New York City Vital Records
Finding a New York City birth, marriage, or death record can be complicated due to the different territorial and record-keeping histories of each of the five boroughs, which are the Bronx , Brooklyn , Manhattan , Queens , and Staten Island .
The New York City Municipal Archives houses the largest collection of birth, marriage, and death records for New York City, but other collections exist.
Getting The Birth Certificate By Telephone
New York City Birth Certificate Requirements
To get your New York City birth certificate you simply have to fill out an online application with your details or the details of the person you need the certificate for.
New York City has records of the people who have been born in the area, including its five boroughs: Kings, Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island.
All of the above have vital records offices, as well as the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse.
Once you have completed your application form, you can print it out to send to the vital records office along with a copy any of the following acceptable photo identification documents:
- Drivers License or non-drivers ID from any state or US territory
- Public benefit card
- Student ID and current transcript from accredited and verifiable institution
- Inmate photo ID with release papers
In the case that you do not have any of the documents listed above, you can, instead, provide proof of address.
Once the application has been processed, the NYC birth certificate will be mailed to the address listed on the documents provided.
The proof of address can be sent as follows:
- Two different documents dates within the past 60 days, showing your name and address
- Utility bills
- Letter from a government agency
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New York City Municipal Archives: The Largest Collection Of Nyc Vital Records
In general, researchers can find vital records from the following time periods at the Municipal Archives:
- Birth certificates: 18471909
- Death certificates: 18471948
A more detailed listing of availability can be found in the Municipal Archives List of Holdings on the DORIS website.
Coverage dates don’t necessarily apply to all pre-consolidation municipalities . For significantly greater detail by town and village pre-consolidation, see the New York City Municipal Archives: An Authorized Guide for Family Historians.
To retrieve a copy of a certificate, the most important piece of information a researcher should have is the certificate number. Certificate numbers can be found by locating the name of the individual in a vital records index.
Most indexes contain little more than basic details about the event and the certificate number, with the notable exception of Ancestry’s new indexes, which debuted in February 2020.
Records in these new collections are really far more than just indexesa lot of valuable information has been extracted from each certificate and is available to view online. Read our blog about Ancestry’s new New York City vital records for more information.
See the list below for some of the most useful online indexes to New York City birth, marriage, and death records.
Ancestry
How To Obtain A Certified Copy Of The Birth Certificate
Birth certificates and transcripts of birth issued by the NYS Department of Health in Albany are not exemplified. There is no need to attach a letter of exemplification as the signature of the Director of Vital Records is authenticated directly. Exemplification letters are issued only with the long form New York City birth certificates
If you already have a certified copy of your birth certificate or a Certified Transcript of Birth that is eligible, we will be happy to assist you with getting an apostille or legalization by a foreign embassy. Just mail the original to us.
NY apostille: price, processing time, order form:
New York apostille: $175currently 3,5-4 weeks + mail$375
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Ordering A New York State Birth Certificate By Mail
Certified Copies Of Birth And Death Records
For important information about what records are available and who is eligible to receive copies of records, visit the following:
Genealogy copies are not available for same day pick up at the Vital Records Office. However, we can accept your payment and application at the counter. Your record will be mailed to you when the research has been completed.
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Who Can Apply For A New York Birth Certificate
The following people are able to apply for an authorized copy of a birth certificate from the state of New York:
- The certificate holder, a parent or legal guardian of the certificate holder.
- A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the certificate holder.
- A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
- A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record.
- An attorney representing the certificate holder or the certificate holders estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the certificate holder or the certificate holder’s estate.
If you need to get your drivers license, apply for a passport, get married, register for school, you will need a certified copy of your birth certificate.
Remember that what differentiates this type of birth certificate copy is the official state registrars raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored Seal of New York, the registrars signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrars office.
All those born in the state of New York that need to request a certified copy of their birth certificate will need to include a clear photocopy of both sides of one of the forms of photo ID listed below along with a completed application form:
Verifying An Apostille/certificate Of Authentication
- The Department of State now allows you to verify whether an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication was issued by the New York State Secretary of State’s office. Apostilles and Certificates of Authentication issued on or after April 9, 2013 may be verified here.
- If you are unable to locate an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication or you wish to verify an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication issued prior to April 9, 2013, please contact the New York Department of State at 474-4429.
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Us Birth Certificates Continues To Offer Its Vital Records Application Preparation Services During The Covid
Many government bureaus are processing online and mail-in applications although they are closed to the general public. Turnaround times in government agencies may be affected during the quarantine.Applying for a vital records certificate now is advisable since it allows citizens to secure their vital records as soon as possible.Regardless of whether you need a certified copy of a vital records certificate for a specific need or to keep on file, complete your application today.
Legal Disclaimer: US Birth Certificates is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with, not owned or operated by any government agency. US Birth Certificates is an independent preparer that provides vital records application preparation assistance services. If you are looking for blank forms, you can get them for free at the relevant state office.
- Your mothers name or parents name prior to first marriage
- Your fathers name or parents name prior to first marriage
Before applying for a birth certificate, it is also essential that you know that there is more than one type of certificate. You can apply for either an authorized copy or an informational copy.
The difference between the two is as follows:
An if you wish to apply for a U.S. passport, get married, or get a drivers license. When registering a child in school, it is also necessary to provide an authorized copy of the certificate. If you need to prove your identity, you will need to apply for an authorized birth certificate.
Not Born In New York State
To change the name of someone who was not born in New York State you can use any document that proves when and where the person was born. An official birth certificate should be on file in the place of birth. These records are filed permanently in a State vital statistics office or in a city, county, or other local office. To get a certified copy of the birth certificate, write or go to the vital statistics office in the state or area where you were born. The National Center for Health Statistics has a list of state agencies that keep vital records on their website.
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How To Request New York State Vital Record Certificates
Once you have retrieved information about the record you are seeking, you can obtain a copy of the vital record certificate by contacting either:
- The New York State Department of Health
- The local registrar or municipal clerk
What’s the difference?
- Requests to the New York State Department of Health can take at least eight months to process, but you will receive the official state record.
- Requests through a local registrar or municipal clerk are often answered sooner, but may not have all the information found on the state record.
Ordering a certificate from the New York State Department of Health
**Note: As of early 2020, researchers are experiencing very long wait times for genealogical records requests from the NYS Department of Health. We advise seeking records from local authorities or seeking vital record substitutes.**
The New York State Department of Health will provide uncertified copies in the following instances:
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Birth certificates can be requested after 75 years if the person whose name is on the birth certificate is known to be deceased.
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Death certificates can be requested after 50 years.
If you are a direct-line descendant , then these time periods are waived, but all researchers will need to provide:
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Proof of their relationship to the person whose record they are requesting.
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Proof of the death of the person whose birth certificate they are requesting.
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Proof of the death of both spouses whose marriage certificate they are requesting.
Where You Came From Informs Who You Are And Every New Yorker Deserves Access To The Same Birth Records
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation on November 14, 2019 allowing adoptees for the first time to receive a certified copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18-years-old. This measure helps ensure that all adult New York adoptees will have the same unimpeded right to information about their birth and biological parents.
For Adoptees Born in New York City:
Adoptees born within the five boroughs of NYC should contact the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, or visit their webpage at for ordering information.
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Is The Birth Certificate Really A Bank Note
Your birth certificate is really a bank note, which means you, the citizen are what is known in the stock market as a commodity. 1. A basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type. Commodities are most often used as inputs in the production of other goods or services.
What Is A Certified Birth Certificate
A certified copy of a birth certificate is a legal document that people can use as identification proof. It is totally different from the certificate of live birth. A certified copy can be used to apply for the first drivers licenses, social security cards, passports, visas, marriage certificates, death certificates, genealogy and many other crucial documents and services in the United States.
Real ID deadline update to October 1st of 2021.Read the complete article.
To order a copy of your lost birth certificate, the vital statistics office will require the following information to fill the application:
- Birth information of the person in record.
- Information about the parents of the person in record.
- Name and contact information of the person filing the application.
If there is no father on your birth certificate,you can check this article to see what it means.
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New York City Birth Certificate Processing Times
When you are completing your application, be careful with all the details you enter, as all information must be accurate. You will have to include a valid copy of an official photo ID such as your drivers license, military ID, work ID, or passport, etc. As well as the payment to cover the processing fees.
The New York City Health Department usually takes between 4-6 weeks to process your application from the moment it has been received.
Although it is not currently possible to obtain an NYC birth certificate the same day, you can pay an additional fee for the rush service if you need the certificate urgently.
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Once your application is complete, weâll send it to the appropriate government agency, monitor progress, and provide you with regular updates. Birth certificates are typically delivered within 6 weeks of application.
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Ny State Vital Records Agency Information
NEW YORK VITAL RECORDSThe New York State Division of Vital Records issues certified copies of New York birth certificates, New York death certificates, New York marriage records for events which occurred in the State of New York boroughs of New York City) and New Hyde Park. New York State Vital Records issues copies of New York divorce certificates for events that occurred anywhere in the State of New York, including New York City. You may order copies of New York Vital Records through VitalChek on an expedited basis.
NOTICE: Although VitalChek attempts to include accurate and up-to-date information on this site, state and agency information is subject to change without notice. VitalChek makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information herein and assumes no liability with respect to such information.
NEW YORK BIRTH CERTIFICATESNew York State Vital Records does not file and cannot issue copies of New York City birth certificates. For births that occurred in one of the five boroughs of New York City , Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island), you will need to place your order with the New York City Department of Health.
Who Can Order?You may order copies of New York birth certificates for yourself or for a child, as long as your name appears on the certificate*. Your name must also appear on the credit or debit card that is being used for payment.
What Official Signatures On Nys Birth Certificates And Transcripts Of Birth Are Eligible For Apostilles
Both birth certificates and transcripts of birth are signed by Director of Vital Records of the New York State Department of Health. The following signatures of current and former Directors of Vital Records are acceptable for apostilles or legalization by foreign embassies: Robert LoCicero, Guy Warner, Peter M. Carucci, Thomas L. Heckert, Jr., Mary E. Hefner, and some others.
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