Franklin County Death Records
Death records in Franklin County are on file with local town clerks and the New York State Department of Health starting from 1880. Franklin County sits in the northern part of New York near the Canadian border, with its county seat in Malone. The county was formed from Clinton County in 1808. Death certificates, probate files, and genealogy records are all available through different offices in the county. This guide explains where to go and who to contact for death records in Franklin County.
Franklin County Death Records Overview
Franklin County Death Records and Courts
The Franklin County Courthouse is at 355 West Main Street in Malone, NY 12953. The courthouse houses the Supreme Court, County Court, Surrogate's Court, and Family Court all under one roof. For death-related cases like probate and estate matters, the Surrogate's Court is the right place to call.
The Franklin County courts page has contact details for all court divisions in Malone.
The screenshot above shows the Franklin County courts page with contact numbers and hours for the Supreme, County, and Surrogate's Courts.
The Surrogate's Court phone is (518) 353-7350. Email: FranklinSurrogate@nycourts.gov. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Hon. Craig P. Carriero presides over the County, Family, and Surrogate's Courts. Fawn Tatro is the Chief Clerk. The court handles probate of wills, estate administration, guardianships, and adoptions. Estates under $50,000 may qualify for simplified small estate proceedings.
Franklin County Clerk
The Franklin County Clerk is Kip Cassavaw. The office is in Suite 248 at the Franklin County Courthouse, 355 West Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. Main phone: (518) 481-1681. Records management: (518) 481-1671.
The Franklin County Clerk page explains how to get vital records and other county documents.
This shows the Franklin County Clerk page with office details and directions for obtaining birth, death, and marriage records.
For death records, the clerk directs you to the town or city clerk where the death happened. You can also get records through the New York State Bureau of Vital Statistics at (518) 474-3077. The county clerk has land records from 1808 and naturalization records. The County Historian works out of the Franklin County Historical Society at 51 Milwaukee Street, Malone, NY 12953. Phone: (518) 483-2750.
How to Get Franklin County Death Records
Town clerks in Franklin County have death records from 1880. To get a certified copy, contact the clerk of the town where the death took place. The fee is typically $10. You need to bring valid photo ID and show that you are the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Other people need a documented legal right or a New York State Court Order.
The New York State Department of Health also has Franklin County death records from 1881. Mail orders cost $30. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a processing fee. The state is dealing with big delays right now. If you need records fast, try the local clerk first.
For genealogy, death certificates on file for 50 years or more are open to the public. Direct descendants can get copies without the waiting period. The NYS DOH genealogy program charges $22 for a one to three year search. The time periods are waived if you are a descendant, meaning a child or grandchild of the deceased. Nieces, nephews, and cousins do not count as descendants under this rule.
Genealogy Death Records in Franklin County
The Franklin County genealogy links page has resources for death record research in the area.
This page shows genealogy links for Franklin County including cemetery records, vital record sources, and research tools.
Franklin County is part of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System. Local libraries may have obituary collections, cemetery records, and newspaper indexes that can help with death record research. The county historian can also point you to local resources that the state office does not have.
The New York State Archives has microfiche death indexes from 1880 to 1943. You can search these for free at the Cultural Education Center in Albany. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have digitized records for Franklin County, including probate files and estate indexes. The WebSurrogate system lets you search estate proceedings online for free.
Franklin County Death Records and Surrogate's Court
The Franklin County Surrogate's Court in Malone handles probate and estate cases. When someone dies with property or assets, the estate usually goes through this court. Probate files list the date of death, names of heirs, and their relationship to the deceased. This makes probate records a good backup when you can not find the death certificate itself.
You can search estate records online through WebSurrogate. This is a free tool from the New York State court system. It covers all 62 counties. Franklin County probate records go back to 1808. Small estate proceedings for estates under $50,000 can be filed for just $1. Ancestry and FamilySearch have digitized many of the older Franklin County probate files.
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in Franklin County. That is good news for record seekers. The historical files are generally intact. Church records and cemetery records are other sources for death data before 1880. The county has a mix of Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches that kept records from the early 1800s. Local cemeteries have been transcribed by volunteers and are on NYGenWeb.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several other New York counties and sits near the Canadian border. Check these nearby county pages for additional death record sources: