Access Cortland County Death Records

Death records in Cortland County begin in 1882, which is slightly later than most other New York counties. The county seat is the City of Cortland, and the county was carved out of Onondaga County in 1808. Cortland County has about 48,000 residents spread across 17 towns and a few villages. The County Clerk does not hold vital records, so death certificates come from the town clerks or the New York State Department of Health. The Cortland County Historical Society also has early vital records from the 1840s that can help with genealogical research. Here is what you need to know to find Cortland County death records.

Where to Find Cortland County Death Records

The Cortland County Clerk at 46 Greenbush Street, Suite 105, Cortland, NY 13045 does not maintain birth, death, or marriage certificates. Call (607) 753-5021 for other record types. The clerk holds marriage records, divorce records, court records, land records, and naturalization files. But death certificates live with the town clerks. Each of the 17 towns in Cortland County has its own clerk who files death records for deaths in their jurisdiction.

Cortland County towns with clerk offices include Cincinnatus, Cortland, Cortlandville, Cuyler, Freetown, Harford, Homer, Lapeer, Marathon, McGraw, Preble, Scott, Solon, Taylor, Truxton, Virgil, and Willet. The VitalRec Cortland County town clerks page has contact details for each one. For example, the Homer Town Clerk is at Town Hall, 31 North Main Street, Homer, NY 13077, phone (607) 749-4581.

You can also get Cortland County death records from the NYS Department of Health. Mail orders cost $30. Online orders through VitalChek are $45 plus a processing fee. The state has records from 1882 forward for Cortland County.

Cortland County Death Certificate Process

To get a death certificate from a Cortland County town clerk, you need the right ID and a valid reason. Spouses, parents, children, and siblings of the deceased can request copies. Others need to show a documented lawful right, a medical need, or a court order. Bring a valid photo ID to the town clerk's office, or include a photocopy with your mail request.

Each town clerk sets their own fees, but most charge around $10 for a certified copy of a death certificate. Payment methods vary by town. Some accept only checks and money orders for mail requests. Walk-in payments may also include cash. Call the specific town clerk before visiting to confirm their hours and payment options.

The Cortland County Clerk's Office does not do research on behalf of requestors. You will need to do your own searching, though staff can help you find the right materials once you are in the office.

Cortland County Death Records and Historical Society

The Cortland County Historical Society at 25 Homer Avenue in Cortland has a research center called the Kellogg Memorial Research Center. This is a key resource for anyone researching Cortland County death records from before the official registration period. Their holdings include town clerk registers of deaths, births, and marriages for 1847, 1848, and 1849. These are actual documents with an index, not just transcriptions.

The society also has "Vital Records from the Newspapers of Cortland County, NY 1815-1840," compiled by Halsey Stevens in 1937. This collection includes death notices extracted from local newspapers that predate any official government registration by decades. Cemetery records, obituaries, and family files are also available for research. Books, census records, city directories, genealogies, maps, photographs, and town histories round out the collection.

One important note: the Historical Society does not have official birth records, death records, property deeds, or marriage records. Those are government records held by other offices. What the society has are compiled and transcribed records, newspaper extracts, and genealogical files that supplement the official sources.

Death Records at Cortland County Surrogate's Court

The Cortland County Surrogate's Court is at 46 Greenbush Street, Suite 303, Cortland, NY 13045. Phone (607) 218-3335, email CortlandSurrogate@nycourts.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The court is presided over by Hon. David C. Alexander. Probate records go back to 1808 when the county was formed.

Probate files are a useful back door for death information. When someone dies with property, the estate goes through the Surrogate's Court. The file includes the death date, names of heirs, and their relationships. A certified death certificate is required to open probate, which confirms a death record was issued. The court now requires mandatory e-filing for all estate proceedings, with an opt-out form available for those unable to file online. You can search records through WebSurrogate.

Cortland County Death Records Screenshots

The Cortland County Historical Society has pre-1880 death information through newspaper abstracts and town clerk registers.

The Kellogg Memorial Research Center holds town clerk death registers from 1847 to 1849 and newspaper vital records going back to 1815, making it essential for pre-registration era research.

The VitalRec town clerks directory lists contact information for all Cortland County town clerks who handle death certificate requests.

This page shows the address and phone number for each town clerk in Cortland County, along with guidance on how to request vital records from the right office.

Cortland County Death Records Preservation

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in Cortland County. That means the historical records going back to the county's founding in 1808 are generally intact and well preserved. State census records are also available through the county clerk for various years. Court records go back to 1808. Land records start at the same year. Naturalization records are on file as well.

The county keeps state census originals for several years, which can help researchers narrow down when a person was alive and therefore estimate a death date. Federal census records are accessible through online databases like Ancestry and FamilySearch.

Nearby Counties

Cortland County borders Onondaga County to the north, Cayuga County to the northwest, Tompkins County to the west, Tioga County to the south, Broome County to the southeast, and Chenango County to the east. If the death happened in one of those counties instead, you will need to contact that county's town clerks or the state health department.