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New York City vital records

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records is the vital records office for New York City.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates23. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.24

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The vital records office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Not in the five boroughs? Births and deaths elsewhere in the state are filed with New York State. See New York State vital records.

Current notices from the office

  • 1950 death certificates moved to the Municipal Archives; from December 1, 2025 the Health Department no longer accepts requests for them3
  • Marriage Bureau (City Clerk) is open by appointment only; no walk-ins5

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records21910 to today2$156By mail: 8 to 12 weeks6
Death certificateNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records31951 to today3$156By mail: 8 to 12 weeks6
Marriage certificateOffice of the City Clerk of New York71950 to today (held by Office of the City Clerk)7$157–
Divorce recordsNew York State Department of Health, Vital Records41963 to today (held by New York State Department of Health)4$304–

Birth certificate

Who holds it
Births in the five boroughs only; births elsewhere in New York State are handled by NY State DOH or local registrars2
Older records
NYC Municipal Archives (Department of Records and Information Services): births 1866-1909 (Manhattan, Brooklyn), 1898-1909 (Bronx, Queens, Staten Island)8
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail (premium mail service), by mail (non-premium mail), in person

How to get a New York City birth certificate

Death certificate

Who holds it
Deaths in the five boroughs only; deaths before 1951 are at the NYC Municipal Archives3
Older records
NYC Municipal Archives: deaths Manhattan 1866-1877, 1881-1950; Brooklyn 1862-1950; Bronx, Queens, Staten Island 1898-19508
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail (premium mail service), by mail (non-premium mail), in person

How to get a New York City death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
Marriage records are issued by the City Clerk, not the NYC Health Department2
Older records
NYC Municipal Archives (DORIS), 31 Chambers Street: marriage records 1866-19497
Ways to order
By mail, in person

How to get a New York City marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
Divorce decree: County Clerk of the county where it was filed4
Older records
County Clerk (divorce decree); before January 1, 1963 the decree is the only record4
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by phone

How to get New York City divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
No1
Which offices
City Clerk borough offices (marriage records 1996-present, in person only)7
Any office for any county
No: use the office for the place the event happened2

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Closed records: only people the law names may get certified copies10

Laws and rules the office cites

  • NYC Health Code §207.11: inspection of vital records; who may get birth and death transcripts11
  • NYC Health Code §207.13: fees for vital statistics services ($15 per certified copy, in accordance with NY Public Health Law §4179)11
  • NYC Health Code §207.01-207.05: correction and amendment of records; new certificates11
  • NYC Health Code §207.21: birth records public after 125 years, death records after 75 years; transfer to Dept. of Records11
  • NYC Administrative Code §17-169 (transcripts of records), cited by Health Code §207.1111

The vital records office

Office
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records1
Phone
311; 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) from outside NYC1
Email
[email protected] (orders); [email protected] (corrections)1
Mailing address
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013
12
Hours
Office: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; online chat Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.13
Appointments
Required13

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in New York City?

A certified birth certificate costs $15 for the first copy and a death certificate $15.6

What is the phone number of the New York City vital records office?

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records: 311; 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) from outside NYC.1

Where do I get a marriage certificate in New York City?

Office of the City Clerk of New York (Marriage Bureau). Marriage records are issued by the City Clerk, not the NYC Health Department.72

Where do I get divorce records in New York City?

New York State Department of Health, Vital Records (divorce certificates, 1963 on). Divorce decree: County Clerk of the county where it was filed.4

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Birth and Death Records - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  2. Birth Certificates - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  3. Death Certificates - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  4. Divorce Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  5. The Office of the City Clerk - NYC Marriage Bureau is open for in-person appointments onlyOffice of the City Clerk of New York
  6. Birth and Death Records Fees and Processing Times - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  7. Marriage recordsOffice of the City Clerk of New York
  8. Application for Vital RecordsNYC Department of Records and Information Services (Municipal Archives)
  9. County clerkOffice of the City Clerk of New York
  10. Premium Mail Service ApplicationNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated April 1, 2025
  11. Health code article207 (PDF)NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Code)
  12. VR 66 (Rev. 12.23)NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated December 1, 2023
  13. How to Order Birth and Death Records - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene