Find Utica Death Records
Death records for Utica are maintained by the Utica Department of Vital Records at 1 Kennedy Plaza. Utica sits in Oneida County in central New York and began keeping vital records before the 1880 state mandate. The city registrar holds death records for all deaths that occurred within Utica, including those at local hospitals. This page covers how to get death certificates, who can order them, and where to find older records for genealogy research.
Utica Death Records Overview
Utica Department of Vital Records
The Utica Department of Vital Records is the primary office for death records in the city. It is located at 1 Kennedy Plaza, Utica, NY 13501. The phone number is (315) 738-0218. This office keeps records for all deaths that happened in Utica, plus deaths at several local hospitals.
Hospital records can be complicated. Deaths at St. Elizabeth's Hospital are with the Utica vital records office. Deaths at St. Luke's Memorial Hospital before May 1957 are also here. But after May 1957, St. Luke's records went to the New Hartford Town Clerk. Deaths at Faxton Hospital through May 1, 1973 are on file at the Utica office too. If you are not sure where a death was recorded, call the office and they can check.
You will need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of your relationship. The same state eligibility rules apply: spouse, parent, child, sibling, or someone with a documented legal claim can get a certified copy.
The City of Utica website has details about city services and department contacts.
The Utica city website shown above provides contact information and links to city departments including the vital records office.
Utica Death Records and Oneida County
The Oneida County Clerk is at 800 Park Avenue, Utica, NY 13501. The phone number is (315) 798-5794. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. One thing that is important to know: in New York, the county clerk does not handle birth, death, or marriage records. Those stay with the local town or city clerk where the event took place.
So if someone died in Utica, you go to the Utica Department of Vital Records. If they died in another town in Oneida County, you contact that town's clerk. The county clerk can help with property records, court filings, and other public documents. They can also tell you which town clerk to contact if you are not sure where a death was registered.
The county clerk website lists all the hospital record locations for the area. This is useful because several hospitals in Oneida County have changed hands or closed over the years, and the records may have moved to different offices.
Utica Death Records for Genealogy
Utica is a good place for genealogy research. The city began recording vital events before the 1880 state mandate. For records prior to 1880, you need to contact the Utica City Clerk's office directly since the state will not have those. The New York State Archives in Albany has Utica death indexes from 1880 to 1966 on microfiche (with a 50-year privacy restriction).
The Utica Public Library at 303 Genesee Street is one of the locations in New York that has microfiche indexes to vital records certificates held by the NYS Department of Health. You can visit the library and search these indexes yourself at no charge. The phone number is (315) 735-2279.
The Utica Public Library website has information about their genealogy collection and research services.
The Utica Public Library shown above is one of the statewide locations with microfiche vital records indexes for death records research.
The New York State Death Index covers 1880 to 1956 and is free to search online. It will give you the name, date, and county of death so you know exactly where to send your request. The New York State Archives in Albany has additional indexes you can search in person.
How to Order Utica Death Records
The most direct route is to visit the Utica Department of Vital Records at 1 Kennedy Plaza. Call ahead at (315) 738-0218 to check hours and any appointment requirements. Bring your ID and any documents proving your eligibility.
You can also go through the New York State Department of Health. The state has Utica death records from 1881 on (but not the pre-1880 records the city holds). Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Send your request with ID and payment to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Make the check out to NYS Department of Health. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a fee.
State processing times are very long right now. The local Utica office is usually faster for recent records. For older records used in genealogy, the state charges $22 for a search of one to three years. Wider searches cost more. The fee goes up with each wider range you request.
Death Records and Surrogate's Court
When someone dies in Utica, their estate may go through Oneida County Surrogate's Court. These records include wills, letters testamentary, estate inventories, and probate filings. They are not death certificates, but they have details about the deceased that can be very helpful for legal matters and family research.
The WebSurrogate system from the New York courts lets you search Surrogate's Court records online for free. You can look up cases by name and find filing dates, case details, and some documents. Not every county is fully online, but the system keeps adding more. For Oneida County cases not online, contact the Surrogate's Court clerk at the county courthouse.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the area with death records information: