Find Death Records in Putnam County

Putnam County death records are held by the town and village clerks throughout the county. The county seat is Carmel, and vital records in Putnam County date back to the early 1880s when New York started statewide registration. The Putnam County Clerk at 40 Gleneida Avenue in Carmel handles court and land records but does not keep death certificates. This page covers all the sources for Putnam County death records, from local clerks to the state health department and genealogy archives.

Where to Find Putnam County Death Records

Death records in Putnam County sit with the town clerks. Each town keeps records for deaths that happened in its borders. The Putnam County Clerk at 40 Gleneida Avenue, Room 100, Carmel, NY 10512 does not have death certificates. Phone: (845) 808-1142. The County Clerk deals with court records, land records, and legal filings.

The town clerks are the ones who hold the death records. Putnam County has several towns, and the dates their records start vary. Carmel has records from 1880. Brewster has them from 1902. Cold Spring and Nelsonville start at 1890. Kent and Philipstown go back to 1882. Patterson has records from 1879. Putnam Valley has some from 1847 to 1849 and then from 1882 onward. Southeast starts in 1882.

The screenshot below shows one of the state resources used for searching New York death records, which also covers Putnam County.

The NYS DOH page shown above is where you can start the process of ordering a certified death certificate by mail or online for any death that occurred in Putnam County.

If the death took place at a hospital or facility, the record goes to the clerk of the town where that building sits. So even if the person lived in one town, the death record may be in another if they died at a care center or hospital across a town line.

Ordering Putnam County Death Records From the State

The New York State Department of Health has Putnam County death records from 1881 to the present. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Send your request to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Include a completed form, a copy of your ID, and payment by check or money order made out to "NYS Department of Health."

Online and phone orders go through VitalChek at $45 plus a processing fee. You can pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or ACH electronic check. The state warns of significant delays. The local town clerk is usually faster. Call the Vital Records Call Center at (855) 322-1022 with questions.

You need to be the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Others must have a documented lawful right. An insurance company letter, a court order, or an estate filing can serve as proof. One valid photo ID is required. Without photo ID, you can submit two documents showing your name and address.

Putnam County Surrogate's Court and Probate Records

The Putnam County Surrogate's Court is at 44 Gleneida Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512. Phone: (845) 208-7860. This court handles wills, estates, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and estate files. Probate records often include the date of death and names of heirs.

For researchers, probate records can fill in details that a death certificate may not cover. The estate file might list property, debts, and family members. The WebSurrogate system lets you search Surrogate's Court records online for free. Not all records are fully online, but the index helps you know what to ask for.

Putnam County Archives and Historical Records

The Putnam County Historian at 68 Marvin Avenue, Brewster, NY 10509-1515 has some vital records holdings. Phone: (845) 808-1420. Email: historian@putnamcountyny.gov. The Historian's Office has Kent's vital records and Putnam Valley's records available for research. They also have scans and indexes of Brewster death records from 1913 to 1935.

The Putnam County Archives holds coroner records that can shed light on deaths going back to the 1800s. Their holdings include Coroner Records Filed with County Clerk from 1822 to 1896, Coroner Inquests from 1820 to 1913, and a Coroner Inquests Index covering 1820 to 1973. These records can be especially helpful for genealogy research when standard death certificates are not available.

Court records in the Archives date back before 1847 and were rescued from disposal by the county historian in the 1980s. They are somewhat disorganized but contain valuable information for family history researchers.

Putnam County Death Records for Genealogy

Death records over 50 years old are available for genealogy. The state charges $22 for a one to three year search of genealogy records. Wider search windows cost more. Direct line descendants can skip the 50 year waiting period with proof of relationship.

The FamilySearch Putnam County page lists records going back to 1880 for births, marriages, and deaths. Court and land records start at 1812. Wheeler's "Master Death Index: Putnam County, New York" is a two volume reference that covers Putnam County deaths comprehensively.

The Putnam County History Museum at 63 Chestnut Street, Cold Spring, NY 10516 has business records, photographs, manuscripts, maps, and genealogy files on local families. Phone: (845) 265-4010. The Brewster Public Library has digitized the Brewster Standard from 1870 to 1982, which includes obituaries. The Mahopac Public Library has the Putnam County Courier from 1849 to 1930 in digital form.

The New York State Archives in Albany has death record indexes on microfiche from 1880 to 1943 that include Putnam County. You can search these for free in person. The New York State Death Index on FamilySearch covers Putnam County deaths from 1880 to 1956 and is free to search online.

Putnam County Death Records Fees

• Town or village clerk: typically $10 per certified copy
• NYS DOH by mail: $30 per copy
• NYS DOH online or phone: $45 plus vendor processing fee
• Genealogy copies from NYS DOH: starting at $22
• Coroner records at County Archives: contact for fees

The local town clerk is the cheapest and often the fastest way to get a death certificate. Most charge around $10. The state costs more but works when you do not know which town to contact.

Nearby Counties

If the death took place near a county border, check these neighbors: