Death Certificate Apostille - New York City

How to apostille New York City issued Death Certificate.

We offer one business day NYC-issued Death Certificates Apostilles.

How Can I Get an Apostille for a Death Certificate Issued in NYC?

To obtain an apostille for a death certificate issued in New York City, you will need to follow these steps:

Step One: Obtain a new copy

You must obtain a copy of the death certificate with a letter of exemplification from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Vital Records Division (NYS DOH), or online from Vitalchek. Please note that the NYS DOH Department will issue the letter of exemplification only upon request. Applications may be made in person at the Department’s Office, by mail, or online. There are restrictions on who may submit the applications (immediate family). Proof of identity is required. Currently, processing of applications by mail takes about four weeks.

Remember, only certified copies are acceptable for apostille purposes. Photocopies or notarized copies will not be accepted.

Step Two: Authentication

Once you have the certified death certificate, you need to get it authenticated by the County Clerk's Office. This step verifies the signature and seal on your document. You can do this:

In person at the County Clerk's office
By mail to the appropriate County Clerk's office

Please remember that according to the New York Department of State’s official rules, only a certificate accompanied by the letter of exemplification can be apostilled.

Step Three: Apostille or Certificate of Authentication

Why Death Certificate Apostille Is Required?

There are a few common reasons why you might need to get an apostille for a death certificate issued in New York City:

Estate settlement abroad: If the deceased owned assets or property in a foreign country, you may need to provide the foreign authorities with an apostilled death certificate to settle the estate or transfer ownership.
Insurance claims: When making a life insurance claim with a foreign insurance company, they may require an apostilled death certificate as proof of the policyholder's death.
Pension or benefit claims: Similar to insurance, if you're claiming a foreign pension or survivor benefits on behalf of the deceased, the pension or benefit administrator may need an apostilled death certificate.
Dual citizenship or foreign visas: If your foreign-born relative passed away in NYC, you might need their apostilled death certificate to resolve dual citizenship issues or cancel a foreign visa in their home country.
Foreign legal proceedings: In some cases, foreign courts may require an apostilled NYC death certificate as evidence in legal matters related to the deceased, such as probate or inheritance disputes.

An apostille essentially certifies the authenticity of the death certificate for use in another country that is part of the Hague Apostille Convention. It assures foreign authorities that the document is genuine and can be trusted for legal purposes abroad.

Important Considerations:

Time Sensitivity: Start the process as early as possible. The entire procedure can take several weeks, especially if done by mail.
Document Care: Make copies of all documents before sending them. While rare, documents can get lost in transit.
Professional Services: If you're pressed for time or find the process overwhelming, consider using a professional apostille service like ours. We can manage the entire process for you.
Multiple Copies: If you need multiple copies of the death certificate apostilled, you must go through this process for each copy.
Translation: If the receiving country requires the document in a language other than English, you may need to have the death certificate translated by a certified translator after obtaining the apostille. We also offer a certified and notarized translation.

Remember, dealing with death certificates can be emotionally challenging. Don't hesitate to ask for help from family, friends, or professional services if you find the process difficult to manage during grief. At Notary911, we provide Apostille with a Death Certificate with a fast turnaround.