Vital Records & Certificates in Hagerstown, MarylandWashington County Circuit Court

As Washington County’s governmental and commercial center, Hagerstown residents regularly need vital records for employment at area businesses, school enrollment, passport applications for travel, real estate transactions, and legal proceedings. The city’s role as regional hub creates steady demand for certified documentation throughout the valley.

Washington County birth certificates are obtained through the Circuit Court office at 24 Summit Avenue in downtown Hagerstown. Newborns delivered at Meritus Medical Center, Brook Lane Health Services, or other county healthcare facilities have their births recorded within the state’s vital records system within five days. Maryland residents can also order certified copies through the state’s online portal, though local processing at the Washington County courthouse often provides faster service. The court charges $15 for the first certified copy, with additional copies available at reduced rates when ordered during the same visit to Summit Avenue.

Couples planning weddings at Hagerstown’s Historic Beaver Creek Church, the elegant Fountain Head Country Club, or scenic Antietam Creek locations secure marriage licenses from the Washington County Circuit Court clerk. Maryland requires a 48-hour waiting period between license issuance and ceremony, though this can be waived by a judge for compelling circumstances. The license costs $55 and remains valid for six months throughout Maryland, accommodating couples choosing venues from downtown Hagerstown’s historic buildings to countryside locations in the surrounding valley.

Washington County death certificates are processed through the Circuit Court clerk’s office on Summit Avenue. Local funeral homes like Osborne Funeral Home and Rest Haven Funeral Home assist families with initial paperwork, while the court provides certified copies for insurance settlements, estate probate, and Social Security notifications. Maryland issues both long-form and short-form death certificates depending on the requestor’s needs and relationship to the deceased.

Divorce decrees from Washington County Circuit Court are available through the same Summit Avenue office that handles other vital records. Court proceedings generate comprehensive documentation including custody arrangements, property settlements, and name change authorizations. The clerk’s office maintains these records indefinitely, providing certified copies for remarriage applications, financial account changes, or child support modifications throughout Washington County and beyond.

Washington County Circuit Court at 24 Summit Avenue operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM for vital records services. Downtown parking is available in the Summit Avenue garage or metered spaces along West Washington Street near the courthouse square. The office accepts cash, checks made payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court, and major credit cards. Walk-in service is available, though complex requests may benefit from calling ahead to verify documentation requirements.

Located at 24 Summit Avenue in downtown Hagerstown, the Washington County Circuit Court sits near the intersection of Summit Avenue and West Washington Street, one block from the courthouse square.