New York Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

Not until the mid-nineteenth century was any attempt made by the state of New York to mandate the keeping of vital records. This makes the use of substitutes, such as church, cemetery, census, and newspaper records, that much more important. A few vital records were entered into some early town records on Long Island and later in some towns along the eastern border, the latter evidently by New England settlers bringing with them a long standing tradition of such practice. However, the mass migration into New York just after the Revolution took place at a time when vital event recording slacked off greatly, even in New England.

The earliest items that might be classified as civil vital records in New York were marriage bonds, issued from 1639 to 1783. Names of the parties and the date of the bond were published in Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued by the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (1860; reprint with supplements, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968), commonly referred to as “New York Marriages.” This work did not include all the important information in the bonds, many of which were destroyed or damaged in the 1911 fire at the New York State Library (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies). From those that survived, Kenneth Scott compiled Marriage Bonds of Colonial New York, 1753–1784 (New York, N.Y.: Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York, 1972). Some records of marriages performed by justices of the peace have survived, of which a few have been published in Tree Talks and The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (see Periodicals).

In 1847 a law was enacted requiring school districts to keep records of births, marriages, and deaths. While not a complete failure, compliance was scattered, and some towns that began to record vital events quickly stopped. Those that were kept are incomplete, and the latest that records were continued was 1852, as the law was repealed in 1853. Originals of a few of these records are still with the town clerks or have been placed in historical societies. Some records have been published in Tree Talks and in the Cemetery, Church, and Town Records volumes compiled by the Daughters of the American Revolution in the State of New York (see Cemetery Records). Also useful for the nineteenth century are the marriages and deaths listed in the 1865 and 1875 New York state censuses for the census period ending 31 May of those years (the 1865 census also included deaths of officers and enlisted men). Marriages and deaths were also recorded in the 1855 state census but without names. The statistics of births, marriages, and deaths for each household in the 1825, 1835, and 1845 censuses can sometimes be used to advantage.

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Another attempt by the state to require the keeping of vital records was made in 1880, and this law is the basis for the recording of births, marriages, and deaths in New York today. The original record is made in the town, village, or city in which the event took place, and a copy is sent to Albany where alphabetical indexes of names are arranged by event and thereunder by year. Each index entry lists the name, date of event, place, and certificate number; no maiden names, marital status, or ages are shown. Marriages are indexed by the name of each party, but there is no cross-referencing. Indexes for marriages for 1908 through 1914 are arranged by a Soundex code. It should be kept in mind that compliance with the 1880 law was slow, and many events were not recorded.

New York State Dept of Health, Vital Records Section, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237; (518) 474-3077, (518) 474-3038 Information, Fax: (518) 432-6286, Vital records registration started in New York State outside of New York City in 1881. Please allow up to approximately 7-8 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. Generally, the New York State Department of Health provides uncertified copies of the following types of records for genealogy research purposes:

  • Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: Birth, Marriage & Death records maintained by New York State Dept of Health, since 1881 through the present. Genealogy copies are available for Birth records if on file for at least 75 years and the person whose name is on the certificate is known to be deceased. Genealogy copies are available for Marriage & Death records if on file for at least 50 years and the person whose name is on the certificate is known to be deceased. Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon
  • Divorce Certificates: Divorce Certificates from Jan 1963. If the records are not available at the State office, they should be available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Since 1847 divorce actions in New York have been handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. New York divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years. In colonial times, petitions for divorce had to be made to the governor or legislature, and only a few were granted. The court of chancery granted divorces from 1787 to 1847. These older records are in the State Archives. Divorce records dating prior to July 1, 1847, are filed either at the New York State Archives (upstate counties) or the New York County Clerk's Office, 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007; phone (212) 374-4376 (downstate counties).
  • Cost: The cost of a birth, marriage or death record is $22.00, Divorce Certificates are $30 - Fee is for verification only. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $22.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Processing Time: 7-8 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Exceptions: The New York State Department of Health does not file records of birth, death and marriage from the Cities of Albany, Buffalo and Yonkers prior to January 1, 1914. To obtain records from these municipalities contact the Local Registrar for birth and death record requests or the City Clerk for marriage record requests. The addresses follow:
    • For birth and death record requests Order Online or submit request to the Local Registrar of the appropriate city:
      City of Albany, Room 254M, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207
      City of Buffalo, Room 1308, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202
      City of Yonkers, Room 107, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701
    • For marriage record requests Order Online or submit request to the City Clerk of the appropriate city:
      City Clerk, City of Albany, Room 202, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207
      City Clerk, City of Buffalo, Room 1308, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202
      City Clerk, City of Yonkers, Room 107, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Order In Person:  The Vital Records Office provides eligible applicants with copies of birth and death certificates for births and deaths in New York State outside of New York City (1881-present), marriage licenses obtained in New York State outside of New York City (1880-present) and dissolution of marriage certificates for all of New York State (1963-present). The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office at 800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor - Room 200, Menands, NY 12204. The Vital Records customer service lobby is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays.
  • Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "New York Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section, Genealogy Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Please include return address on envelope and application form (Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Divorce Certificate.

Event: Birth since 1881
Cost of copy: $15, Genealogy copies are $11.00
Remarks: Genealogy copies are $11.00 and are available if the certificate has been on file for at least 75 years and the person whose name is on the birth certificate is known to be dead

Event: Death since Jan 1906
Cost of copy: $3 by mail, $10 by fax (add'l extra $7.00 service fee)
Remarks:
Event: Death since 1880
Cost of copy: $15
Remarks: Genealogy copies are $11.00 and are available if the certificate has been on file for at least 50 years.
Event: Marriage since 1881
Cost of copy: $5
Remarks: For genealogy use are available if the certificate has been on file for at least 50 years and the bride and groom are both known to be deceased.
Event: Marriage 1880-1907
Cost of copy: Fees vary
Remarks:For marriage records and licenses issued in the cities of Albany, Buffalo or Yonkers, apply to:Albany: City Clerk, City Hall, Albany, NY 12207
Buffalo: City Clerk, City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202
Yonkers: City Clerk, City Hall, Yonkers, NY 10701
Event: Divorce since Jan 1963
Cost of copy: $15
Remarks: If the records are not available at the State office, they should be available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.
Event: Divorce since 1847
Cost of copy: N/A
Remarks:Since 1847 divorce actions in New York have been handled in the supreme court for the county in which the divorce was heard. New York divorce files, however, are sealed for one hundred years. In colonial times, petitions for divorce had to be made to the governor or legislature, and only a few were granted. The court of chancery granted divorces from 1787 to 1847. These older records are in the state archives or for the New York City area at the New York County Clerk's Office, Division of Old Records, 31 Chambers Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10007.

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