Queen Anne's County Death Index

The Queen Anne's County Death Index covers death records for this Eastern Shore county, with certified copies available through the health department in Centreville and historical records held at the Maryland State Archives. Use this guide to find the right source for the death record you need, whether the death happened last year or more than a century ago.

Queen Anne's County Health Department , Death Certificates

The Queen Anne's County Health Department is the local source for certified death certificates in this county. The office is at 206 N. Commerce Street in Centreville, MD 21617. You can reach staff by phone at 410-758-0720. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours, and no prior appointment is required. That makes this one of the more accessible health departments on the Eastern Shore for in-person requests.

The fee is $20.00 per certified copy. The health department accepts cash and credit cards. If you plan to pay by credit card, call ahead to confirm the card types they take. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in person. Maryland limits who can get a death certificate, so be ready to state your relationship to the person named on the record. Eligible requesters typically include a spouse, parent, adult child, or legal representative. Others may need to document a legitimate interest.

The health department holds recent death records. For older deaths, see the sections below on the Maryland State Archives and the SE151 Death Index. Staff can also tell you whether the record you need is in their local files or whether you should look elsewhere. A quick call to 410-758-0720 before your visit can save you a trip.

Queen Anne's County Government at qac.org provides an overview of county services including links to the health department for vital records and related county offices.

The county site confirms that the health department at 206 N. Commerce Street handles death certificate requests for Queen Anne's County.

Searching the Queen Anne's County Death Index

The Maryland State Archives maintains the statewide Death Index known as SE151. This index covers deaths across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions from 1973 through 2014. Queen Anne's County carries code 17 in the SE151 system. When you search the online index, you can filter by county code to narrow results to Queen Anne's County alone. This is the most efficient way to search a large time range without knowing the exact year of death.

To access SE151, go to the Archives guide page for SE151. The index is searchable online and typically shows the decedent's name, date of death, county code, and a certificate number. That certificate number is what you use when you order the full certified copy. Keep it handy once you find the record.

For deaths after 2014, the SE151 index may not yet be complete. Contact the Queen Anne's County Health Department at 410-758-0720 for recent records. You can also use VitalChek, which is the state-authorized online ordering service for Maryland vital records. VitalChek covers deaths from 1969 to the present and charges the state fee plus a small service fee. Their ordering page for Maryland is at vitalchek.com.

Note: The SE151 index is a finding tool, not the certificate itself. Use it to locate the record and get the certificate number, then order the actual document from the right office.

Fees and Access in Queen Anne's County

Certified death certificates cost $20.00 per copy at the Queen Anne's County Health Department. This fee applies to both walk-in and mail requests. The health department accepts cash and credit cards. If you send a mail request, a money order made out to the Queen Anne's County Health Department is the safest way to pay, since it avoids the risk of a personal check being lost or returned.

Walk-in service is available at 206 N. Commerce Street in Centreville. No appointment is needed. Go during regular business hours, bring your photo ID, and fill out a request form at the counter. Staff will let you know how long processing takes. For most routine requests, same-visit pickup is common, but wait times can vary depending on how busy the office is.

Mail requests take longer. If you are sending by mail, call 410-758-0720 to ask for the current request form and confirm the mailing address. Include your ID copy, payment, and as much detail as you can about the deceased , full name, date of death, and any known certificate number. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can locate the record.

If the death occurred before the health department's local date range, do not send the request there. Use the Maryland Division of Vital Records (VSA) instead. The VSA death certificate page is at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/death.aspx. The state fee is $10.00 per copy, which is lower than the local health department rate.

Queen Anne's County Circuit Court and Probate Records

The Queen Anne's County Circuit Court sits at 100 Courthouse Square in Centreville, MD 21617. The phone number is 410-758-1773, and Jennifer K. Morris serves as the clerk of court. The circuit court handles civil cases, land records, and probate matters for the county. It does not issue death certificates, but its records can work alongside the Death Index for more complete research.

Probate is especially useful. When someone dies in Queen Anne's County and leaves an estate, the family typically files with the circuit court's orphans' court division. Those estate papers often list the date of death, surviving heirs, and an inventory of the estate. If you are trying to confirm a death date or find next of kin, checking probate records can fill gaps the death index alone cannot. The Register of Wills statewide search at registers.maryland.gov covers estate filings from 1998 onward and is free to use online.

The courts.state.md.us site for Queen Anne's County Circuit Court lists the clerk's contact details, public terminal hours, and guidance for court record research visits.

The circuit court at 100 Courthouse Square can be reached at 410-758-1773 for inquiries about court records and estate matters.

Historical Queen Anne's County Death Records

The Maryland State Archives holds the oldest death records for Queen Anne's County. Early death registration in Maryland was inconsistent, but the Archives has gathered and preserved records from multiple sources including state registration ledgers, church records, and county filings going back well before formal statewide registration began.

Two key series at the Archives cover the earliest periods. The SE42 series spans roughly 1898 to 1910 and represents the early years of Maryland's attempt at centralized death registration. Coverage is incomplete for this period, but it is worth checking if your research falls in those years. The SE42 index is searchable online through the Archives catalog. Filter by Queen Anne's County to narrow the results.

The S1179 series covers approximately 1910 to 1951. These records are available on microfilm at the Archives in Annapolis. When searching the S1179 collection, look for the county abbreviation QA on the reel labels. That code identifies Queen Anne's County throughout the microfilm holdings. You can visit the Archives reading room in person or request copies by mail. The Archives death records FAQ at guide.msa.maryland.gov explains the request process and what each series contains.

From 1952 to 1972, records fall between the end of S1179 and the start of the SE151 index. For deaths in that window, contact the Maryland Division of Vital Records directly at 410-764-3038, or write to 6764 N. Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20603. The SE151 Death Index picks up at 1973 and covers Queen Anne's County through 2014 with code 17.

Note: Archives staff can confirm whether a record exists and explain how to order copies, but they do not conduct full genealogical searches on behalf of the public.

Ordering Queen Anne's County Death Records Online and by Mail

You have several options for ordering death records when you cannot visit Centreville in person. The fastest online method is VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek is Maryland's authorized online ordering partner. Orders typically arrive within seven to ten business days. You pay the state fee plus a service charge, and VitalChek handles the rest. This is a good choice for recent deaths from 1969 to the present.

To order directly from the state by mail, send your request to the Maryland Division of Vital Records. The VSA home page is at health.maryland.gov/vsa. The state fee is $10.00 per copy. Include a completed request form, a copy of your government-issued ID, and a check or money order payable to the Division of Vital Records. You can also submit mail orders through the MSA Order portal at shop.msa.maryland.gov, which provides the current form and mailing instructions.

For deaths before 1969 that are not yet covered by VSA records, the Maryland State Archives is your source. Contact the Archives at 410-260-6400 or visit their reading room at 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. Staff can direct you to the right collection within the SE42, S1179, or other historical series. The SE151 Death Index covers 1973 to 2014 and is a free online tool. Use it first before placing any paid order to confirm the record exists and get the certificate number.

Queen Anne's County Health Department at qac.org/health can also answer questions about local record availability for recent deaths and help you confirm whether a walk-in visit or mail request is the better choice for your specific record.

Cities in Queen Anne's County

Queen Anne's County is a rural Eastern Shore county. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

All communities in Queen Anne's County use the county health department for death index records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Queen Anne's County and maintain separate death index records.