Dear Wonderful Group of Helpers, I asked a question (1st one below), about getting a Death Certificate from Yonkers and received so many wonderful thoughts & idea's on what to do. I do not know how many came in private & how many came across on the list site. So I thought to copy all who emailed me on that subject. To let you all know these great ideas & suggestions should you need them. (Sorry this email is long) Thanks to all who took the time to help me (and now to help others). Junie :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I want to send for a death certificate for Yonkers. On the application there is this question "Purpose for which record is required". I normally would say "Genealogy", but I hear it's hard to get any certificate from Yonkers and someone suggested to fill question in with "Pass Port" when ordering a birth certificate. Any suggestions for death certificates? And do I have to send a copy of my drivers license? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you order with the online form on Italian Gen, check Genealogy. I just ordered 2 death certificates, and it only took 2 weeks to get them to me, using a credit card to pay. Carol If you want to get all the information the best reason is Family Medical History. Diane Death certificates are public records after 50 years. If you have a problem getting it from them, you can always get it from the state. Bobbi Has anyone out there received a Yonkers Vital Record recently? (When placing "genealogy" in the "purpose" field?) I sent away for a birth certificate (1906) about 5 months ago, and although they cashed my check, I never got a reply. Back in the mid-90's Yonkers was absolutely wonderful to work with and very quick on the turnaround time. But the past few years I've never received a response. Adrienne My grgrandfather died in Yonkers in 1906. I had no problem getting his death record. Can't remember what it cost, but it didn't take long to get it. M.E, Has anyone out there received a Yonkers Vital Record recently? (When placing "genealogy" in the "purpose" field?) yes. The form that they have online has the wrong price, find the phone number and call them if you can and make sure. They were very nice when I called them to helped a person from Australia a while back. I think they even gave me a different address. Judy Submitting copies of a driver's license is not unusual with the NYC DOH. I prefer sending a copy of my passport, then they know I am a citizen. MzS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi, #1 you are talking about a certificate almost 100 years old, #2 I always say medical reasons for deaths...but I don't think they'll fight you Barb I have never had to send a copy of my drivers license for any certificate and especially would question sending ID for a certificate that old. My maternal grandmother died in 1985 in Queens. I had expected a long wait and a hard time from the City. .....didn't happen. Turnaround time was less than two weeks, I was given a refund of the extra $2.00 I had paid in case my "exact year" was wrong, and in the bargain they forwarded my request to the right borough. I had thought she's died in Manhattan where she had lived before. P.S. Passport could only be used for a very recent birth certificate. I personally wouldn't lie but that's mostly because I never lie about anything.....not because I don't think it would speed things up!! Maureen No matter where, I try to avoid the term genealogy. MANY places/record keepers consider it an obscene word. <g> I haven't had to deal with Yonkers ... at least, yet. How about 'family medical history' ? Many doctors are encouraging people to check on relatives and frequency of various ailments/illnesses. It's a legit. reason. It's really not a lie. (if they'll include cause of death and underlying conditions, with all the privacy issues nowadays.) As far as the driver's license copy goes ... if they require it .... welcome to the 21st century! Maureen in NJ The answer is Genealogy, as you thought. New York State Dept of Health and New York City have separate systems for vital records. However, they both are bound by the laws of the state. Death information need only be hidden for privacy reasons for 50 years. Any clerk who denies you a pre-1958 certificate because you are not closely related to the person does not know the law. If denied, you would need to speak with the clerk in charge of vital records. That person, unless it is a small locality, would almost certainly know the law. No driver's license is required for death certificates. People who need a passport need to prove their citizenship by submitting a previous passport or a certified birth certificate. They also have to prove their identity. For that, a driver's license or a previous passport would work (some other things, too). Birth certificates are hidden for 75 years. So, "passport" is a good reason for needing a certified copy of your own birth certificate or that of your children. But, after 75 years, Genealogy is a perfectly good reason for wanting a birth certificate of a person, whether you are directly related or not. Cliff Lamere P.S. from Cliff One thing needs to be mentioned so that my previous message is entirely clear. For birth and death certificates, all of New York State outside of New York City is under the jurisdiction of the NYS Dept of Health and must abide by the same rules. Certificates can be obtained directly from the Dept. of Health or from the local city, village or Town in which the event occurred. By law, the price must be the same in Yonkers as it is for the Dept. of Health. But, Yonkers must also use the same rules concerning obtaining a certificate for genealogical research, and the privacy period is the same. Cliff