Death Certificates
NEW: Family members can order death certificates online.
Individuals can order death certificates through the Office of Vital Records
for $15. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages family
members to apply for death certificates online, in-person, or by mail. The quickest and easiest way
to avoid paperwork and waiting in line is to apply online. Use the following table to get frequently
updated information on how long it will take to process your application.
Individuals other than family members can apply for death certificates in-person or through the mail.
Identification requirements for those
applying for death certificates are strict and differ between family members and
those not related to the deceased. The Office of Vital Records
strongly urges you to read the requirements so as not
to delay your application. Please note that death certificates are not issued
the same day for in-person requests and are usually mailed within eight business
days of when your application is received. Online requests are processed
substantially faster than mailed requests and as quickly as in-person
requests.
To order an updated copy of a death certificate that includes the Medical
Examiner's cause of death, please follow these instructions.
For all other death certificates, cause of death is available for deaths
occurring on or after January 1, 2010. You are entitled to the cause of death if
your relationship to the decedent is the spouse or domestic partner, child,
parent/legal guardian or the person in control of disposition as written on the
death certificate. To obtain this information, check the appropriate box (# 20)
on the death certificate application.
Requests for Older Documents
Death certificates issued prior to 1949 are not available through the Office
of Vital Records. For these documents, please contact the Municipal Archives by
calling 311 (or 212-639-9675 outside New York City) or visiting the agency’s website.
You also can visit the Municipal Archives in Manhattan at 31 Chambers Street,
Room 103.
