New York State Library | Genealogy
The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records provides birth and marriage records from 1881, death records from 1880 and divorce records from 1963. Divorce records are maintained for the entire state, including the five boroughs of New York City. New York State Vital Records does not maintain records filed in Albany, Buffalo or Yonkers prior to 1914. New York State does file birth records for Queens and Richmond counties for the years 1881 through 1897. Anyone may obtain records of births that occurred at least 75 years ago and records of marriages and deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago. Access to more recent records is restricted to immediate family members with proof of identity. The Department of Health adds index information only once a year.
The Bureau of Vital Records requires that requests for genealogical records--records for family history purposes, not needing certification for legal purposes--be submitted by mail, or you may obtain forms and submit genealogical requests at the Department of Health's Satellite Office in Menands (800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor). Submitting requests at the Satellite Office saves time. You cannot save time by mailing genealogical requests by faster than ordinary mail. Applications may also be dropped off in the New York State Archives reading room reception area on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center. Mail genealogical record requests with a check or money order made out to NYS Dept. of Health to:
| New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section, Genealogy Unit P.O. Box 2602 Albany, NY 12220-2602 |
Telephone: 518/474-2005 http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/ Genealogical copy fee: $22 |
Regular handling takes 8-10 weeks. The certified copy fee is $30 for a birth, death, divorce or marriage record. You may speed up requests for certified copies of genealogical records for legal purposes by sending the request, with your check or money order (made out to NYS Dept. of Health), to the address below via an overnight delivery service and including a prepaid overnight express return envelope. Priority handling takes up to two weeks and there is an extra $15 fee per certificate. Proper documentation and proper identification is required.
| For priority handling (up to 2 weeks), send overnight to: New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section/2nd Floor 800 North Pearl Street Menands, NY 12204 |
For regular handling (8-10 weeks), send to: New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section, Certification Unit P.O. Box 2602 Albany, NY 12220-2602 |
If you require rush service for a certificate for legal purposes (excluding genealogy), your order should be submitted via Internet (http://www.vitalchek.com), by phone (1-877-854-4481) or by fax (1-877-854-4607). A major credit card is required. Current processing fee is $69.95 for express service (5 business days) or $56.95 for regular mail delivery (10 business days).
Many city, town or village registrars/clerks can offer more expeditious service.
Microfiche copies of the Indexes to the vital records that are currently available to the public contain the following information: name, place, date, and certificate number. The Indexes are currently available upstate only at the New York State Archives, 11th Floor, Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230, 518-474-8955; and Rochester Public Library, 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604, 716-428-8440. Indexes at the State Archives in Albany can be used from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Records no longer provides access to the microfiche Indexes by appointment. The National Archives and Records Administration's Northeast Region office in New York City (201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4811, 212-401-1620) also has the Indexes.
The State Library has bound volumes of indexes to records for births, deaths and marriages in all five boroughs of New York City for the years 1907-1918 only. (Call number R,974.71,N532,87-1534) For other information contact the appropriate place:
| Order forms are available from:
New York City Department of Health |
For a telephone message with ordering options
for genealogical or certified vital records call: 212/788-4520 http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vr/vr.shtml |
| For records for births through 1909, deaths up to and including 1948, and marriages up to and including 1930 contact: | |
| Municipal Archives and Records Center 31 Chambers Street, Room 103 New York, NY 10007 212/639-9675 |
These are the years for which you may obtain records for
genealogical purposes. The phone message gives options. http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml |
| For records for births 1910 to present, deaths 1949 to present, and marriages 1931 to present contact a place below: | |
| New York City Department of Health 125 Worth Street, CN 4, Room 133 New York, NY 10013 (for births and deaths) or City Clerk 1 Center Street, Municipal Building New York, NY 10007 (for marriages) |
These are the years for which you may obtain records for legal purposes (certified copies) if you are properly qualified. The phone message gives options. |
Pre-1881 vital records. Some information may be found in local government records offices and in church or cemetery records. The Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in New York State, including New York City (R,016.312,H673) provides locations of early records. For locations of vital statistics in the United States and other countries consult The Source, a Guidebook of American Genealogy (R,929.1072073,qS724,84-35448).
Marriage bonds. Information on early marriage records may be found in New York Marriage Bonds, 1753-1783 (R,974.7,S427n) and New York Marriages Previous to 1784 (R,974.7,N548,1968). The marriage bonds which were salvaged from the remains of a 1911 fire are housed in the New York State Archives (518) 474-8955.
Other records. Vital records for the period before 1881 may be obtained from the New York State Library's extensive collection of New York State church (Protestant denominations only) and cemetery records. Access to these records is through the Library's Vital Records Card Index (available onsite only) or its online catalog (available at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov).
Out-of-State records. The State Library's collection contains published records of many churches and cemeteries in other states of the Northeast. Most public vital records for Rhode Island and Massachusetts prior to 1850 have been published: Vital Records of Rhode Island (R,974.5,qA75) and Vital Records of the Towns of Massachusetts (R,16.9744,qM4,80-32824).