Search Rockland County Death Records

Rockland County death records are kept by the town and village clerks where the death took place. The county seat is New City. Death records in Rockland County follow the standard New York State model where local clerks serve as the registrars of vital statistics. The Rockland County Clerk at 1 South Main Street in New City has court records, land records, and marriage records from 1903 to 1935, but does not hold death certificates. This page shows you how to find death records from every available source in Rockland County.

Where to Find Rockland County Death Records

Death certificates in Rockland County come from the town or village clerk where the death happened. The Rockland County Clerk at 1 South Main Street, Suite 100, New City, NY 10956 does not keep death records. Phone: (845) 638-5070. Fax: (845) 638-5647. Email: rocklandcountyclerk@co.rockland.ny.us. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The County Clerk does have marriage records from 1903 to 1935, court records from 1798, land records, naturalization records from 1907 to 1960, and New York State censuses from 1855 to 1925. But for death certificates, you need the town clerk.

Rockland County has five towns: Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point. Each town clerk keeps the death records for their area. Villages like Nyack, Suffern, and Spring Valley have their own clerks too. If the death happened at Nyack Hospital, contact the Village Clerk of Nyack. Deaths at Good Samaritan or Community Hospital go through the Village Clerk of Suffern or Spring Valley, depending on which facility.

The screenshot below shows the NYS DOH page used for ordering death certificates.

This state page is the starting point for ordering Rockland County death records through the NYS Department of Health by mail or online.

State Death Records for Rockland County

The New York State Department of Health has Rockland County death records from 1881 to the present. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Online and phone orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a processing fee. Send mail to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.

You need one valid photo ID or two documents with your name and address. The spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased can order. Others need documented legal reasons. Include a check or money order payable to "NYS Department of Health." Do not send cash. The state is dealing with delays right now, so the local town clerk is often the faster option.

The Rockland County Department of Health at Pomona Health Complex, Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970 can point you to the right office. Phone: (845) 364-2600. They do not issue death certificates directly but can help you figure out which town clerk to contact.

Rockland County Surrogate's Court and Probate

The Rockland County Surrogate's Court at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956 handles probate matters. Phone: (845) 483-8300 or (845) 483-8330. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court has probate records from 1798 to the present, including wills, estates, and guardianships. Estate files from 1800 to 1939 and wills from 1798 to 1965 are available for genealogical research.

The WebSurrogate system lets you search probate records online for free. These records are not death certificates, but estate files often contain death dates, heir names, and property details that help with legal matters and family research.

Rockland County Death Records and Archives

The Rockland County Archives at Pomona Health Complex, Building S, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona, NY 10970 has an impressive collection. Phone: (845) 364-3670. Email: bandmanc@co.rockland.ny.us. Holdings include federal and state census records from 1855 to 1920, digitized marriage records from 1908 to 1935, naturalization records from 1812 to 1991, deeds and mortgages going back to the 1700s, surrogate court estate files from 1800 to 1939, and tax records from 1855 to 1964.

An onsite search kiosk lets you look through indexes and digitized collections. The County Historian at 12 Ashwood Lane, Garnerville, NY 10923 can also help with research. Phone: (845) 357-6383. The Genealogical Society of Rockland County offers guidance on researching local vital records and can point you to Family History Centers and other resources.

The New York State Death Index on FamilySearch covers Rockland County deaths from 1880 to 1956. It is free to search. The state archives in Albany have death indexes on microfiche from 1880 to 1943. Reclaim The Records has made several New York vital record indexes available for free on the Internet Archive.

Cities and Towns in Rockland County

Rockland County has several communities where death records are filed. The major towns are Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo, and Stony Point. The following cities have their own pages with more details on death records:

For deaths in Haverstraw or Stony Point, contact the town clerk directly. Marriage licenses are only available at town clerk offices in Rockland County.

Rockland County Death Records Fees

• Town or village clerk: $10 to $15 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
• County Clerk certified copies: $10 per document

The local town clerk is your cheapest and fastest option. The County Clerk fee applies to other record types, not death certificates.

Nearby Counties

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