New York Birth Records
Search New York birth records online
To access the archives, simply enter the full name of the person or relative you'd like to start your research with…
Born in New York City? Check out the page for New York City.
New York has been maintaining birth records since 1881 when a law was passed which made it mandatory to record births. Before that, many towns kept their own birth records with some of the oldest dating all the way back to 1820.
New York is a closed record state, which means that certified copies can only be requested by the person named on the certificate, as well as their immediate family members (including spouse) and lawyers representing them.
New York Vital Records Office
The office that handles birth records from 1881-2024 for the entire state of New York is The Department of Health where they provide birth records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records.
- New York Department of Health
- 800 North Pearl Street
- 2nd Floor - Room 200
- Menands, NY 12204
- Phone: 866-881-2809
- Email: vr@health.state.ny.us
- URL: http://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/birth.htm
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