Find Death Records in Colonie

Death records for the Town of Colonie are held by the Colonie Town Clerk at Memorial Town Hall in Newtonville. Colonie is the largest town in Albany County and sits right next to the city of Albany, the state capital. The town clerk keeps a permanent record of all deaths that happen within town limits. Unlike the City of Albany, Colonie's death records go through the state system normally. There is no pre-1914 gap here. This page shows you how to get Colonie death records and what genealogy resources are in the area.

Where to Get Colonie Death Records

The Colonie Town Clerk is the primary office for death records in Colonie. The address is Memorial Town Hall, 534 Loudon Road, Newtonville, NY 12128. Phone is (518) 783-2734. You can also try the alternate number at (518) 783-3409. Email is deltortoe@colonie.org. The current Town Clerk is Elizabeth A. DelTorto.

The clerk maintains permanent records of all births and deaths that happen within the Town of Colonie. They also keep all marriage licenses purchased in Colonie. For a death certificate, visit the office with your photo ID and the $10 fee. The clerk can usually process your request during the visit. You can also call ahead to confirm hours and what you need to bring.

The Town of Colonie website shown below has department contact info and town services.

From this site you can reach the clerk's office for Colonie death records questions and requests.

Albany County and Colonie Death Records

Colonie is in Albany County. One important point: the pre-1914 records issue that affects the City of Albany does not apply to Colonie. Albany city death records before 1914 are not at the state, but Colonie town records should be available through the Colonie Town Clerk and the state for the normal period (1881 onward). This is because the pre-1914 exception only applies to the cities of Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers, not the surrounding towns.

The Albany County Hall of Records is at 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. Phone is (518) 487-5100. They hold deeds, mortgages, divorce records, Supreme Court records, naturalization indexes, and tax rolls for Albany County towns going back to 1813. They do not issue death certificates.

The Albany County Surrogate's Court handles wills, probate, and estate matters for all of Albany County including Colonie. You can search some records online through the WebSurrogate system. If someone in Colonie died and left an estate, the probate file ends up here.

How to Get Colonie Death Records

Visit the Colonie Town Clerk at Memorial Town Hall during business hours. Bring your photo ID and $10. For mail requests, write to the Town Clerk, Memorial Town Hall, 534 Loudon Road, Newtonville, NY 12128. Include the deceased person's name, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for $10.

The state is another option. The New York State Department of Health keeps death records from 1881 for all of New York outside NYC. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a fee. Mail to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Phone is (855) 322-1022. Since Colonie is right next to Albany, you could even visit the state office at 800 North Pearl Street in Menands (which is actually in the Town of Colonie) or drop off an application at the NYS Archives on Madison Avenue.

Only the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased can get a certified copy without extra documentation. Others need to show proof of a lawful right or claim. Valid ID includes a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you do not have photo ID, two documents with your name and address will work.

Colonie Death Records for Genealogy

The Colonie Town Clerk offers uncertified copies of death records for genealogy research. Death records must be on file for 50 years or more. The clerk can also provide uncertified copies of birth and marriage certificates under the same genealogy rules.

The Historical Society of the Town of Colonie at Memorial Town Hall in Newtonville can help with local history research. Phone is (518) 782-2593 and email is historian@colonie.org. The Town Historian is available by appointment and maintains collections related to Colonie's past.

The William K. Sanford Town Library at 629 Albany-Shaker Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 has reference works, city directories, maps, oral history tapes, a newspaper clipping file, local church records, and family histories. Phone is (518) 458-9274. This is a solid starting point for Colonie genealogy research.

Being close to Albany gives Colonie residents easy access to the New York State Archives at the Cultural Education Center, 222 Madison Avenue. The archives have microfiche indexes to deaths from 1880 to 1943 that you can search for free in person. Staff are available Monday through Saturday. The New York State Death Index at newyorkdeathindex.com covers 1880 to 1956 and is free to search online from anywhere.

Colonie Death Records Fees and Processing

A certified death certificate from the Colonie Town Clerk costs $10. This is the standard fee across most New York town clerks. The state charges $30 by mail and $45 online. Genealogy copies from the state start at $22 for a one to three year search. The local clerk may charge a different fee for genealogy requests, so call ahead to confirm.

Walk-in requests at Memorial Town Hall are usually handled the same day. Mail orders take one to two weeks depending on how busy the office is. The state office in Albany can take several months right now because of processing backlogs. Since Colonie is right next to Albany, you have the option of visiting the state office in person at 800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor, Menands. That building is technically in Colonie. In-person delivery at the state office may speed things up compared to mailing your request.

Note that the Village of Colonie is separate from the Town of Colonie. If a death occurred within the village limits, the Village Clerk at (518) 869-7562 may have the record instead of the town clerk. Check both offices if you are having trouble finding a particular death record in the Colonie area.

Nearby New York Cities

Other cities near Colonie with death records pages on this site: