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How to get a New York City death certificate

In New York City, order a certified death certificate from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records.1 Deaths in the five boroughs only; deaths before 1951 are at the NYC Municipal Archives.1 Each certified copy costs $152. You can order online, by mail or in person. Only the people the city lists below can order a certified copy.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a New York City death certificate costs
  3. How long it takes
  4. Who can order a New York City death certificate
  5. ID you need
  6. What the application asks for
  7. Forms
  8. Years held and older records
  9. Special situations
  10. Warnings from the office
  11. The vital records office
  12. Questions people ask
  13. 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 notice from the office

  • 1950 death certificates moved to the Municipal Archives; from December 1, 2025 the Health Department no longer accepts requests for them1

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek$24.30 for one copy ($152 plus $9.302 process fee)
+ one extra charge		–Card and check2
By mail (premium mail service)$22.50 for one copy ($152 plus $7.503 processing fee)–Check and money order3
By mail (non-premium mail)$1528 to 12 weeks2Check and money order4
In person$17.75 for one copy ($152 plus $2.752 processing fee)–Card, check and money order2

Online through VitalChek

Vendor
VitalChek2
Vendor status
The city's only authorized vendor2
Fees
  • Per copy $152
  • Process fee $9.302
  • Shipping option $212
Payment
Card and check2
Appointment
Not required5

Good to know

  • Online ordering for relatives in Table 1 groups 1 and 2 (cause-of-death group and niece/nephew/aunt/uncle/great-grandchild/grandniece group); unrelated applicants mail only3
  • Add two weeks for death certificates from 1951 to 1970 or records that need searching2

Go to the ordering site5

By mail (premium mail service)

Run by
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (premium mail service)5
Fees
  • Per copy $152
  • Processing fee $7.503
Payment
Check and money order3
Make payable to
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene3
Mail to
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013
4
Appointment
Not required5

Good to know

  • Application must be notarized3
  • Certificates cannot be mailed to "in care of" addresses3

Open the application or mail instructions5

By mail (non-premium mail)

Run by
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (non-premium mail)2
Fees
  • Per copy $152
Processing time
8 to 12 weeks2
Payment
Check and money order4
Make payable to
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene4
Mail to
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013
4
Appointment
Not required5

Good to know

  • Processed manually; takes longer than premium mail1
  • Mail applications must be notarized; include a self-addressed stamped envelope4

Open the application or mail instructions1

In person

Run by
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records6
Fees
  • Per copy $152
  • Processing fee $2.752
Payment
Card, check and money order2
Make payable to
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene2
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.5
Appointment
Required5

Good to know

  • In person only for birth records 1920-present (if named on the record) and death records 1970-present5
  • Pre-adoption, non-electronic and older records are not issued the same day5

Open the official page5

What a New York City death certificate costs

First certified copy
$152
Each additional copy
$153
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee2

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Standard certificate of death1Most people need just the standard certificate1$151
Death certificate with the confidential medical report of the cause of death1Cause of death; mailed separately after the death certificate5–
Death certificate with a Letter of Exemplification3Apostille/authentication, international marriage, dual citizenship, international adoption3$153
Not Found Statement2–$157

No-fee copies

  • Pending cause of death: exchange within 90 days without the $15 fee1
  • No charge for official requests by City/State agencies7

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you orderProcessing time
By mail (non-premium mail)8 to 12 weeks2

Who can order a New York City death certificate

The city names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • Spouse (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Domestic partner (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Parent (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Child (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Sibling (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Grandparent (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Grandchild (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Informant listed on the death certificate (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Person in charge of disposition (death certificate and cause of death report)3
  • Niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, great-grandchild, great-great-grandchild, grandniece/grandnephew (death certificate only, no cause of death)1
  • Funeral director: The funeral director can order death certificates for you up to one year after the death.1
  • Executor or estate administrator7
    Proof: Original letters testamentary3
  • Not related: must show a legal right (mail only)3
  • Entitled party's attorney (not paralegals or couriers)1
    Proof: Attorney letterhead letter, entitled party's photo ID copy, original authorization letter from the entitled party, proof of licensure, attorney photo ID1
Records open to the public after
75 years7
Cause of death
Restricted on some copies1

ID you need

Photo ID
Required3
Accepted ID
  • Driver's license or non-driver's ID card
  • New York State benefit card with photo
  • U.S. or foreign passport with a signature
  • IDNYC municipal ID
  • U.S. certificate of naturalization (must be the original)
  • University or college ID with a current transcript
  • Inmate ID with current release papers
  • Job ID with a current pay stub
  • NYC Access-A-Ride card
  • Military ID card (must be for the person whose death certificate is being requested)3
Without that ID
Two proof-of-address documents dated within the last 60 days; the certificate is mailed to that address3
Notarization
Required3
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID3

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.3

  • Name at the time of death
  • Alias/AKA if any
  • State file number if known
  • Date of death (or range)
  • Decedent's date of birth
  • Sex
  • Borough of death
  • Decedent's parents' names
  • Spouse or domestic partner name
  • Informant (if known)
  • Funeral director/home (if known)
  • Cemetery or crematory (if known)
  • Last known address
  • Decedent's Social Security number
  • Reason for request

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1951 to today1
Older records
NYC Municipal Archives: deaths Manhattan 1866-1877, 1881-1950; Brooklyn 1862-1950; Bronx, Queens, Staten Island 1898-19508

Special situations

Stillbirth
Certificates of still birth or spontaneous termination of pregnancy: $15, by mail or through the funeral director within 12 months; not online1 Details
Use abroad
Letter of Exemplification at no extra cost for apostille use3 Details
If no record is found
Not Found Statement; no refund2 Details

Warnings from the office

  • NYC Health warns that unauthorized vendors charge high fees; VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor1
  • Since 2019 NYC birth and death certificates have no raised seal; they are printed on security paper1
  • Medical Examiner cases: if cause is "Undetermined" or "Pending further study," call the Medical Examiner at 212-447-20301

The vital records office

Office
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records6
Phone
311; 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) from outside NYC6
Email
[email protected] (orders); [email protected] (corrections)6
Mailing address
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, CN-4, Room 119, New York, NY 10013
4
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.5
Appointments
Required5

Questions people ask

How much is a certified New York City death certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.23

How long does it take to get a New York City death certificate?

By mail: 8 to 12 weeks.2

Can I order a New York City death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.2

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.3

What ID do I need?

The city accepts: Driver's license or non-driver's ID card; New York State benefit card with photo; U.S. or foreign passport with a signature; IDNYC municipal ID; U.S. certificate of naturalization (must be the original); University or college ID with a current transcript; and the other documents listed above.3

Where are older New York City death certificates kept?

NYC Municipal Archives: deaths Manhattan 1866-1877, 1881-1950; Brooklyn 1862-1950; Bronx, Queens, Staten Island 1898-1950.8

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. Death Certificates - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  2. Birth and Death Records Fees and Processing Times - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  3. VR 220 (Rev. 2/26) 1NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated February 1, 2026
  4. VR 66 (Rev. 12.23)NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygienedated December 1, 2023
  5. How to Order Birth and Death Records - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  6. Birth and Death Records - NYC HealthNYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
  7. Health code article207 (PDF)NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Code)
  8. Application for Vital RecordsNYC Department of Records and Information Services (Municipal Archives)