How to Get a New York State Birth Certificate

The Office of Vital Records provides birth certificates.

Whether you are applying for a passport, filling out a college application, or making a family tree, you may need a certified copy of a birth certificate from the State of New York. Application procedures are clear and specific. The New York Office of Vital Records maintains separate offices to help those seeking a birth certificate for New York City, outside the City, or from many years ago. Directions and fees are different depending on whether you are seeking a certified or uncertified copy, and search help is available to those researching ancestors. For efficient service, follow the directions provided on Office of Vital Records websites.

Things You'll Need

• Place and date of birth for person whose birth certificate you seek
• Identification to obtain a birth certificate not yours
• Fees for processing and/or search
• Online, mail, telephone or in-person contact information for the NYS or NYC Office of Vital Records

Instructions

1. Assemble the existing information you have on the person whose birth certificate you are seeking. Date of birth, location, and complete name, as it appeared on the original certificate, are important items to state correctly on your application.

2. Gather the information you will need to provide, including copies, if required, to obtain the birth certificate. Birth certificates are protected documents. You are legally entitled to apply for a copy of your birth certificate or that of your child; further requirements must be met to obtain the birth certificate of a spouse, parent or other person. You will need to prove your identity and residence, if applying for a copy of your own birth certificate; expect to provide photo ID, such as a driver's license, and utility bills or government agency correspondence verifying your current address.

3. Contact the correct Office of Vital Records to obtain the birth certificate copy. Both State and City Offices suggest that online application is the most efficient method, although submitting required original documents may necessitate in-person or by-mail application. For anyone born in the five boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, or Staten Island), contact the New York City Office. For anyone born outside the five boroughs, contact the State Office.

4. Follow directions on each site for genealogy-related birth certificates. Here requirements for proving your relationship to the research subject, fees for searching, and the locations of records by date are different from current records. Again, website directions are clear and helpful.

5. Schedule your search to permit adequate response time. While both the New York City and New York State Offices offer expedited procedures for emergencies, allowing six to eight weeks for a basic record search ensures that you will have information when you need it. Use common sense to anticipate periods when pressure for response will be intense: getting ready for the first day of school, spring-break passport panic; registration for summer camp. Plan ahead to avoid both anxiety and disappointment.

References

• New York State Office of Vital Records: Birth Certificates
• NY State Office of Vital Records: Genealogy Assistance
• New York City Office of Vital Records: City Birth Certificates