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New York Vital Records


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Search free New York state vital records, including, birth, marriage and death records and information on how and where to obtain copies.


New York State Vital Records Online

Statewide New York State Vital Records

The following is a list of resources useful for locating New York Vital Records online.


U.S. Vital Records Collections That Include New York


New York Vital Records By County


New York Vital Records Books for Sale


1880 - Current New York State Vital Records

The Vital Records Section of the New York State Department of Health files certificates for births and deaths that occur in New York State outside of New York City and for marriage licenses issued in New York State outside of New York City. Also on file are divorce records for all of New York State since 1963. The Vital Records Section provides qualified applicants with certified copies of the certificates associated with these events. Uncertified copies of older certificates are available for genealogy research.

Birth and Death records are also available from the Local Registrar of the municipality where the event occurred. Marriage records are available from the Town or City Clerk of the municipality where the Marriage License was issued. For further information about these services, please contact the appropriate office of the municipality involved. Telephone numbers are available from the local phone directory or telephone information.


New York State Vital Records Index

The official New York state vital records index is held on microfiche at select libraries in New York. According to state law this index cannot be copied. Therefore it cannot be put online and cannot be viewed out of state.

The New York State Vital Records Index may be viewed at the following libraries:


What types of records are available from the New York State Department of Health for genealogy research?

Vital records registration started in New York State outside of New York City in 1881. Generally, the New York State Department of Health provides uncertified copies of the following types of records for genealogy research:


Are there exceptions to the types of records generally available from the New York State Department of Health?

There are three (3) exceptions.

1. The New York State Department of Health does not file records of births and deaths that occurred in New York City and marriage licenses that were obtained in New York City. To obtain information about genealogy services available for New York City records, please visit the New York City Municipal Archives web page.

2. 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 submit request to the Local Registrar of the appropriate city:
  • Local Registrar
    City of Albany
    Room 254M
    City Hall
    Albany, NY 12207
  • Local Registrar
    City of Buffalo
    Room 1308
    65 Niagara Square
    Buffalo, NY 14202
  • Local Registrar
    City of Yonkers
    Room 107
    City Hall
    Yonkers, NY 10701
For marriage record requests 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

3. For the period 1881 through 1897 the New York State Department of Health does have records of birth for the City of New York boroughs of Queens and Richmond.

For more information please contact New York State Department of Health


County Marriage Records

From 1908–1935, county clerks kept copies of marriages filed with the town clerks and also sent copies to Albany. Some counties recorded marriages only to 1916 or 1926.