Office of Vital Records

Instructions for Attorneys

Attorneys may submit requests for NYC birth and death certificates on behalf of their clients only when following these instructions.

Only entitled parties (details listed below) and their attorneys may submit orders for NYC birth and death certificates. This does not include paralegals, couriers, or other substitutes. Click here for directions to the Health Department and our hours of operation. If you experience any problems when attempting to submit an order in-person, please ask for a supervisor.

You may mail the application (PDF) as well as the required materials listed below to the following address (make sure to include the line labeled “ATTN”).

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Office of Vital Records
ATTN: Attorney Requests
125 Worth Street, Room 133, CN-4
New York, NY 10013

NYC Birth Certificates

For birth certificate applications (PDF), the entitled parties are limited to:

• The person named on the certificate (the registrant)
• Mother
• Father (if named on the certificate)

• Identification of attorney and entitled party (For non profit agencies representing individuals without identification or permanent address, please email the details to nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov)
• Application form (PDF) signed by either the attorney or the entitled party
• Appropriate payment

• Original notarized letter from the entitled party authorizing the attorney (not a paralegal or other staff) to receive the certificate and 
• A request signed by the attorney on his/her firm’s letterhead stating that the firm represents the entitled party.

NYC Death Certificates

For death certificate applications (PDF), the entitled parties are limited to:

• Those related to the deceased, as a blood relative, spouse or domestic partner
• The person in control of disposition
• The heir or beneficiary, or others with a vested right in property
• Those individuals who can demonstrate the certificate is necessary or required for a judicial or other proper purpose.

• Identification of attorney and entitled party (For non profit agencies representing individuals without identification or permanent address, please email the details to nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov)
• Application form (PDF) signed by either the attorney or the entitled party
• Appropriate payment

• Original notarized letter from the entitled party authorizing the attorney (not a paralegal or other staff) to receive the certificate and 
• A request signed by the attorney on his/her firm’s letterhead stating that the firm represents the entitled party and 
• For those not related to the deceased, original document(s) demonstrating a connection between the entitled party and the deceased, such as deeds, wills or insurance policies.