Access Onondaga County Death Records

Onondaga County death records go back to 1873, which is earlier than most New York counties. This is a consolidated county for vital records, meaning the Onondaga County Health Department holds all death certificates for the entire county, not individual town clerks. The county seat is Syracuse, the fifth largest city in New York State with about 148,000 people. Onondaga County has around 476,000 residents total. If you need a death record from anywhere in Onondaga County, you go through one central office. That makes the process more straightforward than in most other parts of the state.

Onondaga County Death Records and Vital Records

Onondaga County is one of four consolidated counties in New York for vital records. The others are Chemung, Monroe, and Tompkins. In a consolidated county, the county health department keeps all birth, death, and marriage records instead of the individual town clerks. This is a big advantage for people searching for Onondaga County death records because you only have to deal with one office.

The Onondaga County Office of Vital Statistics is at the Onondaga County Health Department, 421 Montgomery Street, Room 20, Syracuse, NY 13202. Phone is (315) 435-3241. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. They have death records from 1873 to the present. Death records must be on file for 50 years before they can be searched for genealogy purposes by non-family members.

The collection is in closed stacks. Searches are not done on demand. They can take several weeks. You can make a request in person or by mail. If you need the record fast, you may want to try the state system too, though that comes with its own delays.

Getting Onondaga County Death Records from the State

The New York State Department of Health also has Onondaga County death records from 1881 forward. Mail orders are $30 per copy. Send forms to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a processing fee. Call (855) 322-1022 for phone orders.

You need valid photo ID with your request. The spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased can order a certified copy. Others need a documented lawful right, such as an insurance company letter or a court order. The state has significant processing delays right now. For Onondaga County records, you have the option of going through the county health department instead, which may be faster for some requests.

Onondaga County Death Records at the Clerk

The Onondaga County Clerk at the Onondaga County Court House, 401 Montgomery Street, Room 200, Syracuse, NY 13202-2568 does not hold death certificates. Phone is (315) 435-2227, email LisaDell@ongov.net, hours Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk keeps directories from 1851, mortgage records from 1792, civil actions from 1892, marriage records from 1908 to 1935, naturalization records from 1808, census records from 1850 to 1925, military records from WWI forward, and deeds from 1794. But for death records, you must go through the county health department or the state.

Syracuse City Records

The City of Syracuse is one of the few cities in New York State that holds some early vital records not available at the state Department of Health. The Syracuse City Clerk at 231 City Hall, 233 East Washington Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, phone (315) 448-8216, may have older death records. Since Onondaga County is consolidated, most death records are at the county health department. But for very early records, checking with the city clerk is worth a try.

Onondaga County Death Records for Genealogy

The NYS DOH genealogy program offers uncertified copies of death records at least 50 years old. Fees start at $22 for a one to three year search. Direct descendants can request copies without the 50 year wait. The New York State Archives has free microfiche death indexes from 1880 to 1943 that include Onondaga County.

The Onondaga County Public Library at 447 South Salina Street, 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202-2494, phone (315) 435-1900, email lhg@onlib.org, has an extensive genealogy and local history collection for Onondaga County and central New York. The Onondaga Historical Association Museum and Research Center at 321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, phone (315) 428-1864, is another resource.

The Central New York Genealogical Society at PO Box 404, Colvin Station, Syracuse, NY 13205, email cnygs@yahoo.com, publishes Tree Talks quarterly with abstracts of genealogical records from central New York counties. The New York State Death Index on FamilySearch covers 1880 to 1956 for free. Onondaga County Poorhouse records from 1827 on FamilySearch Film 1993147 include birth and death records for paupers.

Onondaga County Surrogate's Court

The Onondaga County Surrogate's Court at 401 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, NY 13202-2568, phone 315-671-2100, handles probate and estate cases. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Records include guardianships, estates, and wills indexed by surname going back to 1790. You can search online through WebSurrogate.

Nearby Counties and Cities

Onondaga County borders several counties in central New York. Oswego County is to the north. Madison County is to the east. Cortland County is to the south. Cayuga County is to the west. Oneida County is to the northeast.

The City of Syracuse is the county seat and largest city. The Town of Clay is also in Onondaga County and has its own page. Since Onondaga County is consolidated, death records for both Syracuse and Clay go through the county health department. For death records in a neighboring county, you would need to contact that county's clerks or the state.