How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Answer
The funeral director usually purchases several originals for your use. You may also get a copy of a death certificate from the Vital Statistics/Death Records Department in the municipality where the person died. If the person died in one of the five boroughs of New York City (Bronx, Kings [Brooklyn], New York [Manhattan], Queens, Richmond [Staten Island]), contact the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If the person died outside the five boroughs, contact the State Department of Health.
The spouse, parent, or child of a deceased person can always request a copy of that person's death certificate. Other relatives may be able to get a copy depending on whether the person died inside or outside NYC, and whether they are requesting a copy of the death certificate that includes the cause of death. Please review the information about who can request a death certificate carefully to find out if your request can be fulfilled by the appropriate health department. If you're not eligible to be issued a copy of a relative's death certificate by the appropriate health department, you will probably need to file an Article 78 proceeding in Supreme Court to access it.
Public Health Law § 4174 was amended by L 2024, ch 15, effective Dec 22, 2023, to restate who is eligible to obtain a death certificate.