How to Find New York City Death Records

United States US Vital Records  How to Find United States Deaths  New York  Vital Records  New York State Deaths  New York City Research  New York City Vital Records  New York City Deaths

Looking for a death record from New York City as part of your genealogy research? On January 1, 1898, the towns located in four counties (New York, Richmond, Queens, and Kings) were consolidated into the five boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island). Prior to this time, New York City referred primarily to Manhattan. Records for the towns that became New York City do exist, many of which are held by New York City's Municipal Archives. Later records are held by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

According to New York State law, death records for New York City are not filed with the state of New York. Learn how to find death records outside New York City

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Next Step: When and where did the death occur?

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 * Choose a borough and time period:


 * Manhattan:
 * Before 1847
 * 1847 thru 1849
 * 1850 thru 1852
 * 1853 thru 1897


 * Brooklyn:
 * Before 1847
 * 1847 thru 1849
 * 1850 thru 1861
 * 1862 thru 1897


 * Queens and Staten Island:
 * Before 1847
 * 1847 thru 1849
 * 1850 thru 1880
 * 1881 thru 1897


 * The Bronx:


 * All Years


 * All Boroughs:
 * 1898 thru 1948
 * After 1948
 * Death year unknown


 * }

Deaths before 1847
Before 1847, no deaths were recorded by either the state of New York or by New York City. You will need to search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. Substitutes for death record information:

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1847 thru 1849
In 1847, New York State passed a law requiring that doctors and midwives report births, marriages, and deaths to the trustees of local school districts. Due to the complexities of this law, it quickly fell into disfavor and few communities reported deaths after 1850 (with many discontinuing after the 1847-1848 year). Most records that exist for this time period have been collected by the New York City Municipal Archives.

PART A: You know the village, town, or city of death

Try 1st: Most of the records for Manhattan as well as the towns in Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties have been microfilmed by FamilySearch. Search the Catalog for the name of village, town, or city and then order copies of the associated microfilm to your local FamilySearch Center.

Try 2nd: Order a copy of the death record from New York City Municipal Archives.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

PART B: You do not know the village, town, or city of death

If you do not know the village, town, or city of death, learn more about the family using census, land, probate, and church records. Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1850 thru
After the failure of the 1847 law, no deaths were recorded in the towns comprising present-day New York City. For deaths in Manhattan between 1850 and 1852, in Brooklyn between 1850 and 1862, and in the towns of Queens, Richmond (Staten Island) and Kings (other than Brooklyn) Counties before 1881, try searching substitute records to locate your ancestor's death date and place.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1853 thru 1897 (Manhattan)
Manhattan started keeping some death records in 1853. In 1866, a more complete law was passed requiring that all deaths be recorded. Records from this time period have been microfilm by FamilySearch and the original records are held by the New York Municipal Archives.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
An online index for Manhattan deaths from 1864 thru 1897 does exist. Deaths from earlier time periods are available on microfilm. If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

With a year and a certificate number, you can either order a copy of the FamilySearch microfilm or order a copy of the death record from the New York City Municipal Archives for a fee

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.  

PART B: You don't know the year or have a certificate number 

If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information. Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1862 thru 1897 (Brooklyn)
The city of Brooklyn started keeping death records in 1862. At the time, the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht were not a part of Brooklyn. These towns reported their deaths starting in 1880 (when New York State passed a law) to the New York State Department of Health until they were annexed by Brooklyn.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
An online index for Manhattan deaths from 1864 thru 1897 does exist. Deaths from earlier time periods are available on microfilm. If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

With a year and a certificate number, you can either order a copy of the FamilySearch microfilm or order a copy of the death record from the New York City Municipal Archives for a fee

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.  

PART B: You don't know the year or have a certificate number 

If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
The New York Archives as well as nine other repositories in New York hold copies of microfiche indexes to death certificates. Contact one of these ten repositories (listed on the State Archives website) to search the index. If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.   Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1881 thru 1897 (Queens and Staten Island)
Prior to 1898, the towns in the counties of Queens (Queens Borough) and Richmond (Staten Island Borough) kept death records according to New York State laws. Starting in June 1880, New York required that village, town, and city clerks record deaths. After New York City consolidated in 1898, many of these records were sent to the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
The New York Archives as well as nine other repositories in New York hold copies of microfiche indexes to death certificates. Contact one of these ten repositories (listed on the State Archives website) to search the index. If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with deathinformation.   Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1898 thru 1948
After 1898, death records for New York City are available from the New York City Municipal Archives and are organized by Borough. Records for this time period are also available on microfilm from FamilySearch.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
An online index for Manhattan deaths from 1864 thru 1897 does exist. Deaths from earlier time periods are available on microfilm. If you do not find your ancestor's death or if you want order a copy of the certificate, contact the New York City Municipal Archives.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

With a year and a certificate number, you can either order a copy of the FamilySearch microfilm or order a copy of the death record from the New York City Municipal Archives for a fee

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information.  

PART B: You don't know the year or have a certificate number 

If you do not know the exact year and certificate number, the New York City Municipal Archives will search for the record for a fee.

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information. Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1948
Death Certificates for this time period are held by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and can be ordered for a fee.

See list of restrictions for ordering death records

If you do not want to order the death record, you can search other records with death information. Return to top: Choose another death year

The Bronx
The Bronx did not exist as an independent borough prior to the consolidation of New York City in 1898 and did not exist as a separate county until 1914. In 1874, Manhattan annexed several towns from Westchester County located on the west side of the Bronx River. In 1895, Manhattan annexed the remaining area of present-day Bronx county. To locate death records for towns locate in The Bronx:

Return to top: Choose another death year
 * Before 1874
 * From 1874 thru 1894 (towns west side of the Bronx river, including Westchester, part of Eastchester, and part of Pellham)
 * From 1874 thru 1894 (towns east side of the Bronx river, including Kingsbridge, West Farms, and Morrisania)
 * From 1895 thru 1897

Restrictions for Obtaining Death Records
To obtain a certified copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:


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

An uncertified copy of a birth certificate issued within the last seventy-five years is available to a direct-line descendant who provides


 * Proof of their relationship to the person whose birth certificate they are requesting