How to Get a Copy of Your Birth Certificate in Allegany County, Maryland
Birth certificates are a primary form of identification, used to apply for a passport or to register for school. You need a certified copy of a birth certificate to use it for identification purposes. Certified birth certificates are official documents with a raised seal. Non-certified birth certificates are for informational purposes, such as genealogy research. If you were born in Maryland, you can obtain a copy of your birth certificate from the state's Division of Vital Records in Baltimore. If you were born after 1939, you can also get your birth certificate from the Allegany County health department office in Cumberland.
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Instructions
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Go to the Allegany County Health Department office at 12501-12503 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Show valid identification to the clerk. Your identification must be a photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport or identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles, and must include an issue date and expiration date. The department doesn't accept expired IDs or damaged IDs. The clerk will ask for a second ID if your photo ID doesn't include a full middle name.
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Complete the birth certificate application and pay the fee. As of November 2010, the fee is $20 for a certified copy and the office only accepts local checks or cash.
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Wait for the office to issue the birth certificate. According to the health department's website, you may have to wait up to an hour.
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Tips & Warnings
If you were born prior to 1940, you can't get your birth certificate from the Allegany County Health Department. You must request a copy from the Division of Vital Records in Baltimore.
You can apply for a birth certificate through the mail. Complete the application form on the state website and mail it to the Division of Vital Records. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, photocopies of your identification and a check or money order for $12.
You can order a birth certificate online through VitalChek. It charges additional fees but accepts credit cards. The state partners with the company to provide the online service.
