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.

One of the following valid, unexpired, government-issued documents:

  • Driver’s license
  • State issued photo ID card
  • Passport
  • Permanent resident card (green card)
  • Military ID card
  • A signed statement that the mother does not have one of the ID documents above, and two of the following documents that contain the applicant’s name and current address:
    • Utility bill
    • Car registration form
    • Pay stub
    • Bank statement
    • Income tax return
    • Income tax W-2 form
    • Lease or rental agreement
    • Letter from a government agency

One of the following:

  • A prenatal or postnatal medical record that is consistent with the date of delivery and includes:
    • Mother’s name
    • Mother’s date of birth
    • Date of health exam
    • Health care provider’s signature
    • Health care provider’s printed name
    • Signature date 
    • License number
  • A statement from a physician or certified nurse/midwife licensed in the U.S. who has firsthand knowledge of the pregnancy and is willing to attest to the fact of pregnancy. The statement should include:
    • Mother’s name
    • Mother’s date of birth
      Provider’s printed name and signature
    • Signature date 
    • License number
  • Pre-registration with the local health department during pregnancy, including a face-to-face interview and physical examination
  • Documentation of a home visit by a public health nurse or other health care provider who has firsthand knowledge of the pregnancy
  • Other evidence acceptable to the local health officer

One of the following:

  • A statement from a physician, certified nurse midwife or other licensed health care provider who saw or examined the infant within the first two weeks of life
  • An observation of the infant during a home visit by a public health nurse or licensed health care provider within the first two weeks of life
  • Other evidence acceptable to the local health officer

A. If the birth occurred in the mother’s place of residence, one of the following deemed acceptable by the health officer:

  • Driver’s license or other state-issued ID card that includes the mother’s current residence on the face of the license/card
  • Rent receipt, mortgage statement or deed that includes the mother’s name and Maryland address
  • Recent pay stub that includes mother’s name and Maryland address
  • Other evidence acceptable to the local health officer

B. If the birth occurred outside of the mother’s place of residence and the mother is a resident of Maryland, all of the following information is required:

  • An affidavit from the tenant of the premises where the birth occurred stating that the mother was present on those premises at the time of the birth
  • Evidence of the affiant’s residence similar to that required in Section 4
  • Evidence of the mother’s residence in the state similar to that required in Section 4
  • Other evidence acceptable to the local health officer

C. If the mother is not a resident of Maryland, proof must consist of clear and convincing evidence acceptable to 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.