New York City and State Vital Records
New York City and New York State maintain separate vital records offices. Differing rates and procedures apply in the two jurisdictions. Navigating your way through the different jurisdictions and laws that have governed vital record creation in New York can be a bit confusing. I offer a brief summary of the available records below. New York City Vital Records:
Records Available in New York City:
There are gaps in some of the earlier years and the earliest vital information was recorded in register form - not individual records. Please email for further details.
Ordering a Record:
New York State Vital Records:
The New York State Department of Health has jurisdiction over all of the state 'outside of the five boroughs of NYC.' Beginning in 1881, state law mandated that vital records be kept. Records are maintained by the local registrars of vital statistics (usually the town/village clerk) in each locality, with a copy sent to the State Department of Health in Albany. All vital records created in NY State are subject to the state privacy law, which mandated that birth records be closed for 75 years, and marriage and death records be closed for 50 years. Older records are considered genealogical and are open access. Records that fall within the preceding time periods may only be obtained by a decendant and/or next of kin, and to settle certain legal matters.
Ordering a Record:
Certified copies of later vital records will be provided to descendants/next of kin and to settle certain legal matters. I can obtain copies of certified vital records within two weeks time, by ordering directly from the Department of Health in Albany. Applicants will be required to fill out the application stating their relationship to the individual whose record is sought. A notarized statement of their relationship to the the individual must be provided as well. If you do need a certified copy of a NY State vital record, please contact me and I will be happy to go over the particulars with you. It can be a rather cumbersome process, but if the proper documentation is provided, I can expedite things greatly by ordering the records in person.
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