New York Vital Records for Dual Citizenship: Notarized Affidavits & Authorization

New York State Department of Health does not file and cannot issue New York City birth or death certificates, and it does not issue marriage certificates for licenses obtained in New York City. If the event occurred in a NYC borough, use New York City processes—not this NYS dual-citizenship pathway.

Dual-citizenship applicants often need lineage documents across generations. NYS access is restricted by Public Health Law and related rules; relationship documentation and identification still apply even when a notarized affidavit or authorization letter is part of the packet.

For a grandparent or great-grandparent death record under current NYS dual-citizenship guidance, the applicant submits a completed death-certificate application, a completed and notarized Affidavit to Request Certified Copy of Death Certificate (DOH-5001, edition 5/10), documentation demonstrating relationship, and a copy of identification.

Use the current DOH-5001 PDF from the New York State Department of Health. Notarization of DOH-5001 does not prove eligibility or issue the certified death record.

Only the person on the birth record, the parents on the record, or a person with a New York State court order may order a certified copy of a birth certificate under this dual-citizenship guidance.

If the person whose birth record is requested is still living, current NYS options include: the person requests their own record (and may later give it to the dual-citizenship applicant); the person requests their own record and includes a signed and notarized letter authorizing NYS DOH to send the document to the dual-citizenship applicant; or the applicant applies with power of attorney—signed by the person named on the birth certificate, with language sufficient to obtain the birth certificate, plus an attorney-certified copy of the POA (certification within the last year), applicant ID, and a completed application.

If the birth subject has died, a court order from a New York State court of competent jurisdiction is required. A notarized letter or affidavit does not replace that court-order requirement.

Living marriage party: either party may request their own marriage record, or request it with a signed and notarized letter authorizing mailing to the dual-citizenship applicant, or use POA with an attorney-certified copy (certification within the last year) when the POA language is sufficient.

Both marriage parties deceased: submit a completed marriage-certificate application, copies of the death records, applicant ID, relationship documentation, and a completed and notarized Affidavit to Request Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate (DOH-5000).

Dissolution of marriage: living party pathways parallel marriage (own request, notarized mailing authorization, or qualifying POA). If both parties are deceased, current NYS dual-citizenship guidance requires a New York State court order—notarization does not replace it.

Some foreign citizenship authorities require apostille or authentication of vital records. That is a separate authentication step from proving you may obtain the NYS certified copy.

Apostille does not create eligibility for a restricted NYS record, and notarization is not an apostille. See online notarized document and apostille when foreign authentication is the real question.

This guide does not claim New York State Vital Records has published an express remote-online-notarization acceptance statement for these dual-citizenship affidavits and authorization letters. Confirm with NYS before treating RON as accepted for your exact packet.

iRemoteNotary does not issue vital records, determine eligibility, approve court orders, issue apostilles, or guarantee acceptance by NYS, NYC, or any foreign authority. Always use current official NYS forms and dual-citizenship instructions.