How to Find a Death Record of a Family Member in New York
Death records might simply include a death certificate, or they could mean more detailed records. For example, medical records that describe the illness and treatments the deceased received shortly before death, as well as autopsy reports, might be included in death records. In the state of New York, there are two places you might go to find the death certificate or death records for a family member. You might contact the New York State Department of Health, or you might need to go through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records.
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Instructions
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Determine what kind of records you need. You might just need a death certificate, or you might be trying to find medical records, such as an autopsy report.
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Contact the hospital where the family member was treated or died to obtain medical records like an autopsy report. Usually, only the next of kin may receive such records, but all hospitals have different procedures.
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Determine where the person died in New York to find the death certificate. If they died within the New York City, you need to go through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records. If they died anywhere else in the state, go through the New York State Department of Health.
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Determine if you can receive a death certificate. According to New York state law, people who can receive death certificates for family members need to be a spouse of the deceased, a child, a parent or a documented next of kin.
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Apply for the death certificate. No matter where you're applying through you can apply in person, online or by mail. The New York State Department of Health also has the option of applying by phone.
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Gather the materials you need to apply. You need a valid ID and proof of your name and address, such as a utility bill. You might also need proof that you're the next of kin. Be prepared to pay a processing fee.
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Visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records. or the New York State Department of Health if you want to apply in person.
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Visit the VitalCheck website to order a death certificate through New York State Department of Health or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records.
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Send application and supporting materials, including a copy of your photo ID and two separate documents proving your name and address, such as utility bills or government letters from the last six months. Send to either the New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section Certification Unit at PO Box 2602 in Albany, New York, 12220 or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records at 125 Worth St. CN 4 Rm. 133 in New York, New York, 10013. New York State Department of Health also requires a $30 fee as of 2010. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene require a $15 fee. Applications are located in the resource section below.
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Call 1-877-854-4481 to order the death certificate by phone through the New York State Department of Health.
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References
Resources
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records: Death Certificate
- VitalChek.com: Order Death Certificate through New York State Department of Health
- New York State Department of Health: Death Certificate Application
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Vital Records: Death Certificate Application
- Photo Credit irish gravestone image by mhphotos from Fotolia.com
