Who Can Obtain A Certified Copy Of A Death Certificate
You are entitled to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate if you are:
- An immediate member of the decedent’s family. Immediate family member is defined as:
- Parent
- Grandchild
Other applicants may be provided a statement that the death occurred, including the date and county of death, but not an actual certified copy of a death certificate.
Death certificates become public records after 50 years. Then any person may obtain an uncertified copy of the death certificate, upon submission of application form and fees.
Deaths From 1847 Thru 1849
In 1847, New York State passed a law requiring that doctors and midwives report births, marriages, and deaths to the trustees of local school districts. Due to the complexities of this law, it quickly fell into disfavor and few communities reported deaths after 1850 . Most records that exist for this time period have been collected by the New York City Municipal Archives.
PART A: You know the village, town, or city of death
Try 1st: Most of the records for Manhattan as well as the towns in Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties are available on microfilm at the Family History Library or some family history centers. Search the Catalog for the name of village, town, or city to see availability.
Try 2nd: Order a copy of the death record from New York City Municipal Archives.
If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.
PART B: You do not know the village, town, or city of death
If you do not know the village, town, or city of death, learn more about the family using census, land, probate, and church records.
New York City Department Of Health And Mental Hygiene: More Recent Birth And Death Certificates
More recent collections of birth and death certificates in New York City are maintained by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene .
After a certain period of time, these records are transferred from DOHMH to the DORIS and stored at the Municipal Archives, where they can be accessed by any member of the public.
Currently, records are transferred to DORIS and made fully public on the following schedule:
- Birth Certificates: 125 years after the event
- Death Certificates: 75 years after the event
Researchers should note that this is a new rule that was passed relatively recently and took effect in 2019if youre interested, read more about our efforts to fight against it, and how we were able to secure an amendment to the rule.
Vital certificates that are still at the Department of Health can be accessed, but not by everyone.
Individuals with one of the following relationships to the subject of the certificate can obtain copies of birth records from DOHMH :
- Spouse/domestic partner
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Choose Your Number Of Copies And Pay
Next, indicate the number of copies youre requesting. In New York state, cost is dependent on the order method. Here are the different fees:
- Online orders:Through VitalChek, the cost is $45 per copy and an additional $8 fee to the third-party service.
- Walk-in orders:If you visit an office in person, the cost is $45 per copy.
- Mail orders:Lastly, mailed applications cost $30 per copy.
If you pay online through VitalChek, you can pay with a credit card. Otherwise, youll need to pay with a check or money order for in-person or mail-in orders. Make all checks or money orders payable to the New York State Department of Health.
Enter Information From The Death Record
Once youre ready to begin your application, start by sharing the information found on the death certificate. Include the name of the deceased, their Social Security Number , date of death, date of birth, parents name, place of death, the purpose for your request, and your relationship with the deceased.
If youre not sure of any of the above, its better to visit in person to complete an application or to complete one by mail. This gives you more flexibility to write a range of dates to be searched or to leave sections blank.
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New York Vital Records: Key Facts
There are a couple of crucial facts all researchers should know about locating vital records in New York State.
Fact #1: New York State did not require local governments to report births, marriages, and deaths until 1880.
The history of New York State vital record-keeping is complex and convoluted. For the most part, New York State did not force local governments to track birth, marriage, and death events until the 1880seven after that, many smaller municipalities were not stellar in their compliance.
If you’re looking for a birth, marriage, or death record prior to 1880, you should check with local records offices first, but you may need to ultimately seek a vital record substitute.
Fact #2: Where you look for a vital record will change depending on the year and location of the event you’re investigating.
New York vital records are not all stored in the same location or by the same authority. You will need to investigate sets of vital records in Albany, New York City, or other locations depending on the time period of the event you’re investigating.
This guide includes the following sections:
For an even more comprehensive overview of New York State vital records, see the NYG& B Guide to Birth, Marriage & Death Records available in print in our online store.
Submit Shipping And Payment Information
Last but not least, enter your shipping address and payment information. The New York City Department of Health requires your address to match the address on your credit card information. You can pay online via credit card.
Once youve submitted your request, you might be asked for additional documentation. If so, upload it at this time and click submit. Otherwise, your request is complete. The current processing time averages 20 to 25 business days for online orders.
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New York State Vital Records
New York State has created indexes to births, marriages, and deaths occurring after 1880 for locations outside of New York City.
State coverage for Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers does not begin until 1914. If you’re seeking a birth, marriage, or death record for an ancestor in one of those locations before 1914, click the name of each municipality for tips on finding records before 1914.
Researchers with ancestors anywhere else in New York State can get their ancestor’s vital record in two steps:
- Locate the certificate number in a New York State vital records index
- Use the certificate number found in the index to request the record
These records are only available to the public after a certain period of time, which varies depending on the record and the researcher’s relation to the person of interest. Read on for a general overview of each type of record and where to find the indexes you need to get started.
Deaths From 1957 Thru 1963
Death records from 1957 thru 1963 are held by the village, town, or city clerk where the death took place and the Department of Health. The New York Department of Health has also created an online index for many deaths taking place between 1957 and 1963.
STEP ONE – Search the Index
| Try 1st: |
| Free covers 1 January 1957 thru 28 February 1963 spreadsheet with sortable columns. To learn more about the village/town/city codes, see this New York State Gazetteer. Also available at the New York State Health Department and MyHeritage.com. |
| Try 2nd: |
| The New York Archives as well as nine other repositories in New York hold copies of microfiche indexes to death certificates. Contact one of these ten repositories to search the index. |
Or try:
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | Individual clerks may not be aware of state laws regarding record availability | Offers a standard search covering 1-3 years with additional years with the option to increase the number of years searched for an additional fee | May take more than eight months to fulfill a request |
See list of restrictions for ordering death records If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.
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Introduction To New York Birth Marriage And Death Records
Official birth, marriage, and death recordsalso called vital recordsare crucial family history sources that every researcher should seek.
These deep and rich sources can provide names, relationships, locations, dates of events, and other essential details about your family.
Many states in the U.S. have well-organized and complete collections of vital recordsbut not New York!
For many reasons, finding vital records in New York State can be confusing and challenging. The purpose of this guide is to help clarify:
- Where to look for vital records, which depends on the time and place of the event
- How to find the vital record certificate number
- How to locate or request a copy of the vital record
How To Get A Death Certificate In New York
We can facilitate the ordering of death certificate copies. First, you need to complete a simple online application. Second, you will need to pay the state fee and the service fee. Lastly, you will need to send the application package to the state Health Department, where afterwards you will receive the death certificate by mail. The entire process can be done without leaving home.
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How To Get A Death Certificate
A death certificate is a paper that records the official date and location of a person’s death.
The funeral director usually purchases several copies for your use.
In some cases, you might need a “certified” death certificate. A certified death certificate has security features that proves that the document is genuine. Depending on the county the death certificate is from, the death certificate can have a watermark, a raised seal, micro-printing, multi-colored background, heat sensitive ink, etc. A certified death certificate is good for legal purposes such as settling an estate or claiming insurance benefits.
Restrictions For Obtaining Death Records
To obtain a certified copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:
- The spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the
- Other persons who have a documented lawful right or claim, a documented medical need, or a New York State Court Order
An uncertified copy of a birth certificate issued within the last seventy-five years is available to a direct-line descendant who provides
- Proof of their relationship to the person whose birth certificate they are requesting
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How To Get A Copy Of A Ny Death Certificate
Contact the NY Department of Health and request a copy of a NY death certificate online, by mail or over the phone. You must meet the eligibility requirements and pay a nominal fee for a certified copy
Hello i am look for an relative who died in new york not sure about the year its in the late 60 her name is Armande Alice georgine shury her husband was Doctor Vibart shury there is a pending matter thats need the urgencey of the copy of death her adoptive daughter needs a copy please advise .Thank you.
squarryadministrator
Thank you for reaching out about our New York death record search. We would be happy to assist you with looking up a NY death records however, we cannot find the New York death record with the information you provide. That being said, if you need a certified copy of a death record, you should reach out to the New York State Department of Health, as they are the NY state run agency that manages and archives death records for the entire state. They can expedite a certified copy of the requested NY death record for an extra fee. Below is additional information on how to procure a copy of a NY death record for your convenience.
Download The Request Form
The first step is to download the official death certificate request form from the New York City Department of Health website. This form can be downloaded online or picked up in person at a county health office.
Once downloaded, print clearly and fill out as much information as possible. While you can submit your form in languages other than English, this delays processing times.
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Who Can Request A Death Certificate In New York
In New York state, you need to be an immediate family member or someone with a legal claim to request a death certificate. In addition, you need to show proper documentation and a photo ID to demonstrate eligibility.
If the above isnt true, you are not eligible to request a death certificate. This is to protect the privacy of families and the deceased. If you believe you might have a legal or authorized claim, talk to the agency about what type of documentation is needed.
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
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How Do I Obtain New York Death Records By Mail
The first way of obtaining death records in New York is by mail. How can you make a request for and obtain New York Death Records through mail? To make a mail request for New York Death Records, complete and mail the Application for Copy of Death Certificate along with a copy of valid photo ID and 2 utility bills that have your name on them to:
New York State Department of Health Vital Records Certification Unit 800 North Pearl Street Menands, NY 12204
In addition to the aforementioned documents, mail a pay order or cheque for the fee to above-mentioned address. The fee for the record will vary depending on how you want your application to be handled. The fee for priority handling is $45 while the fee for non-priority handling is $30.
Documents Required To Order A Death Certificate Online
In order to complete the death certificate application, the Health Department requires applicants to prove their identity by including a photocopy of their ID. Usually, it can be used the following documents: drivers license, state ID, passport. Some states require a notarized sworn statement.Check the acceptable IDs of the state you need your vital record here.
If you have lost all your IDs,we prepare a quick guide to know what to do in those cases.
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New York Death Certificate
Below is the information you’ll need in order to obtain a death certificate in New York, including qualifications, cost, required information, where to submit your application, and a link to the application you’ll need to fill out.
Note: This information does not apply to the five boroughs of New York City . For a death that occurred in New York City, .
What Are The Average Processing Times For New York Death Records
The fastest way to order a New York death record is online. These are considered priority orders and come at an extra cost . The current handling and processing time for online orders is between 5 and 10 days, not including shipping times.
Mail or in-person orders can take several weeks. The current processing times depend on the number of orders, and this can vary widely. For an update on your order status, you can check your application with the Vital Records Mail Order Status form.
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Deaths From 1850 Thru
After the failure of the 1847 law, no deaths were recorded in the towns comprising present-day New York City. For deaths in Manhattan between 1850 and 1852, in Brooklyn between 1850 and 1862, and in the towns of Queens, Richmond and Kings Counties before 1881, try searching substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.
| Records that give death information: |
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 DEATH CERTIFICATESNew York State Vital Records does not file and cannot issue copies of New York City death certificates. For events 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?New York death certificates are only issued to the spouse, parent, sibling or adult child of the decedent*. The applicant’s name must appear on the credit or debit card that is being used for payment.
Acceptable documentation is as follows:
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