There has been recent controversy on several NYC and metro area lists about obtaining vital records in or from NY State, NYC, and the City of Yonkers, and the legal year parameters. Here is some general information you may want to keep. There are exceptions, so please view the homepages provided. A) NY STATE VITAL RECORDS- may provide genealogical copies HOMEPAGE: http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/genealogy.htm Simply, NYS began keeping records in 1881, excluding New York City. Additionally, NYS DOH does not have birth, marriage, or death records from the cities of New York, Yonkers, Albany and Rochester (its largest cities) prior to January 1, 1914. With Yonkers, Albany, and Rochester, you need to contact the City Clerk directly. B) NY CITY VITAL RECORDS The year and type of record determine where you search. 1) NYC Municipal Archives, 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, NY, NY 10007 HOMEPAGE: http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/home.shtml HOLDINGS LIST: http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/holdings.shtml BIRTHS: prior to & including 1909 MARRIAGES: prior to and including 1929 DEATHS: prior to and including 1948 2) NYC DOH Office Of Vital Records, 125 Worth Street, Room 133, NY NY 10013-4090 HOMEPAGE: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vr/vr.shtml BIRTH FORM: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vr/birth1.pdf DEATH FORM: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vr/death1.pdf MARRIAGES: 1930> Contact the City Clerk of the Borough of interest C) THE CITY OF YONKERS HOMEPAGE: http://www.cityofyonkers.com/Index.aspx?page=58 In a meeting with an archivist from the Westchester County Archives, we discussed the Yonkers City Clerk inaccurately rejecting vital records requests, based upon the year requested. We researched the law and found that all of NYS is to adhere to these guidelines: Birth certificates -- on file for 75 years. Death certificates -- on file for 50 years. Marriage certificates - on file for 50 years GENERAL INFORMATION Documents that prove that you are the direct line descendent, always increase your chances of being an exception, as will documentation of the deaths of the parties involved in your request. All of these agencies, whether you research in person or request a search by mail, require photo ID of you as the requester, as well as that of any genealogist or agent acting on your behalf. They will return your records to you. Your genealogist or agent needs a notarized letter from you, to present for records retrieval. The letter would state that you give permission to this intermediary to acquire these specific records for you. Often a live person can retrieve records easier. If you have any further questions, please refer to the homepages above. Barb N of NYC ************** Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)