New York did not establish policies for reporting vital records until 1881. Uncertified copies of death records can easily be obtained for genealogical purposes for birth certificates that have been on file at least 75 years, and marriage or death certificates that have been on file for 50 years. These time periods can be waved for direct descendants (a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, etc.) of the person, if you can provide proof of relationship.
The State of New York has released their death index books, which they began printing in 1881. These books can help find or confirm the date and place of death, as well as the file number, for deaths that occurred after 1880.
If you'd like to order a copy of the record, visit health.ny.gov/vital_records/genealogy.htm for details. Save money by knowing the date, which you may be able to find in one of the death index books below. Please note, however, while there are more than 5 million names in this collection, some municipalities were not included and some for only certain years. If you don't find the record, you may need to pay for a search at the state archives.
Death Index (Select a year)
1880 New York State Death Index (Link) 1881 New York State Death Index (Link) 1882 New York State Death Index (Link) 1883 New York State Death Index (Link) 1884 New York State Death Index (Link) 1885 New York State Death Index (Link) 1886 New York State Death Index (Link) 1887 New York State Death Index (Link) 1888 New York State Death Index (Link) 1889 New York State Death Index (Link) 1890 New York State Death Index (Link) 1891 New York State Death Index (Link) 1892 New York State Death Index (Link) 1893 New York State Death Index (Link) 1894 New York State Death Index (Link) 1895 New York State Death Index (Link) 1896 New York State Death Index (Link) 1897 New York State Death Index (Link) 1898 New York State Death Index (Link) 1899 New York State Death Index (Link) 1900 New York State Death Index (Link) 1901 New York State Death Index (Link) 1902 New York State Death Index (Link) 1903 New York State Death Index (Link) 1904 New York State Death Index (Link) 1905 New York State Death Index (Link) 1906 New York State Death Index (Link) 1907 New York State Death Index (Link) 1908 New York State Death Index (Link) 1909 New York State Death Index (Link) 1910 New York State Death Index (Link) 1911 New York State Death Index (Link) 1912 New York State Death Index (Link) 1913 New York State Death Index (Link) 1914 New York State Death Index (Link) 1915 New York State Death Index (Link) 1916 New York State Death Index (Link) 1917 New York State Death Index (Link) 1918 New York State Death Index (Link) 1919 New York State Death Index (Link) 1920 New York State Death Index (Link) 1921 New York State Death Index (Link) 1922 New York State Death Index (Link) 1923 New York State Death Index (Link) 1924 New York State Death Index (Link) 1925 New York State Death Index (Link) 1926 New York State Death Index (Link) 1927 New York State Death Index (Link) 1928 New York State Death Index (Link) 1929 New York State Death Index (Link) 1930 New York State Death Index (Link) 1931 New York State Death Index (Link) 1932 New York State Death Index (Link) 1933 New York State Death Index (Link) 1934 New York State Death Index (Link) 1935 New York State Death Index (Link) 1936 New York State Death Index (Link) 1937 New York State Death Index (Link) 1938 New York State Death Index (Link) 1939 New York State Death Index (Link) 1940 New York State Death Index (Link) 1941 New York State Death Index (Link) 1942 New York State Death Index (Link) 1943 New York State Death Index (Link) 1944 New York State Death Index (Link) 1945 New York State Death Index (Link) 1946 New York State Death Index (Link) 1947 New York State Death Index (Link) 1948 New York State Death Index (Link) 1949 New York State Death Index (Link) 1950 New York State Death Index (Link) 1951 New York State Death Index (Link) 1952 New York State Death Index (Link) 1953 New York State Death Index (Link) 1954 New York State Death Index (Link) 1955 New York State Death Index (Link) 1956 New York State Death Index (Link)
(Subsequent years are being released annually).
