Link To This Page — Contact Us —
New York Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
See Also Researching in Vital Records
Not until the mid-nineteenth century was any attempt made by the state of New York to mandate the keeping of vital records. This makes the use of substitutes, such as church, cemetery, census, and newspaper records, that much more important. A few vital records were entered into some early town records on Long Island and later in some towns along the eastern border, the latter evidently by New England settlers bringing with them a long standing tradition of such practice. However, the mass migration into New York just after the Revolution took place at a time when vital event recording slacked off greatly, even in New England.
How to Order New York Birth, Death, Divorce and Marriage Certificates
New York State Dept of Health, Vital Records Section, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237; (518) 474-3077, (518) 474-3038 Information, Fax: (518) 432-6286, Vital records registration started in New York State outside of New York City in 1881. Please allow up to approximately 7-8 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. Generally, the New York State Department of Health provides uncertified copies of the following types of records for genealogy research purposes:
- Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: Birth, Marriage & Death records maintained by New York State Dept of Health, since 1881 through the present. Genealogy copies are available for Birth records if on file for at least 75 years and the person whose name is on the certificate is known to be deceased. Genealogy copies are available for Marriage & Death records if on file for at least 50 years and the person whose name is on the certificate is known to be deceased. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
- Divorce Certificates: Divorce Certificates from Jan 1963. If the records are not available at the State office, they should be available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Since 1847 divorce actions in New York have been handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. New York divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years. In colonial times, petitions for divorce had to be made to the governor or legislature, and only a few were granted. The court of chancery granted divorces from 1787 to 1847. These older records are in the State Archives. Divorce records dating prior to July 1, 1847, are filed either at the New York State Archives (upstate counties) or the New York County Clerk's Office, 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007; phone (212) 374-4376 (downstate counties).
- Cost: The cost of a birth, marriage or death record is $22.00, Divorce Certificates are $30 - Fee is for verification only. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $22.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
- Processing Time: 7-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 days by ordering from Vital Records from Archives.com: Order Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records Online!
- Exceptions: The New York State Department of Health does not file records of birth, death and marriage from the Cities of Albany, Buffalo and Yonkers prior to January 1, 1914. To obtain records from these municipalities contact the Local Registrar for birth and death record requests or the City Clerk for marriage record requests. The addresses follow:
- For birth and death record requests Order Online or submit request to the Local Registrar of the appropriate city: City of Albany, Room 254M, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207 City of Buffalo, Room 1308, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202 City of Yonkers, Room 107, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701
- For marriage record requests Order Online or submit request to the City Clerk of the appropriate city: City Clerk, City of Albany, Room 202, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207 City Clerk, City of Buffalo, Room 1308, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202 City Clerk, City of Yonkers, Room 107, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701
- Ordering Vital Records - You can also order
- Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.
- Order In Person: The Vital Records Office provides eligible applicants with copies of birth and death certificates for births and deaths in New York State outside of New York City (1881-present), marriage licenses obtained in New York State outside of New York City (1880-present) and dissolution of marriage certificates for all of New York State (1963-present). The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office at 800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor - Room 200, Menands, NY 12204. The Vital Records customer service lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays.
- Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "New York Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section, Genealogy Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Please include return address on envelope and application form (Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Divorce Certificate.
