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Birth Records
There is a fee of $10.00 for each certified copy of a birth record. Vital Statistics does not accept personal checks. Please use cash, a money order or a certified bank check when coming into the office. A copy of a birth record for a person born in the City of Albany can be requested in person at our office, located in Albany City Hall on the second mezzanine room 254M. Birth records can only be released to the person themselves once they are 18 years old, a parent listed on the birth record, a lawful representative or by court order. There is a request form to complete, and all the information pertaining to the person must be supplied. (See required information listed below).
YOU MUST HAVE IDENTIFICATION TO PICK UP A COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF YOUR CHILDREN. YOU MUST HAVE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE COURT ORDER FOR CHILDREN IN YOUR CUSTODY.
Birth records are not public records and New York State Public Health law protects their confidential nature. A birth record for people born in the City of Albany can be requested by mail, under the same restrictions mentioned above. The person making the request must provide identification.
We must have all of the following information for the person named on the birth record:
- NAME
- DATE OF BIRTH
- PLACE OF BIRTH
- FATHER'S NAME
- MOTHER'S NAME INCLUDING MAIDEN NAME
- RELATIONSHIP OF PERSON MAKING REQUEST
- PURPOSE NEEDED
For an application to obtain a copy of a birth record please download the form below: Birth records cannot be mailed to a P.O. Box or third-party address unless the applicant's signature is notarized.
A money order or a certified bank check for $10.00 per copy must accompany the request, payable to the City of Albany. We try to answer our mail the same day or by the next day after receiving the request. Mail the request to the following address.
DO NOT SEND CASH:
Registrar, City of Albany
Vital Statistics
Room 254M
City Hall Albany, NY 12207
A birth record for people born in the City of Albany can also be ordered over the telephone and charged to a credit card, under the same restrictions mentioned above. There is an additional fee for this service of $6.00 that is charged by the company VitalChek Network, which supplies us with the equipment and deals directly with the credit card companies. The request can be made by calling our office at (518) 434-5045. Identification must be faxed to our office at (518) 434-5975, before we can process the request.
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