Schuyler County Death Records

Schuyler County death records are maintained by the town and village clerks where the death took place. The county seat is Watkins Glen. The Schuyler County Clerk at 105 9th Street in Watkins Glen handles court records, land records, and divorce records, but not death certificates. Birth and death records sit with the town or village clerk offices. This page covers all the ways to get death records in Schuyler County, from local clerks to the state health department and genealogy resources.

Where to Get Schuyler County Death Records

The Schuyler County Clerk is at 105 9th Street, Unit 8, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Phone: (607) 535-8133. Fax: (607) 535-8130. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Clerk Theresa Philbin heads the office. The Clerk has divorce records, court records from 1854, land records from 1854, state census records, and naturalization records.

Death records are at the town or village clerk level. You need to know which town or village the death took place in, then contact that clerk. Schuyler County has seven towns: Cayuta, Dix, Hector, Montour, Orange, Reading, and Tyrone. The villages are Watkins Glen (the county seat), Montour Falls, and Odessa.

The Schuyler County Clerk's office is researcher friendly. There is no search fee. Copies cost $0.50 per page. The office is open for research from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with no charge for using the facility. When you write for records, include the record type, full name, spouse's name, and approximate dates. The courthouse records are well maintained and go back to 1854.

The screenshot below shows the state page for ordering death certificates that also covers Schuyler County.

This NYS DOH page is where you order Schuyler County death records through the state by mail or online.

State Department of Health Orders

The New York State Department of Health has Schuyler 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 requests to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.

You need the spouse, parent, child, or sibling relationship, or a documented legal reason. Include one photo ID or two documents with your name and address. Make checks payable to "NYS Department of Health." The state has significant delays. The local town clerk is quicker if you know where the death happened. Call (855) 322-1022 for questions.

Schuyler County Surrogate's Court

The Schuyler County Surrogate's Court is at 105 9th Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Phone: (607) 535-7144. Chief Clerk Amanda Riley handles inquiries. The court has probate records from 1854, wills, guardianship records, and estate files. Probate records on microfilm go back to 1829. The probate index covers 1855 to 1970.

State law requires a fee per record to search for records over 25 years old, whether or not they find anything. Microfilm records may be orderable through local Family History Centers. The WebSurrogate system provides free online searches for some probate records.

The Family Court is also at 105 9th Street, Unit 35. Phone: (607) 228-3350. Email: SchuylerFC@nycourts.gov. Average records can be sent by mail, email, or fax. Official or licensed records can only go by mail.

Schuyler County Death Records for Genealogy

The Schuyler County Historian is at 3460 County Route 28, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Phone: (607) 535-4577. The historian has obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files. These resources can help fill in details about deaths when a certificate is not available.

The Schuyler County Historical Society Museum is at 108 N. Catharine Street (Rt. 14), P.O. Box 651, Montour Falls, NY 14865. Phone: (607) 535-9741. Email: info@schuylerhistory.org. They do research by mail for a small fee and have a Facebook page and group for connecting with other researchers.

The Watkins Glen Public Library at 610 S. Decatur Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891 has local history resources. Phone: (607) 535-2346. Email: watkins@stls.org. The library can help you access genealogy databases and local records.

The New York State Death Index on FamilySearch covers Schuyler County deaths from 1880 to 1956 and is free to search. The New York State Archives has death indexes on microfiche from 1880 to 1943. Death records over 50 years old are available for genealogy without a family tie. Direct line descendants can skip the 50 year wait. The genealogy fee from the state starts at $22 for a one to three year search.

Keep in mind that Schuyler County was formed from parts of Steuben, Chemung, and Tompkins Counties in 1854. If you are looking for a death that took place before that year, the record may be filed under one of those parent counties instead. Check the town name against the original county borders to know where to look. The Schuyler County Historian can help sort out these boundary questions.

Schuyler 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
• County Clerk research copies: $0.50 per page

The town clerk is the cheapest route. The County Clerk's office is free to use for on site research with copies at $0.50 per page, though they do not have death records specifically.

Nearby Counties

If the death happened near a county line, try these neighboring counties: