How to Find New York City Death Records

United States

New York

Vital Records

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

Next Step: When and where did the death occur?	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 1965 Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

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:

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

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.

Try 1st:	New York City Death Databases - Includes Index and some images
	1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only
Try 2nd:	New York City Death Substitute Records
	Try searching substitute records with death information.
Records that give death information: Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records Church Records Census Bible 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.

Try 1st:	New York City Death Databases - Includes Index and some images
	1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only
Try 2nd:	New York City Death Substitute Records
	Try searching substitute records with death information.
Records that give death information: Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records Church Records Census Bible Records

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.

OPTION ONE: Find Death Information and Certificates Online

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.

Try 1st:	New York City Death Databases - Index and Images
	1866-1949 New York City Deaths, 1866-1949 NYC Dept of Records; index & images - has some earlier dates
Try 2nd:	New York City Death Databases - Index
	1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($); Also at MyHeritage ($) 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($) 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at German Genealogy Group - index only 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at ItalianGen - index only
Try next::	New York City Death Substitute Records
	Try searching substitute records with death information.
Records that give death information: Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records Church Records Census Bible Records

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

OPTION TWO: Obtain the Death Certificate if it's Not Found Online

PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

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

To Order Death Certificates
FS Library microfilms found in Register of New York City Death Records		NYC Municipal Archives
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	Microfilm copies may be hard to read	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering the microfilm

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.

OPTION ONE: Find Death Information and Certificates Online

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.

Try 1st:	New York City Death Databases - Index and Images
	1866-1949 New York City Deaths, 1866-1949 NYC Dept of Records; index & images - has some earlier dates
Try 2nd:	New York City Death Databases - Index
	1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($); Also at MyHeritage ($) 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($) 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at German Genealogy Group - index only 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at ItalianGen - index only
Try next::	New York City Death Substitute Records
	Try searching substitute records with death information.
Records that give death information: Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records Church Records Census Bible Records

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

OPTION TWO: Obtain the Death Certificate if it's Not Found Online

PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

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

To Order Death Certificates
FS Library microfilms found in Register of New York City Death Records		NYC Municipal Archives
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	Microfilm copies may be hard to read	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering the microfilm

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 in Flatbush (1880-1894), Gravesend (1880-1894), New Lots (1881-1886), and New Utrecht (1880-1894)

OPTION ONE: Find Death Information Online

Try 1st:	Flatbush, Gravesend, (New Lots & New Utrecht NOT included) - Index
	1847-1851, 1880-1895: New York, Church and Civil Marriages, 1704-1995 at FamilySearch; index, dates varies for each town
Try 2nd:	Flatbush, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht - Images and includes Indexes
Try these databases:
	Flatbush 1847-1851 Record of Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1847-1851 (Flatbush)(*) at FamilySearch Catalog, images with indexes 1880-1895 Records of births and deaths, 1880-1895 (Flatbush)(*) at FamilySearch Catalog, images with indexes Gravesend 1880-1894 Record of births and deaths, 1880-1894 (Gravesend)(*) at FamilySearch Catalog, images with indexes New Lots 1881-1886 Record of births and deaths, 1881-1886 (New Lots)(*) at FamilySearch Catalog, images with indexes New Utrecht 1880-1894 Record of births and deaths, 1880-1894 (New Utrecht)(*) at FamilySearch Catalog, images with indexes
Try next:	New York City Death Substitute Records
	Try searching substitute records with death information.
Records that give death information: Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records Church Records Census Bible Records

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

OPTION TWO: Obtain the Death Certificate if it's Not Found Online

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:

To Order Death Certificates
NYC Municipal Archives		From NY Dept of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	May not have copies of all vital records for this time period	Offers a standard search covering 1-3 years with additional years with the option to increase the number of years searched for an additional fee	May take more than eight months to fulfill a request

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:

To Order Death Certificates
NYC Municipal Archives		From NY Dept of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	May not have copies of all vital records for this time period	Offers a standard search covering 1-3 years with additional years with the option to increase the number of years searched for an additional fee	May take more than eight months to fulfill a request

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 1965

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.

OPTION ONE: Find Death Information and Certificates Online

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.

Try 1st:	New York City Death Databases - Index and Images
	1866-1949 New York City Deaths, 1866-1949 NYC Dept of Records; index & images - has some earlier dates
Try 2nd:	New York City Death Databases - Index
	1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index only 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($); Also at MyHeritage ($) 1862-1948 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948 at Ancestry - index only ($) 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at German Genealogy Group - index only 1862-1948 New York City Death Index, 1862-1948 at ItalianGen - index only 1949-1965 New York, New York, U.S., Death Index, 1949-1965 at Ancestry - index & images ($)

Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

OPTION TWO: Obtain the Death Certificate if it's Not Found Online

PART A: You know the year and have a certificate number

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

To Order Death Certificates
View microfilms found in Register of New York City Death Records		NYC Municipal Archives
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	Microfilm copies may be hard to read	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering the microfilm

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

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:

• 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

Return to top: Choose another death year

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 death 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 death certificate they are requesting

• Online New York City Death Records & Indexes, links to online indexes.
• New York City Deaths, 1814-16 ($), index.
• New York City Death Notices, 1835-1880 ($), index.
• New York, New York, Death Index, 1862-1948 ($), index.
• New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949, index, incomplete.
• New York City Death Index, index.
• Early Kings and Queens County, New York City Death index, index.

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