's County Health Department.
| Office | St. Mary's County Health Department (SMCHD) |
|---|---|
| Address | 21580 Peabody Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
| Phone | 301-475-4330 |
| smchd.healthdept@maryland.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Service | Walk-in, same-day with valid ID |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express |
| Records Available | Births from 1940 to present |
Who Can Request St. Mary's County Birth Records
Not everyone can get a certified copy of a St. Mary's County birth certificate. Maryland limits access to protect the privacy of individuals on the record. The rules at SMCHD follow the same eligibility standards used by the state Division of Vital Records.
People who qualify for same-day in-person service include: the individual requesting their own birth certificate, a parent or guardian listed on or with legal authority over the person named on the certificate, and a representative with a notarized written permission from an eligible person. If you are coming in as a representative, you must bring your own valid photo ID along with the notarized document. Foster care documents do not count as proof of court-appointed guardianship. If you have legal guardianship through a court order, bring the original order or a certified copy of it to your visit.
The ID you bring must be a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. It must show both the issue date and the expiration date. A driver's license or passport both qualify. If you do not have a photo ID that meets these requirements, same-day service may not be available. In that case, staff will mail the record to you once you provide two different documents that show your current mailing address. Acceptable alternatives include a Social Security card, a pay stub, a current car registration, a bank statement, a letter from a government agency, a lease or rental agreement, a utility bill, or an income tax return or W-2.
Note: If you are not sure whether your documents qualify, call SMCHD at 301-475-4330 or email smchd.healthdept@maryland.gov before making the trip to Leonardtown. Staff can tell you what will and will not work for your specific request.
How to Get a St. Mary's County Birth Certificate
For most people, the fastest way to get a St. Mary's County birth certificate is to visit SMCHD in Leonardtown. Walk in during business hours, bring your valid photo ID and payment, and request the record. If the birth is on file, the office can often complete the request the same day. The process is simple and does not require an appointment.
If you cannot visit the office in person, the Maryland Division of Vital Records handles mail and appointment-based requests for all Maryland birth records, including those from St. Mary's County. The state office is at 6764-B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. Appointments are required there. Call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277 to schedule. For mail requests, send your application with a check or money order made out to "Division of Vital Records," a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required fee to P.O. Box 68760, Baltimore, MD 21215-0036. The state fee for a mail order is $10 per certificate, which is different from the $25 fee at the county office.
Online orders go through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only vendor the state of Maryland has approved for online birth certificate orders. Extra service fees apply through VitalChek, but all major credit cards are accepted. Do not use other websites that claim to offer St. Mary's County birth records. Maryland has only approved VitalChek for online ordering.
Important: The Maryland Division of Vital Records will never ask for your Social Security number or credit card PIN. If a website or caller asks for that information as part of a birth records request, do not provide it.
Baby Name Changes and Home Births in St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County has two specific services worth knowing about that not all county offices offer in the same way.
First, if you need to change a baby's name on a birth certificate, SMCHD can help with that process if the child is under one year old. Maryland allows a baby's name to be changed up to age one without a court order. Applications for a name change at this stage are available at the St. Mary's County Health Department. Once the child turns one, a court order is required to change the name on the birth certificate, and the correction goes through the state Division of Vital Records. If you are looking to change a name on an older birth record, call SMCHD at 301-475-4330 to find out what the current process is and what paperwork you will need.
Second, if a baby is born at home in St. Mary's County, the parents complete the paperwork for the birth record through SMCHD's Medical/Vital Records Program. This is different from a hospital birth, where the hospital staff typically file the paperwork. If your child was born at home, visit or call the office to get the right forms and instructions. Getting the record filed correctly at the start avoids the need for corrections later on.
For corrections to existing St. Mary's County birth records, Maryland Code Ann., Health-General section 4-214 governs the process. Contact the state Division of Vital Records at 410-764-3038 for guidance on what steps apply to your situation.
Genealogy and Historical St. Mary's County Birth Records
The SMCHD office holds St. Mary's County birth records from 1940 forward. For older records, the Maryland State Archives is the right resource. Birth records from before 1940 are not held at the county health department level.
The Maryland State Archives is at 350 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401. Phone is 410-260-6400 or 800-235-4045. The archives hold historical vital records from across the state and have resources specifically useful for genealogy work. If you are researching family history tied to St. Mary's County before 1940, the archives can help you find older birth records, church records, and related documents. Their online catalog at msa.maryland.gov is a good place to start before visiting in person. The catalog lets you see what records exist and plan your research before you make the trip to Annapolis.
Maryland Division of Vital Records and St. Mary's County
The Maryland Division of Vital Records (DVR) holds birth records from every county in the state, including St. Mary's County. Both the county health department and the state office work from the same records. If you prefer to request your St. Mary's County birth certificate through the state, the DVR website at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/birth.aspx has all the steps for mail, appointment, and online ordering. The state office can also process requests that the local office is unable to handle for any reason.
Mail and phone requests for St. Mary's County birth records go through the state Division of Vital Records rather than the county office. The state fee for a mailed copy is $10 per certificate, and requirements for mail orders are the same as for any Maryland birth certificate ordered by mail. For phone questions about state-level ordering, call 410-764-3038 or 1-800-832-3277.
Cities in St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Communities in the county, including Leonardtown, California, and Lexington Park, all use the St. Mary's County Health Department for birth certificate requests. Contact SMCHD at 21580 Peabody Street, Leonardtown, or call 301-475-4330 for help with any birth record request in the county.
Nearby Counties
St. Mary's County borders two other Maryland counties. Use the links below to find the right local office if you need birth records from a neighboring county.