Ulster County Death Records Lookup

Ulster County death records are filed with the town, city, or village clerk where the death took place. The county seat is Kingston, which was the first capital of New York State. Ulster County is one of the original counties in New York, created in 1683. Death records here go back to 1880 for the statewide system, but the Ulster County Clerk's Archives hold some birth, marriage, and death records from even earlier. The county stretches across the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains, and each municipality keeps its own set of vital records.

Ulster County Death Records at the Clerk and Archives

The Ulster County Clerk's Office is at 244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Call (845) 340-3288. Email countyclerk@co.ulster.ny.us. The clerk holds land records from 1683, court records from 1793, marriage records from 1908 to 1935, naturalization records, and state census records. State census data is available for 1855, 1865, 1875, 1905, 1915, and 1925. The censuses from 1825, 1835, 1845, and 1892 are lost.

What sets Ulster County apart is the Archives, which operate under the County Clerk's office. The Archives have census records and indexes, naturalization records, birth, marriage, and death records, city directories, poorhouse records, and maps. This is a unique resource because the archives hold vital records that many other county clerk offices do not have.

The Ulster County Archives also have a searchable index for town clerk returns of births, deaths, and marriages from 1847 to 1850 and 1873 to 1884. There is a marriage record index from 1908 to 1935 and a 1905 census index. These are available through the county clerk's website.

The state resource page below can help you understand the overall process for getting death records in New York State.

The NYS DOH handles death certificate orders for all counties outside New York City, including Ulster County.

City of Kingston Clerk's Office

Kingston is the county seat and the largest city in Ulster County. The City Clerk's Office is at City Hall. Call 845-334-3914. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, with summer hours from July 1 to August 31 running 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. They have birth and death records from July 1881 to the present. Marriage license appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Death certificates from the Kingston clerk cost $10 per copy. Birth and marriage certificates are also $10. Marriage licenses are $40. The genealogy fee schedule in Kingston is based on years searched. A one to three year search costs $22. A four to ten year search is $42. Fees go up by $20 for every ten additional years. Only the spouse, siblings, spouse, parents, and children of the deceased can get a death certificate. Others must show documented proof of a lawful right or claim.

Ulster County Death Records and Surrogate's Court

The Ulster County Surrogate's Court is at 240 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Call (845) 340-3348. Probate records here go back to 1787. The court handles wills, estate administration, letters testamentary, guardianships, and other estate matters.

The online resources for Ulster County probate are extensive. FamilySearch has 173 films of probate records from 1707 to 1921. There is an index to wills from 1787 to 1929, actual wills from 1787 to 1917, court minutes from 1830 to 1917, and letters of administration and testamentary from 1787 to 1906. One quirk of the microfilmed records: the index cards follow the probate files instead of coming before them, which can make searching a bit confusing.

The WebSurrogate system lets you search Ulster County court filings online for free. Probate records are valuable for death records research because they often list the date of death, names of heirs, and family relationships.

State Death Records for Ulster County

The New York State Department of Health keeps Ulster County death records from 1880 to the present. Mail orders cost $30. Online orders are $45 plus a processing fee. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Call (855) 322-1022 with questions.

State orders take at least eight months. The local town or city clerk is faster. For genealogy research, the state has uncertified copies of records over 50 years old for $22. You must prove your relationship and that the person is deceased. Direct descendants can get records before the 50-year mark with the right paperwork.

Ulster County Historical Society and Genealogy Resources

The Ulster County Historical Society and Bevier House Museum is at 2682 Route 209, Marbletown, NY 12401. Call (845) 377-1040 or email museum@bevierhousemuseum.org. The mailing address is PO Box 279, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. The county historian is at 38 Rondout Harbor, Port Ewen, NY 12466. Call 845-331-7380.

The Ulster County Genealogical Society is at 11 Main St., Hurley, NY 12443 (mailing: P.O. Box 536, Hurley, NY 12443). Email librarian@ucgsny.org. They focus on genealogical research in the Ulster County area and can be a helpful resource if you are searching for death records connected to a family line.

Ulster County has a rich Dutch colonial history, and the Dutch Records of Kingston are an important source for very early records. The Association of Public Historians of New York State has contact information for all municipal historians in the county.

Free Online Ulster County Death Records

The New York State Death Index covers 1880 to 1956 for free. Search by name to find which town the death was filed in. The New York State Archives has death record indexes on microfiche from 1880 to 1943 at the Cultural Education Center in Albany.

FamilySearch has free collections for New York deaths including the State Death Index (1880-1956) with images, Deaths and Burials (1795-1952), and Church and Civil Deaths (1824-1962). The Ulster County Clerk also provides online searchable indexes for marriage records (1908-1935) and town clerk vital records returns (1847-1850, 1873-1884). These can help locate family members even when searching specifically for death information.

Nearby Counties

Death records near the Ulster County border may be filed in one of these neighboring counties.