Obtaining a Copy of Your Child's Birth Certificate
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FOR ALL BABIES BORN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK*:
*This does not apply to babies born in the five boroughs of NYC. If your child was born in NYC, please read the second section of this post.
The first birth certificate after adoption is FREE and is sent to the parent without an additional request or fee. If parents want an additional copy of the birth certificate, there are four ways to obtain a copy:
1. Online- Go to www.vitalchek.com (that is the correct spelling-- no "c" in "chek"). Follow the instructions. The processing time is 5-10 days. The total cost of the birth certificate is $53.00. If you wish to use UPS, there is an additional $15.50 cost.
2. Phone- Call 877-854-4481 and select option one twice. Follow the instructions. The total cost of the birth certificate is $53.00. If you wish to use UPS, there is an additional $15.50 cost.
3. Mail- Go to https://www.health.ny.gov/vital_records/mailrequests.htm and download/print the Mail-In Application for Copy of Birth Certificate form. The cost of the birth certificate is $30. The processing time is 10-12 weeks. For a quicker turn around, the cost of the birth certificate is $45. The processing time is 2-4 weeks. Mail the form, a copy of each parents’ valid photo ID, and payment to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Until
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
4. In Person- Parents can obtain a birth certificate in the city, town, or village, in which the child was BORN. To be clear-- it must be the village, town, or city in which the hospital is located where the baby was born, not where the adoptive parents lived at the time of birth. To find the clerk in a particular city, town, or village, type the following information into Google: Child's Birth City, NY, birth certificate (for example, someone born in White Plains would Google "White Plains, NY, birth certificate"). Then, follow the directions on the website to apply in person. The cost is $10.
For example, to request a birth certificate in White Plains, the Google search will direct you to www.cityofwhiteplains.com. The application for the birth certificate is found on the website or copies may be obtained at the clerk's office. Then go to the Office of City Clerk, 255 Main Street in White Plains with the application and $10 (cash or money order). Requests are usually answered the same day.
For more information on how to obtain a birth certificate for children born in New York State visit www.health.ny.gov.
FOR ALL BABIES BORN IN ONE OF THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY:
The first birth certificate after the adoption is NOT free and is NOT sent automatically to the parents. There are three ways parents can obtain a copy of the amended birth certificate in New York City:
1. Online- Wait at least four weeks after the adoption is finalized. Email nycdohvr@health.nyc.gov and ask if your child’s birth certificate has been processed and is ready to be ordered online. If the birth certificate is ready to be ordered, go to www.vitalchek.com and follow the instructions. The cost is $23.30 for regular mail and $40.30 for UPS.
2. Mail- Go to www.nyc.gov/vitalrecords and download/print out the Birth Certificate Correction Application Form. Send this notarized form, with a copy of each parents' photo ID, and a $55 check or money order made out to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and a self addressed stamped envelope to:
NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, Office of Vital Records
125 Worth Street, Room 133
NY, NY 10013
3. In person- Go to The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records at 125 Worth Street, Room 144, in New York City, Monday through Friday from 9:00am-3:30pm. Fill out the Birth Certificate Correction Application Form (download and print from online www.nyc.gov.vitalrecords). Present the form, both parents' photo IDs, and $55 payment in form of credit card, check or money order made out to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
For more information on how to obtain a birth certificate for children born in one of the five boroughs of New York City visit www.nyc.gov/vitalrecords.
If your child was not born in New York State or within one of the five boroughs of New York City, ask your lawyer about how to obtain a copy of your child's birth certificate after the adoption is finalized.