Birth Records Are A Basic Human Right
Adoptees will now have access to information about their family medical history, as well as the ability to learn who their birth parents are. Due to advances in science and medicine, knowing your familys health history has become more important than ever. Now, adoptees have the ability to learn about any hereditary diseases or medical issues that they may be predisposed to or carry. This information also gives their doctors more insight into symptoms or conditions that the adoptees may be experiencing. In the past, family medical history was not that useful. However, it is now a vital tool for medical professionals, and adoptees deserve the same right as everyone else to have access to their family health information.
According to Governor Cuomo, Where you came from informs who you are, and every New Yorker deserves access to the same birth records its a basic human right.
While Democratic Speaker Carl Heastie added, Knowing who we are and where we came from is critical not only to understanding our heritage, but for knowing our health history and any risks it might pose.
Who Is Eligible To Get A Copy Of A Pre
- An adoptee who is 18 years of age or older
- Direct Line Descendants – A Direct Line Descendant is a child, grandchild, or great grandchild, etc. of the adoptee
- A lawful representative of the adopted person
- A lawful representative of a deceased adopted persons Direct Line Descendant
What identification needs to be submitted by the applicant?
Application must be submitted with copies of either A or B:
New York State Department of HealthBureau of Vital Records, PAC UnitP.O. Box 2602
Walk-in Services ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Third Party Pickup
We do not encourage third party pickups. If you are unable to come to our office yourself, we recommend that you order your certificate by mail or via internet or telephone. More information about third party pickup.
Births From 1881 Thru 1897
Prior to 1898, the towns in the counties of Queens and Richmond kept birth records according to New York State laws. Starting in 1881, New York required that village, town, and city clerks record births. After New York City consolidated in 1898, many of these records were sent to the New York City Municipal Archives.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
The New York Archives as well as nine other repositories in New York hold copies of microfiche indexes to birth certificates. Contact one of these ten repositories to search the index. If you do not find your ancestor’s birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date , you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Birth Certificates |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
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Births From 1853 Thru 1897
Manhattan started keeping some birth records in 1853. In 1866, a more complete law was passed requiring that all births be recorded. Records from this time period have been microfilm by FamilySearch and the original records are held by the New York Municipal Archives.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
An online index for Manhattan births from 1880 thru 1897 does exist. Births from earlier time periods are available on microfilm. If you do not find your ancestor’s birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.
| Try 1st: |
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
PART B: You don’t know the year or have a certificate number
If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.
See list of restrictions for ordering birth records
If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.
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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Births From 1910 Thru 1965
Records after 1909 are held by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. An index for the 1910-1965 time period is available on microfilm at the Family History Library or some family history centers.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
Many New York City births from 1910-1965 have been indexed by FamilySearch. If you do not find your ancestor’s birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
| FamilySearch Microfilm: Includes Index Only |
Access Adoption Records Through Consent
In some states, you may be able to access identifying information through a mutual consent registry. Using these registries, all involved in an adoption can declare what information may be disclosed. Some states may require the consent of both the birth parents and adoptive parents for the release of records. However, the release of information varies by state.
If your state does not maintain a mutual consent registry, there are other ways to obtain records through consent. Public or private agencies can locate birth parents in some states. When an agency contacts birth parents, they can find out identifying information through:
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Confidential Intermediary System The court gives permission to a court-certified confidential intermediary. This permission grants them access to sealed adoption records. They can also contact the birth parents to obtain consent for the release of identifying information.
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Affidavit System – Birth parents can officially file their consent or refusal to be identified or contacted.
Use the Child Welfare Information Gateway to find out about how your state allows access to your adoption records.
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Divorce Decrees And Certificates
A divorce decree is an official document from the court that grants the termination of a marriage. It includes specific details of the divorce.
A divorce certificate is issued by a state vital records office. It shows that a divorce occurred but not all the same information as a divorce decree. You can save time and money by determining which document you need before requesting a copy.
Requesting A New York City Birth Certificate Through The Mail
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New York Birth Certificate Cost
Anyone can apply for their New York State birth certificate at any time. When requesting a certified or an informational copy of a birth certificate, applicants must cover the cost of each copy they request. The fee for a certified copy of your birth certificate is $30 per copy.
If you require an extra copy or your New York State birth certificate, you may request them by paying the fee of $30 for each copy you need. Keep in mind the benefit of applying for a birth certificate online. You can obtain it without having to visit the vital records office not wait in long lines.
How To Get A Duplicate Birth Certificate In Ny
How do you get a new birth certificate in New York?
- To get a New York state birth certificate, apply online, by telephone, or by mail. Youll need to show a valid photo ID or 2 proofs of address before paying the processing fee. Once youve submitted your completed application, wait for it to be processed before you get the copy of the birth certificate.
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Suffolk County Birth Certificate Processing Times
In most cases, your Suffolk County birth certificate order will be filled within 10-12 weeks. However, some vital records may take longer due to peak demand periods.
You will then receive your certified copy of the Suffolk County, New York birth certificate by post, delivered right to your door.Once you have mailed the application, along with a copy of a photo ID and the fees, the vital records office will process your request.
Births From 1850 Thru 1852
After the failure of the 1847 law, no births were recorded in the towns comprising present-day New York City. For births in Manhattan between 1850 and 1852, in Brooklyn and the towns of Kings county before 1866, and in the towns of Queens and Richmond Counties before 1881, try searching substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
| Records that give birth information: |
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Quick And Easy Certificates
Ordering a vital certificate through our secure online ordering service is quick and easy. We also provide expert assistance and thorough review of all pertinent information to ensure compliance with government rules and regulations resulting in you receiving your certificate without additional delays. Both first time applying and replacement NY birth certificates are available to order. How to get a birth certificate from New York? Simply click Order My Certificate Now to start your order.
MyVitalCertificates.org prides ourselves on exceptional customer service and expertise to make the process of obtaining your vital certificate quick and easy. We know exactly where, how and what to submit in order to obtain that vital certificate or certificate without error, minimizing the chance that your application will be rejected.
State Processing
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Obtaining Original Birth Certificates
The original birth certificate itself can only be obtained through a court order. California is a closed adoption state, which means that birth parents identification information must be kept confidential. Original birth certificates are referred to as sealed records. In the past, such vital records were contained in envelopes sealed with wax and could only be broken if ordered by a court. The term breaking the seal is still used when describing the court-ordered release of an original birth certificate, despite the fact that such files are now archived digitally.
During the adoption process, birth certificates are amended to include the new name of the adoptee and lists the adoptive parents as the parents of the adoptee. Once the adoption process is finalized, the original birth certificate is sealed and becomes inaccessible to the public. In order for adoptees to access their original birth certificate in California, they must obtain a court order. However, it is important to note that these laws vary across states: not all states are closed adoption states.
In order to access this information, an adoptee will need to file a petition with their California county clerks office. The petitioning form is different for each California county. Once a court order is obtained, the adoptee should submit the court order along with a $25 fee to the following address so that the original birth certificate can be released:
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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.
How And Where To Request Your New York Obc
All New York birth certificates are issued from two different sources dependent on the county of which you were born into. The state health department handles birth certificate requests for all people born in New York exceptfor those born in New York City. New York City is its own vital records district and handles birth certificate requests for people born in any of the five boroughs. This includes original birth certificates of people who were born in one of the boroughs and later adopted.
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Ordering A New York State Birth Certificate By Mail
Ordering Vital Records In New York
Before starting the process to request a certified copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate, it is important to understand that you will have to provide some sensitive information in order to obtain your records. It is also important to know about the requirements, processing times, and other relevant information for the New York government agency. Read below to understand more about some of the most frequently asked questions.
Before you start the process to order a certified copy of a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate, you should know some important information about the requirements, processing times, and other useful information required by the state of New York.
Processing times differ between offices, but you should expect to receive your vital records in New York 12 to 14 business weeks.
In order to complete the online application, the New York Health Department requires applicants to prove their identity by including a photocopy of their ID. It varies depending on the type of certificate, but commonly people can use the drivers license or a state photo ID. Check other acceptable IDs per certificate needed: New York Birth Certificate Requirements New York Marriage Certificate Requirements New York Death Certificate Requirements
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