Hi, It isn't quite as bad as Jim says, however it is close! He is correct that to obtain a copy of a death certificate at all without the 50 yr. waiting period, you either must be a direct descendant or go through an attorneys office. First of all, since you are a direct line descendant you can apply in writing yourself (you just have to state HOW you are a granddaughter and it doesn't hurt to provide Xerox copies for proof, as well as a photo copy of your driver's license), without having to wait for the 50 year waiting period (privacy act). By law they are not required to give you a certified copy unless you are a spouse or child UNLESS there is a medical or legal need for a certified copy. A genealogical copy is exactly the same information, just not embossed with the seal of the office. In NY older death certificates are filed by TOWN (like a township in most counties) and you can request an "original" copy there, as well as from the state. Since you know the location of death, you should be able to figure out which Town it is in. There is a fee involved, and believe it or not, it can and does vary by Town, so call the Town office ahead of time and ask what the fee plus mailing will cost you. BY LAW they are required to provide the copy to you, but many balk and can be a royal pain (others are extremely nice and courteous!). You can let them know (if they balk) that you will call the Commissioner of the Dept. of Vital Records and report them (be sure and get their name before you tell them this!). There is more information you can read about at: http://genealogy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr/genform.htm and a link where you can print a formal copy of the request from a PDF (Acrobat File) (this is the form for the state) http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/vr/applications/wdh1562.pdf I have waited up to a year for a copy from NY State, the towns are usually much quicker - often a week or two after they receive your request. Another alternative is that if you contact the funeral home where your grandfather was taken, often they too have a death certificate in their files that they will copy for you. I hope that some part of this will help you.

Youdo not have to wait 6 months for an Albany exact copy of the original. Ask some kind soul to get the cert # from the index fiche at various loc. incl 5th floor local hx room, and some kind soul will drop your paper work with cert # off at the counter in Albany and you will have it inside of 3 weeks, An exact copy of the original is the only kind worth paying $22 for. Jim hartigan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karla VF Staudt" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 10:19 AM Subject: Fw: [NYOnonda] Death Certificate Needed > Hi, It isn't quite as bad as Jim says, however it is close! He is correct > that to obtain a copy of a death certificate at all without the 50 yr. > waiting period, you either must be a direct descendant or go through an > attorneys office. > > First of all, since you are a direct line descendant you can apply in > writing yourself (you just have to state HOW you are a granddaughter and it > doesn't hurt to provide Xerox copies for proof, as well as a photo copy of > your driver's license), without having to wait for the 50 year waiting > period (privacy act). By law they are not required to give you a certified > copy unless you are a spouse or child UNLESS there is a medical or legal > need for a certified copy. A genealogical copy is exactly the same > information, just not embossed with the seal of the office. > > In NY older death certificates are filed by TOWN (like a township in most > counties) and you can request an "original" copy there, as well as from the > state. Since you know the location of death, you should be able to figure > out which Town it is in. There is a fee involved, and believe it or not, it > can and does vary by Town, so call the Town office ahead of time and ask > what the fee plus mailing will cost you. BY LAW they are required to > provide the copy to you, but many balk and can be a royal pain (others are > extremely nice and courteous!). You can let them know (if they balk) that > you will call the Commissioner of the Dept. of Vital Records and report them > (be sure and get their name before you tell them this!). > > There is more information you can read about at: > http://genealogy.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr/genform.htm > > and a link where you can print a formal copy of the request from a PDF > (Acrobat File) (this is the > form for the state) > > http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/vr/applications/wdh1562.pdf > > I have waited up to a year for a copy from NY State, the towns are usually > much quicker - often a week or two after they receive your request. > > Another alternative is that if you contact the funeral home where your > grandfather was taken, often they too have a death certificate in their > files that they will copy for you. > > I hope that some part of this will help you. >