There are several ways to obtain a new birth certificate from this office. Please click “Order a Certificate” above, choose how you would like to submit your order, and follow the instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Birth Certificates
You do not need to make an appointment. Our office accepts walk-ins only, from 9:00 AM to 3:55 PM, Monday through Friday.
We are not able to stamp your old birth certificate with a raised seal. To get a raised seal copy, you will need to order a new certificate. Please click “Order a Certificate” above, for more information.
If you do not have another form of photo ID with signature, you can instead submit copies of 2 forms of signature ID. This could include your social security card, a benefits card, a sheriff’s ID, even a credit card. We can also accept 2 recent utility bills in your name, or 2 recent letters from a government agency, but we would have to mail your certificate to the address listed on your mail.
If you do not have any of the ID listed above, but you are able to get your signature notarized on your applicaiton, we can accept a notarized signature as ID.
The only individuals who are able to receive certified copies of birth certificates are those listed on the original birth certificate (parents or child), the legal representative of the parents or child, a legal guardian with court ordered custody of the child listed on the birth certificate, or anybody with a court order, authorizing us to issue them a copy of the record.
Yes, but you must order the certificate in person and you must have a signed and dated letter from the entitled person authorizing you to obtain the certificate on their behalf. You must also have a copy of that person’s identification. We recommend that you print out and use the letter of authorization template found here: “Birth Authorization“.
In order to obtain a copy of the birth certificate, you must provide court certified legal guardianship papers that have been date stamped within the last year.
If the birth was recent (within the past year), and the hospital made an error on the birth certificate, please contact the hospital to see if they can make the correction.
The hospital birth registrars can be reached at the following phone numbers:
- Crouse: (315) 470-7795
- Community: (315) 492-5205
- St. Joseph’s: (315) 448-5161
Otherwise, please complete a correction form, and please see the New York State website for a list of documents we can accept to make a correction.
If the record was issued by our office, we can complete corrections in 2 business days. If New York State amended the record at any point, we must forward the correction request to New York State.
Death Certificates
To get a copy of a death certificate, you must be an entitled party. Entitled parties include the spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the deceased. If you are the child or sibling of the deceased, you must provide a copy of your birth certificate showing your parents’ names as proof of your relationship.
If you are not one of the above, a letter or document on letterhead from the office or agency that needs the death certificate for a legal purpose must be submitted with the request. They must specifically state that they need a copy of the decedent’s certificate and it must be signed by a representative of the agency or office.
Additionally, if the death occurred less than 6 months ago, the funeral director may be able to order additional copies of the death certificate.
Please click “Order a Certificate” above for further instructions.
You do not need to make an appointment. Our office accepts walk-ins only, 9:00 AM to 3:55 PM, Monday through Friday.
If the death occurred within the past 6 months, and the correction is not to the medical information on the death certificate, please check with the funeral director to see if they can make the correction.
All medical corrections must be make through the doctor who certified the case.
Otherwise, please fill out a correction form, and please see the New York State website for a list of acceptable documents used to support a correction.
We can complete corrections to most death certificates prior to 2019 in two business days. For more recent death certificates, or any death certificate amended by New York State, we must forward the correction paperwork to New York State.
Genealogy
Genealogy searches can be requested in person or by mail. Visit our genealogy page.
Records for the City of Syracuse date back to 1873. For the rest of Onondaga County the earliest record date varies; records can go back as far as 1883.
The Onondaga County Public Library, Central Branch, houses the Local History and Genealogy Department. Because our search fee is nonrefundable, you may wish to contact them to determine if the record you are looking for exists and where it is located prior to placing your order with the Office of Vital Statistics. You can reach the library at lhg@onlib.org or 315-435-1900.