A New York death certificate is apostilled by the New York Department of State for $10. New York City certificates first need a Letter of Exemplification and county clerk certification.
Last reviewed: . Government fees and office details were checked against the official sources listed below.
Key facts
| Issuing office | New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Apostille and Authentication Unit |
|---|---|
| State fee | $10 per document. New York City certificates also need New York County Clerk certification at $3 per document. |
| State processing time | Same day for walk-in customers, up to 10 documents. No official processing time is published for mail. |
| Where issued | Department of State offices in New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Utica, or by mail to Albany. |
| Form | DOS-1917-f, “Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request” (Rev. 02/24), two pages |
| Payment | Department of State: Check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank, or MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Cash is not accepted. New York County Clerk: no personal or company checks. |
These are government figures. AI Fingerprinting’s service fee is separate and quoted on request.
Does it matter where in New York the death occurred?
Yes. A death in the five boroughs of New York City follows a three-step chain. A death anywhere else in the state can follow a one-step chain.
| Certificate issued by | Steps before the apostille |
|---|---|
| NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | Letter of Exemplification, then New York County Clerk certification |
| New York State Department of Health | None, if signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or the NYS Registrar |
| Local city, town or village registrar | Certification by the county clerk where that registrar’s signature is filed |
What is a Letter of Exemplification?
A Letter of Exemplification is a separate page from the NYC Health Department in which the City Registrar certifies that the death certificate is a true copy of the record on file.
It has no extra cost. You ask for it on the death certificate application. The Department of State says that for New York City birth and death certificates, “when ordering your record you will also need to request a ‘Letter of Exemplification’.” Without it, the certificate cannot move to the county clerk.
How do you order the right death certificate?
Order from the agency that holds the record, and ask for the version that can be apostilled.
Deaths in New York City
- Apply to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on form VR 220.
- The fee is $15 per copy. The Letter of Exemplification is requested on the same application.
- Mail applications go to 125 Worth St., Room 119, CN-4, New York, NY 10013. Payment is by check or money order. Cash is not accepted.
- The applicant must be 18 or older and have an entitled relationship, such as spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent or grandchild, or a documented legal right.
Deaths elsewhere in New York State
- The New York State Department of Health holds death records since 1881 for all of the state except New York City.
- The fee is $30 by mail on form DOH-4376, or $45 plus a vendor fee online or by phone.
- Eligible applicants are the spouse, parent, child or sibling, or others with a documented lawful right or a court order.
- The Department of Health reports “significant delays in order processing.” Plan for that.
What are the steps for a New York City death certificate?
There are three government steps: the Health Department, the New York County Clerk, then the Department of State.
- Order a certified death certificate with a Letter of Exemplification from the NYC Health Department.
- Take or mail both pages to the New York County Clerk, Notary Department, 60 Centre Street, Room 141B, New York, NY 10007. The clerk verifies the City Registrar’s signature for $3.
- Complete Department of State form DOS-1917-f and name the destination country.
- Send the certified packet, the form and $10 to the Department of State, or walk it in.
- Include a prepaid return envelope or carrier label.
The New York County Clerk handles this step for all five boroughs. The clerk’s office states that it “does not forward documents to the Department of State to be Apostilled.”
What a New York death certificate apostille looks like
A finished New York City packet has four layers, bound at the top-left corner with a metal eyelet.
- The apostille. A white page headed “Apostille”, signed by the Deputy Secretary of State for Business and Licensing Services, with a blue printed Department of State seal. Sample numbers use the format “NYC-” plus seven digits. It names the County Clerk of the county of New York.
- The county clerk certificate. A pink landscape sheet with a double-ruled border and its own serial number. A round county clerk ink stamp is struck across the edge of this sheet and the page beneath, tying them together.
- The Letter of Exemplification. A white page with the NYC Health heading, titled “Exemplification of Birth or Death Record”, with the Health Department seal and the City Registrar’s signature.
- The death certificate. Security paper with an ornate blue engraved border and a barcode.
Common reasons for rejection
Most problems with New York death certificates happen before the Department of State ever sees the document.
- The New York City certificate was ordered without a Letter of Exemplification.
- The packet skipped the New York County Clerk.
- A local registrar’s copy was taken to a county clerk that does not hold that registrar’s signature.
- The Department of State form was incomplete or had no destination country.
How AI Fingerprinting helps
AI Fingerprinting is a private document services business at 201 NE Park Plaza Dr #221, Vancouver, WA 98684. We are not a government agency. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Clients across the United States work with us by mail.
Families usually come to this after a loss, often with an overseas estate, pension or property matter waiting. Tell us where the death occurred and which country needs the certificate. We confirm which version to order and which offices it must pass through, before you spend money on the wrong copy.
Pricing is by quote. We tell you the government fees and our fee separately.
New York death certificate apostille FAQ
Does the Letter of Exemplification cost extra?
No. The NYC Health Department application says the Letter of Exemplification has no extra cost. The death certificate itself is $15 per copy.
Which county clerk certifies a New York City death certificate?
The New York County Clerk at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B, in Manhattan. This applies to deaths in any of the five boroughs. The fee is $3 per document.
Does the county clerk send my certificate to the Department of State?
No. The New York County Clerk states that it does not forward documents to the Department of State to be apostilled. You or your agent must submit the packet.
Do I need a county clerk for a death certificate from outside New York City?
Not if the certificate was issued by the New York State Department of Health and signed by the Director of Vital Statistics or the NYS Registrar. It can go straight to the Department of State.
Can a death certificate from a town or city registrar be apostilled?
Yes, with one extra step. The county clerk who holds that registrar’s signature on file must certify it first. The county clerk fee is $3.
Can I add a Letter of Exemplification to a certificate I already have?
Official pages do not say. The Department of State says to request the letter when you order the record. Ask the NYC Health Department before you pay for a new copy.
Ready to get your apostille?
Tell us what document you have and where it is going. We will reply with a quote.
Sources
- New York Department of State: Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
- New York Department of State: form DOS-1917-f, Apostille/Certificate of Authentication Request (Rev. 02/24)
- NYC311: Apostille or Certificate of Authentication
- New York County Clerk: Notary Department
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: death certificate application, form VR 220
- New York State Department of Health: death certificates
- Erie County Clerk: apostilles and authentications
This page is general information, not legal advice. Some countries set their own rules on how recent a death certificate must be or whether a translation is needed. Confirm with the receiving country’s authority first.