Calvert County Obituary Records

Calvert County obituary and death records are held at the county health department in Prince Frederick and through the Maryland State Archives. The county sits on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Southern Maryland and is one of the oldest counties in the state, with death records going back to 1898. If you need a death certificate or want to find older burial and funeral records for a Calvert County resident, this guide covers where to look, who can ask, and what to bring when you apply.

Calvert County Health Department Death Records

The Calvert County Health Department is the main place to get a death certificate for deaths that happened in the county. The department handles certificates for deaths filed in Calvert County from 2015 to the present. You must apply in person at their office in Prince Frederick. They do not accept mail or phone requests for local death certificates. Staff can search their records and issue a certified copy the same day in most cases.

The Calvert County Health Department death certificate page gives details on what you need to bring and who can apply. The cost is $25 per certified copy. They take cash, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. They do not accept personal checks. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The office is at 975 Solomons Island Road North, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. You can also reach them by phone at 410-535-5400 ext. 301 if you have questions before you go.

Not everyone can get a death certificate. The state limits who can apply. Those who can request a record include the informant listed on the death certificate, a parent listed on the record, a surviving relative who can show proof of relationship, a beneficiary who can show proof, a creditor with valid reason, a person with a court order, and a licensed funeral director. You will need to show proof of your connection to the person named on the record.

Accepted proof of relationship includes a birth certificate that names you, an obituary that lists your name, a letter of administration from probate court, an authorization of release, a court order, a letter from an insurance company, or a deed or vehicle title that shows a legal tie. Bring the original document or a certified copy. Photocopies of your proof may not be accepted at the office.

Note: For deaths filed between 2012 and 2015, you must contact the Division of Vital Records directly at 410-764-3038 rather than the county health department.

Older Calvert County Death Records at the State Archives

For death records from before 2012, the Maryland State Archives is your best source. The Archives holds older vital records and historical documents from Calvert County going back to the late 1800s. The Maryland State Archives is located at 350 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis. You can reach them at 410-260-6400. Their online guide and catalog can help you locate specific records before you visit or make a written request.

Several specific Calvert County collections are held at the Maryland State Archives. The Board of Health death records from 1898 to 1932 are filed under MSA C453. These are among the earliest official death records for the county. Calvert County Funeral Home Journals from 1885 to 1944 are also available at the Archives. These journals were kept by local funeral directors and often list the names, dates, and cause of death for people buried in the county during that period. They are a useful source for family research when official state records do not exist yet.

The State Archives also holds a Death Index for St. Mary's, Charles, and Calvert Counties covering 1898 to 1923. This index can help you find a specific person quickly before you pull the full record. It is searchable online through the Archives catalog at msa.maryland.gov. Some older records have been digitized and can be viewed without a visit to Annapolis, but many physical documents still require an in-person or mail request.

How to Order Calvert County Obituary Records

You have three ways to order a death certificate for a Calvert County record. The first is in person at the Calvert County Health Department in Prince Frederick. This is the fastest option for recent deaths. The second is online through VitalChek. The third is by mail through the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore.

VitalChek handles online orders for Maryland death certificates. Visit vitalchek.com to start an order. You will pay the state fee plus a VitalChek service fee. Processing time for online orders is longer than in-person service, but it is a good option if you cannot get to Prince Frederick. VitalChek accepts major credit cards and ships certificates by standard or express mail.

The Division of Vital Records at the Maryland Department of Health handles mail requests and processes orders for records from 2012 and later. Their office is at 6764B Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. Phone: 410-764-3038. If you are ordering a death record from Calvert County that is outside the county health department's range, the Division of Vital Records is the right place to contact. Send a written request with your full name, relationship to the deceased, and a copy of your valid photo ID.

Note: The Calvert County government website has contact information for county departments and can help you find the right office if you are not sure where to start.

Calvert County Obituary Research and Genealogy

Genealogy researchers looking for Calvert County obituary records have several good sources beyond death certificates. The county has a long history, and many older records have been preserved and indexed. The Genealogy Trails resource at genealogytrails.com/mary/calvert lists death and burial information compiled from historical sources specific to Calvert County. It is a free resource and can point you toward church records, cemetery listings, and local newspaper obituaries.

Newspaper obituaries are often the most detailed source for death information in Calvert County. Local papers like the Calvert Recorder and Bay Weekly have published obituaries for decades. Many older obituaries have been indexed by local libraries and genealogical societies. The Calvert County Public Library in Prince Frederick holds local newspaper collections and can assist with obituary searches. For deaths in the 1800s, church burial records and cemetery surveys compiled by local historians are often the only available source. The Maryland State Archives digital catalog can help you find which collections exist for specific time periods in Calvert County.

The Calvert County court records resource may also be useful if a death generated probate proceedings or an estate filing. Probate records often contain the names of heirs, date of death, and a listing of assets. These records can confirm death dates and family relationships that do not appear on a standard death certificate.

Cities in Calvert County

Calvert County includes Prince Frederick, Dunkirk, Owings, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Lusby, and Huntingtown. All death records for residents of these communities are handled through the Calvert County Health Department or the Maryland State Archives depending on the date of death. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a separate city page, but death record requests for all of them follow the same county process described above.

Nearby Counties

Calvert County borders several other Southern Maryland counties. If you are not sure which county holds a death record, check where the person lived or died. Records are filed in the county where the death took place, not necessarily where the person was born or buried.