New York City Death Records

New York City death records are handled by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The city does not use the New York State Department of Health for death certificates. All five boroughs fall under the same system. If someone died in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island, you go through the NYC DOH at 125 Worth Street or use VitalChek online. The Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street holds older death records for all five boroughs, which makes it a key stop for genealogy work.

How Death Records Work in New York City

New York City death records are separate from the rest of the state. The NYS Department of Health does not file death records for events that took place in the five boroughs. This is a big deal. It means you cannot request a New York City death certificate from Albany. You must go through the NYC Department of Health instead. The city DOH issues death certificates for all deaths in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

The main office is at 125 Worth Street, CN4, Room 133, New York, NY 10013. You can call them at (212) 788-4520. They handle recent death records. A death certificate costs $15 plus a processing fee. Most people just need the standard certificate, which shows the name, gender, and date of birth of the person who died. If you need the cause of death, that is on a separate confidential medical report. There is no extra charge for it.

When a funeral home is involved, the fastest way to get a death certificate is through the funeral director. They can order copies for up to one year after the death. If no funeral home is involved, an entitled person like a spouse, child, or domestic partner can place the order directly.

NYC Death Records Across Five Boroughs

Each of the five boroughs is also a county. Manhattan is New York County. Brooklyn is Kings County. Queens is Queens County. The Bronx is Bronx County. Staten Island is Richmond County. Despite being separate counties on paper, all five use the same NYC DOH system for death certificates. You do not go to a county clerk to get a death certificate in New York City. The county clerks here handle court filings, land records, and other legal matters.

This setup confuses a lot of people. In the rest of the state, you go to the town or city clerk for death records. In New York City, you go to the DOH. It is a completely different process. If someone died at a hospital in the Bronx, you still go to the same 125 Worth Street office in lower Manhattan, or you order online through VitalChek.

Ordering New York City Death Certificates Online

VitalChek is the only vendor authorized by the NYC Health Department to process death certificate orders. Be careful of unauthorized vendors who charge high fees. If you ordered through an unauthorized site, you can file a complaint with the NYC Department of Consumer Protection or call 311.

As of 2019, New York City birth and death certificates no longer have a raised seal. Instead, they are printed on certified paper with security features built in. This is normal and valid for all legal uses.

If the cause of death shows "pending" on the certificate, you can exchange it within 90 days of the issue date at no charge. For cases where the cause or manner is listed as "undetermined" or "pending further study," you should call the Medical Examiner at 212-447-2030.

NYC Municipal Archives for Historical Death Records

The NYC Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007 is the main source for older death records in the city. You can call them at (212) 639-9675. They hold birth, death, and marriage records for all five boroughs going back to various date ranges.

The NYC Department of Health screenshot below shows the official portal for ordering death certificates in New York City.

The NYC DOH death certificate page walks you through who can order, fees, and what to expect.

This is where most people start when they need a recent New York City death certificate.

Effective December 1, 2024, the NYC Health Department stopped accepting new requests for certified copies of 1949 death certificates. Those records are being transferred to the Municipal Archives. This transfer process is ongoing, so check back with the Municipal Archives for availability if you need a 1949 death record.

For genealogy research, the Municipal Archives is the better option than the DOH. They have death records going back much further. The archives also holds census data, court records, and other documents that can help piece together family histories.

Historical Death Records Database

The NYC Municipal Archives maintains an online database of historical vital records. This is the screenshot of the archives genealogy page.

The NYC Municipal Archives genealogy portal lets you search for older birth, marriage, and death records from all five boroughs.

Some records are indexed and can be searched online, though you may still need to visit in person for full copies.

The NYC Historical Vital Records Database lets you search an index of older records. This is free to use. It covers death records from the late 1800s through mid-1900s for all boroughs. You can search by name and get basic information. To order a full copy, you still need to contact the Municipal Archives or DOH depending on the date.

New York State Archives and Other Sources

Although the NYS DOH does not hold New York City death records, the New York State Archives in Albany has microfilm indexes that cover some historical death data. For the period 1881 through 1897, the NYS DOH does have records of birth for the boroughs of Queens and Richmond. This is a narrow exception, but it matters for genealogy researchers looking at older records from those areas.

The state archives image below shows the research guide for vital records.

The NYS Archives vital records page explains which records they hold and which must be obtained from local offices.

This is a good resource for understanding the split between city and state record systems.

Fees and Processing Times

A standard New York City death certificate costs $15 plus a processing fee. If you order through VitalChek online, there will be an extra vendor fee on top of that. In-person orders at the 125 Worth Street location are the cheapest option. Mail-in requests are also possible.

Processing times vary. In-person orders can sometimes be done the same day. Mail requests take longer, usually a few weeks. Online orders through VitalChek have their own turnaround times, and expedited shipping is available for an extra fee.

For genealogy copies through the Municipal Archives, expect different fees and wait times. Archives requests tend to take longer because staff must pull older records from storage. Plan ahead if you need historical death records for family research or legal matters.

Who Can Order a New York City Death Certificate

Not just anyone can order a death certificate in New York City. You need to be an entitled person. The list includes:

• Spouse or domestic partner of the deceased
• Child or parent of the deceased
• Informant listed on the certificate
• Person in control of the disposition of remains
• Attorney representing an entitled party
• Funeral director (within one year of death)

If you do not fall into one of these groups, you may still be able to get an uncertified copy for genealogy if the record is old enough. The 50-year rule applies to most genealogy requests in New York State, though NYC may have its own specific policies. Contact the Municipal Archives at (212) 639-9675 if you are unsure.

WebSurrogate Court Records

Death records sometimes come up in the context of estates and probate. The WebSurrogate Court Records system lets you search for probate filings across New York State, including the five boroughs. If someone died and left an estate, the Surrogate's Court in the corresponding county would handle the probate. This can be a useful secondary source for confirming a death or finding related documents.

For Kings County, the Surrogate's Court handles probate for Brooklyn. Each borough has its own Surrogate's Court, but they all feed into the same statewide WebSurrogate search system.

Tips for Finding NYC Death Records

Start with the exact borough where the death took place. Even though the same office handles all five boroughs, knowing the location narrows your search. If you are looking for an old record and are not sure which borough, try the Municipal Archives index first.

The New York State Death Index covers some historical New York City records and is free to search. It does not have everything, but it can help you find a date or verify details before you order a certificate.

For genealogy researchers, Reclaim the Records has been working to make more New York City vital records publicly accessible. They have filed Freedom of Information requests to get indexes and other data released. Check their site for updates on what is available.

Remember that New York City death records are separate from the state system. If you call the NYS DOH in Albany, they will tell you to contact the city. Save yourself the time and go directly to the NYC DOH or Municipal Archives. The phone number for the NYC DOH vital records office is (212) 788-4520. The Municipal Archives can be reached at (212) 639-9675.

Nearby Cities with Death Records

If the person you are researching lived near New York City but died outside the five boroughs, you will need to check a different office. Nearby qualifying cities include Yonkers in Westchester County, Hempstead in Nassau County, and North Hempstead also in Nassau County. Each of these has its own clerk who maintains local death records. For deaths that took place in the suburbs, the local town or city clerk is usually the place to start.