Certified Copies in New York: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in New York
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in New York, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $30.00
- Death certificate
- $30.00
- Marriage
- $30.00 state; $5.00 city
- Divorce
- $30.00 state; county varies
Vital records
Issued by: New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section
Post to: Certification Unit, Vital Records Section, 2nd Floor, 800 North Pearl Street, Menands, NY 12204
Verify current fees: 1-855-322-1022
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $30.00 |
| Death | $30.00 |
| Marriage | $30.00 state; $5.00 city |
| Divorce | $30.00 state; county varies |
What New York requires
- New York City records are held separately by the NYC Department of Health, not by the state.
- Government-issued photo identification is required.
- International payment must be a cheque drawn on a U.S. bank or an international money order.
- State holds births from 1880, deaths from 1881, marriages from 1881, divorces from January 1963.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a New York entity come from New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, normally online and often the same day.
New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in New York goes through New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, at $10.00 per document. Note that New York also requires a county-level step for notarised documents, though a certified vital record issued by the registrar skips it.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a New York birth certificate?
From New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section. Post to Certification Unit, Vital Records Section, 2nd Floor, 800 North Pearl Street, Menands, NY 12204. A certified copy is $30.00.
Does the New York Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will New York reject?
New York City records are held separately by the NYC Department of Health, not by the state.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
