Record Confidentiality
Birth and death records are not public records and their confidentiality is protected by New York State Public Health Law. Vital Records are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and are not subject to public inspection.
Restrictions
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. Birth records are not public records and New York State Public Health law protects their confidential nature.
Obtaining Copies
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. A birth record, for those people born in the City of Albany, also can be requested by mail, under the same restrictions for release. There is a request form to complete, and all the information pertaining to the person must be supplied, including the:
- Full name at birth
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Father's name
- Mother's name, including maiden name
- Relationship of the person making the request
- Purpose for which the record is needed
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. Temporary custody papers must be issued within the last six months.
Acknowledgment of Paternity Affidavits
We also process Acknowledgment of Paternity affidavits that can be used to have a father's name added to a child's birth certificate.
Related Fees & Costs
There is a fee of $15 for each certified copy of a birth record or a No Record Certification. All in person requests are subject to a same day service fee of $5. Vital Statistics does not accept personal checks. Please bring cash, a money order or a certified bank check when coming into the office.
Mailed Requests
Birth records cannot be mailed to a P.O. Box or third-party address unless the applicant completes a notarized signed consent, authorizing us to mail the certificate to a P.O. Box.
A money order or a certified bank check for $15 per copy must accompany the request, payable to the City of Albany. If you are requesting a priority handling, you must include a money order or certified bank check for $15.
Processing time for mailed in applications typically takes a week to two
weeks unless same day processing is requested. If you request expedited processing your order will be processed within 2 to 3 days. All mail requests must be sent to:
Vital Statistics.
24 Eagle Street
Albany, NY 12207
Order by Telephone
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 regarding the release of records mentioned on this page. There is an additional fee for this service of $6 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.
Please note that phone orders will not be accepted between 11 am and 2 pm due to high volume.
Dual Citizenship & Apostille
For more information on Dual Citizenship, visit the NY State (NYS) Department of Health Dual Citizenship and Vital Records website.
For more information on NYS requirements for Apostille, visit the NYS Department of Health Apostille for Vital Records website.
Department Overview
The Office of Vital Statistics records all births and deaths occurring within the City of Binghamton since 1884. As these records are highly confidential, there are restrictions on who may obtain these documents. For more information on who is legally authorized to obtain a birth or death record, please review the information provided below, or visit the New York State Department of Health website.
Requests for a birth or death record should be mailed to: (see required information below)
City of Binghamton
Vital Statistics
38 Hawley Street
Binghamton, NY 13901
Requests will be processed within three to five business days of receipt.
Office hours are weekdays 9am to 4:30pm.
A certified birth certificate that can typically be used for travel, passport, proof of citizenship, social security, driver's license, school registration, personal identification and other legal purposes. Birth Certificates are available for events that occurred within the State of New York (except New York City), from 1907 to June 4, 2008. Important Note- New York State Vital Records will not ship a birth certificate to a P.O. Box.
For births that occurred in one of the five (5) boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Kings, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island) or New Hyde Park, you will need to order from New York City Department of Health.
How do I get a copy of my birth certificate from New York?
What is the fastest way to get a birth certificate in New York?
Can I get my birth certificate same day in New York?
How much is a replacement birth certificate in NY?
ORDER TYPE | FEES (per copy) |
Online or Phone Orders | $45 + $8 vendor processing fee per transaction (not per copy) |
Walk-in Orders | $45 |
Mail Orders | $30 |