Find Yonkers Death Records

Yonkers death records have a special status in New York. Like Buffalo and Albany, Yonkers is one of only three cities where the New York State Department of Health does NOT hold death records from before January 1, 1914. For pre-1914 records, you must go to the Yonkers Local Registrar at Room 107, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701. The city clerk can be reached at (914) 377-6300. Yonkers sits in Westchester County and has a population of about 200,000.

Pre-1914 Yonkers Death Records

This is the key thing to understand about Yonkers death records. The NYS Department of Health does not have birth, death, or marriage records from Yonkers before January 1, 1914. If you call Albany asking for a pre-1914 Yonkers death record, they will tell you they do not have it. You must contact the Yonkers Local Registrar instead.

The Yonkers Local Registrar is in Room 107 of City Hall. The phone number is (914) 377-6300. This office holds the city's vital records that predate the state's filing system. Only three cities in all of New York have this exception: Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers.

For death records from 1914 forward, you can go to either the Yonkers city clerk or the NYS Department of Health. The local option is cheaper and faster. The state charges $30 by mail or $45 online.

Yonkers City Clerk and Death Certificates

The Yonkers city clerk holds vital records that are not available from the state. This makes Yonkers unique even among cities in Westchester County. The clerk's office is the primary source for death certificates for deaths that happened in Yonkers. You will need to bring a valid photo ID and prove your eligibility.

Here is the City of Yonkers official website.

The City of Yonkers website provides contact information and links to city services.

Visit the site for current hours, fees, and application forms.

The standard fee for a death certificate from a local clerk in Westchester County is $10 per certified copy. Marriage certificates and birth certificates are also $10 each. The clerk can process in-person requests during regular business hours. Call ahead if you need to confirm walk-in availability.

Yonkers Death Records and County Resources

Yonkers is part of Westchester County. The county has its own resources for death record research. The Westchester County Department of Health at 145 Huguenot Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801 maintains some vital records. Death certificates cost $10 per copy through the county health department as well.

The Westchester County Clerk at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601 handles court records, land records, and divorce filings. The phone is (914) 995-3080. They do not issue death certificates. For that, you go to the city or town clerk where the death took place, or to the county health department.

The Westchester County Archives at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 has naturalization records and historical county records. The phone is (914) 231-1500. If you are doing genealogy research, the archives can be a useful supplement to the vital records you get from the clerk.

The Westchester County Surrogate's Court at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 19th Floor, White Plains, NY 10601 handles probate. The phone is (914) 824-5656. You can search for estate filings through the WebSurrogate system.

Ordering Options and Fees

You have several ways to get a Yonkers death certificate. Going to City Hall in person is the cheapest at $10. The New York State DOH charges $30 by mail or $45 online. VitalChek, the authorized online vendor, adds its own processing fee on top of the state charge.

For genealogy copies, death records on file for at least 50 years can be released as uncertified copies. The state charges $22 for a three-year search. Wider searches cost more. Processing through the state can take eight months or more. Check with the Yonkers clerk about their genealogy process, as local offices tend to be faster.

The Westchester County death records go back to 1880 in the state system. For pre-1880 records, you may need to check church records, cemetery records, or other local sources. The New York State Death Index covers 1880 to 1956 and is free online.

Eligibility for Yonkers Death Records

You must be an eligible applicant to get a certified death certificate. Eligible people include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Attorneys with a legal need can also request copies on firm letterhead. A court order grants access if you do not fall into the standard categories.

Bring a valid photo ID to the clerk's office. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID are all accepted. Without photo ID, two utility bills or government letters showing your name and address may work. The clerk will check your identity and eligibility before releasing the record.

Historical Yonkers Death Records

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society has guides for Westchester County research. The New York State Archives in Albany has microfilm indexes of death records from 1880 to 1956. You can search these in person at the Cultural Education Center.

For Yonkers specifically, the city clerk's office is the most important source for pre-1914 records. No other office in the state has those records. If you are tracing a death in Yonkers from the late 1800s or early 1900s, the city clerk is the only place to go.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Several other qualifying cities are near Yonkers in Westchester County. Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains, and Greenburgh all have their own clerks handling death records. To the south, New York City uses a completely different system through the NYC DOH. If the death happened in the Bronx, which borders Yonkers, you need the NYC system, not Westchester.