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Home Birth Verification

Maryland law requires that all births occurring in the State be registered with the Maryland Department of Health (Maryland Health-General Code Ann. 4-208). Registration of your child's birth establishes the facts of birth and will be used throughout your child's lifetime for a variety of legal purposes.

When a baby is born outside of an institution, the local health officer or designee of the jurisdiction where the birth occurred is required to attempt to verify the facts regarding the birth (COMAR 10.03.01.02F). Birth certificates are signed at the discretion of the health officer.

Pre-Register Your Home Birth

Pre-registration simplifies the registration process that will take place after the baby is born. Baltimore County residents planning to have a home birth should: 

  1. Call 410-887-3725 to pre-register their pregnancy. 
  2. A public health nurse will conduct a home visit within the first two weeks of the delivery to:
    1. Verify the live birth 
    2. Complete a verification of birth worksheet
    3. Offer health education and linkage to community resources

Documentation Required to Verify Birth

Each of the following types of documentation may be provided to allow for the facts of birth to be verified so the birth can be registered. Additional or alternate documentation may be requested at the discretion of the local health officer.

If Facts of Birth Cannot Be Verified

If the facts of birth cannot be verified, families may seek a court order from the Circuit Court that lists the facts about the birth and orders the Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to create the birth record.

See a clerk at the Civil and Family window at the following address:

Circuit Court for Baltimore County
401 Bosley Avenue, Second Floor
Towson, Maryland 21204
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Verify License and Certification

To assure the quality and safety of medical care, all physicians practicing in the State must be licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians and all midwives must be licensed and certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing. There are several different types of midwives, but only certified nurse-midwives are licensed to practice in the State of Maryland.

Explore Maternal and Child Health

Contact Us

Department of Health

6401 York Road, Third Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21212

Hours

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Request Contact

Phone

Health: 410-887-2243

TTY: 711

Acting Director and Health Officer

Della J. Leister, R.N.

Deputy of Finance and Administration

Lawrence Richardson

 

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