How to Get New York Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in New York are handled at the municipal level. Birth, death, and marriage records are maintained by local city or town clerks. The state office (City/Town Clerk (local) / DOH (state)) keeps duplicate copies.
What this page covers: New York vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact City/Town Clerk (local) / DOH (state). For marriage licenses, contact the City or Town Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Statewide vital-records agency
Parent agency
Information on vital records
Records back to
Marriage license issued by
Local intake
Population
19,867,248
Households
7,517,800
Median Income
$81,386
Median Home Value
$384,100
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: New York vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.health.ny.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
New York Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for New York — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — New York Vital Records
2026
New York vital records portal active
The official New York portal at www.health.ny.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements New York state records.
2026
New York access in 2026
For 2026, New York continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.health.ny.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE New York's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 4-Step New York Vital Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in New York, start with the New York health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
New York typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
New York records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About New York Vital Records
❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's New York birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including New York) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older New York marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A New York death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.health.ny.gov — Official New York Vital Records — State portal for New York vital records
- CDC National Vital Statistics System — National Vital Statistics System
- CDC — Where to Write for Records — CDC state-by-state directory
- National Archives — Vital Records — Federal genealogy & vital guide
- Social Security Death Master File — Social Security death records
- Census — Births and Deaths — Census Bureau vital statistics
- VA — Veterans Records — Veterans Administration records
Related Vital Records Resources
📍 Other New York records:
- New York Court Records →
- New York Criminal Records →
- New York Property Records →
- New York Voter Records →
- New York Wants & Warrants →
- New York Licenses →
- New York Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Vital Records in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Vital Records hub →
Related Public Records
More New York records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Vital Records Databases
17 official New York vital records sources.
Vital Records
Obits – Dansville Public Library
Official Free
Dansville Public Library has been servicing the Dansville, NY area for many years. A modern library with lots of history. The website features an online Catalog, Current Events, New Books, Obituaries, and much more.
Index to varied Vital Records - Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site
Official Free
The Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site is an attempt to gather in one place many of the public domain records for genealogical research in Delaware County, New York.
Index to varied Vital Records - Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site
Official Free
The Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site is an attempt to gather in one place many of the public domain records for genealogical research in Delaware County, New York.
Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records - New York State Department of Health
Official Free
New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Bronx County (The Bronx), Richmond County (Staten Island), and Queens County (Queens), contact: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or New York City Marriage Bureau. One exception: DOH keeps divorce certificates for both New York State and New York City.
Marriage licenses | City of Rochester, New York
Official Free
Couples wishing to obtain a marriage ... and 4:30 p.m. Civil marriage ceremonies can be scheduled after the couple has obtained a marriage license by calling 585-428-7421, Monday to Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ...
Genealogical Resources | Ulster County Clerk
Official Free
New York State Department of Health, Vital Statistics · Purple Mountain Press · Ulster County City, Town & Village Historians · Ulster County Genealogical Society · Ulster County Historian, Geoff Miller · Ulster County Poorhouse · Ulster Surrogate Court – Wills/Estate Proceedings · Series Descriptions · Record Index Databases ·
Series Descriptions & Record Indexes | Ulster County Clerk
Official Free
In 2002, the data was entered into ... These records are the earliest court and land records of Ulster County. From 1908 to 1926 county clerks were required to maintain indices or registers of marriages ....
Marriage Records, 1908-1935 - Personal Name Index
Official Free
Records Description: Index created by Archives’ staff and volunteers from volume indexes and County Clerk prepared indexes from 2 separate series (Series 169 and Series 183). Includes first and last names of brides and grooms, certificate number assigned by County Clerk’s office, and year of issuance of marriage license.
Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery - White Plains, New York
Official Free
Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery was removed to White Plains Rual Cemetery in May, 1963.
Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records
Official Free
Search or browse cemeteries and grave records for every-day and famous people from around the world. ... Please select a location with GPS coordinates indicated by a map icon() to continue. Please select a cemetery indicated by a Find a Grave icon() to continue. ... When searching in a cemetery, use the ? or * wildcards in name fields. ? replaces one letter. * represents zero to many letters. E.g. Sorens?n or Wil* Search for an exact birth/death year or select a range, before or after.
Onondaga County Cemetery Records, New York | Genealogy
Official Free
These records often supplement other sources such as census data, obituaries, and vital records, creating a more detailed picture of a person's life. Cemetery records published here were acquired from Onondaga County, NY cemeteries, churches, municipalities, associations and genealogists specifically for family history and local history research.
Vital Records - New York State: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress
Official Free
Marriage licenses "in the Province of New York," 1639 to 1784 .
Obituaries of Columbia Co., NY - Cliff Lamere
Official Free
He was also a social member of the Stuyvesant Falls Fire Company and a past president of the Columbia County Liquor Dealers Association. Besides his loving wife Rose, George is survived by several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by four brothers, Fred, Walter, Harold and Samuel Heintz; three sisters, Lydia Dusenbury, Pauline Keil and Ruth Heintz. Funeral services will be held 9:00 a.m. Thursday in St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Rt. 9, Valatie. Burial will follow in St.
NYC Municipal Archives
Official Free
Once again, Bob scanned the original indexes while Frank proofread and edited the results. To date, almost 31,000 pages have been scanned, processed, and edited, producing an online index to over 2,760,000 death certificates. We are in the process of computerizing many of the other New York City ...
Birth, Marriage, and Death Records | New York State Archives
Official Free
The indexes cover the entire state outside of New York City and start in June 1880 (deaths) or 1881 (marriages and births).Birth indexes are made available after 75 years, marriage and death indexes after 50 years. Birth indexes have been made available through 1937 only.An index entry states only the name of the person, date and place of event, and State certificate number.
Burial Services - Green-Wood
Official Free
In 1860, much of the land in this area was purchased by The Reformed Dutch Church of the City of Brooklyn for the burial of their parishioners . As the church’s burial yard had become overcrowded, and the space was needed to make way for new ...
Cemeteries
Official Free
A second list, compiled by Debbie Quick, has been published in the Newsletter for the Historical Association of South Jefferson. That designation is "Sou". The list of cemeteries on Fort Drum has no contact person available. It was published in an issue of the JCNYGS Informer. Jeanine McAvoy supplies information for Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, and Larry Corbett provides lookups for North Watertown.
New York Counties
62 New York counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I order a New York birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in New York are issued by the Official New York Vital Records at www.health.ny.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a New York death certificate?▼
New York death certificates are issued by the Official New York Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.health.ny.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a New York marriage or divorce record online?▼
New York marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official New York Vital Records (www.health.ny.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a New York vital record?▼
Standard New York vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official New York Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.health.ny.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a New York certified vital record?▼
The Official New York Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.health.ny.gov.