Somerset County Death Index

The Somerset County Death Index covers death records for one of Maryland's smallest Eastern Shore counties, with certified copies available at the health department in Westover and older historical records held at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. This guide covers every source for Somerset County death records, from the most recent deaths to records going back more than a century.

Somerset County Health Department , Death Certificates

The Somerset County Health Department is the local source for certified death certificates in this county. The office is located at 7920 Crisfield Highway in Westover, MD 21871. Note that the health department is in Westover, not in Princess Anne, which is the county seat. If you are driving from out of town, confirm the Westover address before heading out. The office phone is 410-651-2926. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours, and no appointment is needed.

The fee is $20.00 per certified copy. The health department accepts cash and credit cards. If you plan to pay by credit card, a quick call to 410-651-2926 to confirm accepted card types is a good idea before your visit. Bring a valid photo ID. Maryland requires requesters to have an eligible relationship to the person named on the record, so be prepared to state whether you are a spouse, parent, adult child, sibling, or legal representative. If you are not in one of those categories, staff can tell you what additional documentation may be required.

Somerset County is one of Maryland's smaller counties by population. The health department staff handle a lower volume of requests than their counterparts in larger jurisdictions, which can make the in-person experience faster. Walk-in visits are generally straightforward. For the most recent deaths, walk-in service at the Westover office is the quickest route to a certified copy.

Somerset County Government at somersetmd.us provides an overview of county services including links to the health department for vital records and death certificates.

The county government site confirms the health department's role as the primary source for death certificates in Somerset County.

Searching the Somerset County Death Index

The Maryland State Archives maintains the statewide Death Index known as SE151. This index covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions from 1973 through 2014. Somerset County carries code 19 in the SE151 system. You can search the online index and filter by county code 19 to narrow results to Somerset County specifically. This is the most useful tool when you know the county but are not sure of the exact year of death.

Access the SE151 index through the Archives guide page for SE151. The index shows the decedent's name, date of death, county of death, and a certificate number. That certificate number is key. Keep it once you find the entry. You will need it to order the full certified copy from the Somerset County Health Department or from the Maryland Division of Vital Records.

Somerset County is one of the least populous counties in Maryland. The SE151 index has fewer entries for this county than for larger jurisdictions, which makes searching easier but also means that if you cannot find a record there may be a gap in the index rather than a missing event. For deaths after 2014, the SE151 coverage may not yet be complete. Contact the Somerset County Health Department directly at 410-651-2926 for recent records. You can also use VitalChek at vitalchek.com, which is Maryland's authorized online ordering service for deaths from 1969 to the present.

Note: The SE151 index is free and is a finding tool only. Use it to confirm the record exists and get the certificate number before placing a paid order.

Fees and Access in Somerset County

The fee for a certified death certificate at the Somerset County Health Department is $20.00 per copy. This flat rate applies whether you request one copy or several. Each copy is $20.00. Payment is accepted in cash or by credit card. There is no check option at the local health department, so plan accordingly. If you are sending a mail request rather than visiting in person, a money order made out to the Somerset County Health Department is the safest payment method.

Walk-in service is available at 7920 Crisfield Highway in Westover. No appointment is required. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and be ready to state your relationship to the decedent. Maryland restricts access to certified death certificates, so only eligible parties can receive them at the counter. If you are unsure whether you qualify, call 410-651-2926 before making the drive to Westover. Staff can tell you exactly what to bring.

For mail requests to the state rather than the county, the Maryland Division of Vital Records charges $10.00 per copy. That is half the local fee. The VSA death certificate page is at health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/death.aspx. Mail processing takes longer than an in-person visit, but the lower fee may be worth the wait if you are not in a hurry and the record you need is in the state system.

The Somerset County Health vital records page at somersethd.org/vital-records has current guidance on fees, what to bring, and how to submit a request.

Walk-in service is available at 7920 Crisfield Highway in Westover with a fee of $20 per copy.

Somerset County Circuit Court and Probate Records

The Somerset County Circuit Court is at 30512 Prince William Street in Princess Anne, MD 21853. The phone number is 410-845-5300, and Patricia Norman serves as the clerk of court. This court handles civil cases, land records, and estate matters. It does not issue death certificates, but its probate filings are a useful secondary source for death research in Somerset County.

Probate records are filed when someone dies and their estate needs to be settled. Those filings typically include the date of death, a list of heirs, and details about estate assets. If you are trying to confirm a death date or trace family connections, probate records can add detail that the Death Index alone does not provide. The Register of Wills statewide search at registers.maryland.gov lets you search estate filings from 1998 onward for all Maryland counties, including Somerset, at no cost.

For probate records older than 1998, visit the circuit court in Princess Anne or contact the Maryland State Archives. The Archives holds historical estate papers for Somerset County going back many generations. The circuit court clerk at 410-845-5300 can also help you with questions about accessing older court records. The courts.state.md.us page for Somerset County Circuit Court has contact details and public terminal hours.

Estate and probate records at the Somerset County Circuit Court can supplement death index research with family and asset details.

Historical Somerset County Death Records

The Maryland State Archives holds death records for Somerset County that predate the modern registration system. Early records include state ledgers, church registers, and county records that the Archives has collected and indexed over the decades. Somerset County's small size and Eastern Shore location mean that some very old records are surprisingly well preserved in church collections and early county filings.

The SE42 series at the Archives covers roughly 1898 to 1910. This was an early period of Maryland's effort to build a centralized death registration system, and coverage is uneven. Still, it is the best available source for that decade. The SE42 index is searchable online through the Archives catalog. Search under Somerset County to narrow the results.

The S1179 series covers approximately 1910 to 1951. These are microfilm records. When searching the S1179 collection at the Archives reading room, look for the county abbreviation SO on the reel labels. That code identifies Somerset County throughout the microfilm holdings. You can visit the reading room in Annapolis in person, or you can contact the Archives at 410-260-6400 to ask about mail copy requests. The death records FAQ at guide.msa.maryland.gov covers what each series contains and how to order.

Deaths from 1952 to 1972 fall in the gap between S1179 and the SE151 index. For records in that range, 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 covers Somerset County from 1973 through 2014 under county code 19.

Note: The Archives cannot do full genealogical research on your behalf, but staff can confirm record existence and walk you through the ordering process.

The health department is the primary source for recent death certificates in Somerset County.

Ordering Somerset County Death Records Online and by Mail

When you cannot visit the Westover health department in person, you have several other options for getting a Somerset County death certificate. The most convenient online method is VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the state-authorized online ordering service for Maryland vital records. It covers deaths from 1969 to the present, charges the state fee plus a service fee, and delivers most orders within seven to ten business days. You do not need to visit Somerset County or Annapolis to use this service.

To order directly from the state by mail, contact the Maryland Division of Vital Records. The VSA home page is at health.maryland.gov/vsa. The state fee is $10.00 per copy, which is half the local health department rate. Include a completed request form, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order or check payable to the Division of Vital Records. The mailing address is 6764 N. Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20603. You can also submit requests through the MSA Order portal at shop.msa.maryland.gov, which provides the current form and mailing instructions in one place.

For deaths before 1969 that fall outside the VSA system, the Maryland State Archives is your source. The Archives holds the SE42 and S1179 series for Somerset County, along with other historical collections. Call 410-260-6400 or visit at 350 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. The SE151 Death Index is a free online tool covering 1973 to 2014. Use it first to confirm a record exists and get the certificate number before you place any paid order.

Cities in Somerset County

Somerset County is one of Maryland's least populous counties. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

All communities in Somerset County use the county health department for death index records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Somerset County and maintain separate death index records.