Find New York Obituary Records Online
New York obituary records can be found through state and local government offices, historical societies, and newspaper archives across the state's 62 counties. The New York State Department of Health holds death records from 1881 for areas outside New York City. The NYC Municipal Archives maintains separate obituary and death records for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Town and city clerks serve as local registrars and keep their own copies of death records. Obituaries from local newspapers are indexed at public libraries, genealogical societies, and digital databases. Searching these records requires knowing which jurisdiction holds the documents you need.
New York Obituary Records Overview
Where to Find New York Obituary Records
New York operates two separate vital records systems. The New York State Department of Health maintains death records for the entire state except New York City. Statewide registration began in 1881, so records from that year forward are on file in Albany. For events in the five boroughs of New York City, the NYC Municipal Archives holds historical death records and obituary indexes dating back to the late 1700s for Manhattan. The NYC Department of Health handles more recent certificates for all five boroughs.
At the local level, town and city clerks act as registrars of vital statistics. Each clerk keeps death records for events that took place in their jurisdiction. Under Public Health Law Section 4140, every death in New York must be registered within 72 hours. The certificate is filed with the registrar of the district where the death occurred. This means an obituary or death record search may lead you to one specific town clerk rather than a county office. For Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers, the NYS Department of Health does not hold birth or death records prior to January 1, 1914. Those must come from the local registrar in each city.
County clerks do not typically hold death certificates. Their offices focus on land records, court documents, and naturalization files. However, county historians and local historical societies often maintain obituary collections clipped from newspapers, cemetery indexes, and family files that can fill gaps in official records.
Note: New York City records are maintained separately from the rest of the state. For obituary records in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island, start with the NYC Municipal Archives or the NYC Department of Health.
How to Search New York Obituary Records Online
Several free online tools exist for searching New York obituary records. The NYC Historical Vital Records Project is a mass digitization effort by the Municipal Archives. It provides access to over 10.3 million historical birth, death, and marriage records from the five boroughs. The project is about 78 percent complete and covers 13.3 million total records. You can search by certificate number, name, or other criteria. Certificate numbers restart each year by borough, so limit your search by borough and year for best results.
The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society offers free access to the New York State Death Index and the New York Times Obituaries Index. These databases cover deaths statewide and can point you toward the right county or municipality. The NYS Archives holds indexes to death records on microfiche starting from June 1880. Death index datasets from 1957 onward are posted online after 50 years and include the year and date of death, decedent name, gender, residence code, and state file number.
For newspaper obituaries specifically, the New York State Library in Albany holds newspapers on microfilm from across the state. Many county public libraries also have local newspaper obituary indexes. The NY Heritage Digital Collections provides access to digitized newspapers and historical materials from over 40 organizations statewide.
Obtaining Death Certificates in New York
Death certificates in New York are not open to the general public without restriction. Under Public Health Law Section 4174, certified copies are issued only to the spouse, domestic partner, child, sibling, or parent of the deceased, or to someone with a documented legal right or medical need. A court order can also authorize release. Death records are explicitly exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), so standard public records requests will not work for these documents.
The standard fee for a death certificate search and certified copy is $30 through the NYS Department of Health. This applies whether a record is found or not. Online and phone orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus a vendor processing fee. Mail orders are $30 per copy and can be sent to the Vital Records Section in Albany. Processing times vary and the Department notes significant delays on its website. The Vital Records Call Center at (855) 322-1022 handles questions about order status.
For genealogy research, the rules are different. The Department of Health provides uncertified copies of death records on file for at least 50 years. Fees for genealogy requests are based on the number of years searched, starting at $22 for a one-to-three-year search and increasing in increments up to $202 for an 81-to-90-year range. Processing may take eight months or longer. A practical tip from the Department: if you know the municipality where the death took place, submitting directly to the local registrar may save considerable time.
New York City Obituary and Death Records
New York City has its own system for vital records. The NYC Department of Health issues death certificates for people who died in any of the five boroughs. The office is at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013 and can be reached at (212) 788-4520. All in-person orders require an appointment scheduled online in advance. Emergency requests for health care coverage, government services, or military needs can be made by calling 311.
Historical death records for the city are at the Municipal Archives at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007. Holdings vary by borough. Manhattan death records go back to 1795 with some gaps. Brooklyn records start in 1847. Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island records begin in 1898 when those boroughs were incorporated into New York City. The Archives can be reached at (212) 639-9675. Staff will digitize records on demand if they are not yet available online through the Historical Vital Records Project.
The New York Public Library's Milstein Division holds death indexes for all five boroughs through 1982 and newspapers with obituaries from the 1780s to present. Collections include the New York Times, Daily News, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and dozens of other papers. This is one of the best places for obituary research in the city.
Genealogy Resources for Obituary Research in New York
The New York State Archives holds indexes to vital records on microfiche but does not hold the actual certificates. Researchers can view these indexes at the Cultural Education Center on Empire State Plaza in Albany with no appointment needed. The same microfiche indexes are available at libraries in Binghamton, Buffalo, Elmira, Glens Falls, New York City, Patchogue, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Watertown. Usage is limited to one hour if others are waiting.
The NYS Archives researcher services provide remote assistance by email at archref@nysed.gov or by phone at (518) 474-8955. Staff can retrieve records and report findings. Most records are open to the public. Research hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Many microfilmed records are available through interlibrary loan.
County historians across New York maintain obituary files, cemetery records, and family papers that supplement official vital records. Under New York State Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, Section 57.07, each county appoints a historian to collect and preserve local records. These offices often hold newspaper obituary clippings going back decades. Some historians provide search services. Others refer researchers to local genealogical societies or public libraries. Contact the county historian in the area you are researching to find out what materials are on hand.
The confidentiality provisions in Public Health Law Section 4147 restrict the commercial use of death certificates and burial permits. These records cannot be sold for commercial or promotional purposes without written consent of next of kin. This prohibition does not apply to newspapers or newsletters providing general information to the public.
Browse New York Obituary Records by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has its own set of local offices, historical societies, and libraries that hold obituary records and death-related documents. Select a county below to find local resources.
Obituary Records in Major New York Cities
Residents of major New York cities access obituary records through town or city clerks who serve as local registrars. Select a city below to find the offices and resources for that area.