FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

One (1) of the following forms of valid photo-ID:

• Driver license
• State issued non-driver photo-ID card
• Passport
• U.S. Military issued photo-ID

Important Notes

• Failure to include necessary identification will result in rejection of your application.
• Copy of Passport required in addition to the above ID if request is made from a foreign country that requires a U.S. Passport for travel.

If the applicant is not the spouse, parent, child or sibling of the decedent, a lawful right or claim must be documented. An example of a lawful right or claim would be a death record needed by the applicant to claim a benefit. Documentation would consist of an official letter from the agency verifying that to process the claim they require from the applicant a copy of the requested death record.

• The fee is $10.00 per search.
• Certification of the first death copy will be included in the search fee. An additional charge of $10.00 will be charged for each additional certified copy.

The New York State Department of Health does not file and cannot issue copies of New York City death certificates. For deaths in one of the five (5) boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Kings, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island), please visit the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Please note that the borough of Kings is also referred to as Brooklyn and the borough of Staten Island is also referred to as Richmond.

• For genealogy or family history copies, please see the Genealogy section.
• For those who death occurred in New York State outside the Town of Austerlitz, please see the NYS Health Department
• For certified death certificate copies for those who death occurred in the Town of Austerlitz

• The spouse, parent, child or sibling of the deceased
• Other persons who have a:
  • documented lawful right or claim
  • documented medical need
  • New York State Court Order