How to Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate

Home » Things to Do » How to Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate

On Long Island, birth certificate records are maintained by the town, city, or village where the individual was born.  It is important to have a copy of your birth certificate at all stages of life, such as when you are registering your children for school or sports, or helping them obtain a driver's license. You will also need a copy of your birth certificate when you get married, get a passport, or if you need to get a new social security card.

A copy of your birth certificate can be obtained by contacting the clerk in your specific municipality of birth - which may mean the particular township that your place of birth falls under (i.e. rKings Pak being part of the Town of Smithtown, or Franklin Square being part of the Town of Hempstead).

In this guide, you will find what pieces of identification you will need if you request your birth certificate from the town clerk or if you order it online, as well as what you will need if your name has changed. There are also fees incurred for each copy of your birth certificate that you request, which becomes much more expensive when you order your birth certificate online. 

Whether you're planning on visiting the clerk at your town of birth or you are ordering your birth certificate online, be ready and know the rules and regulations involved in getting your paperwork.

Persons Who May Obtain a Birth Certificate:

  • The person named on the birth certificate, if 18 years of age or older
  • The parents of the person named on the birth certificate
  • The lawful representative of the person named or the parents of the person named on the birth certificate

Acceptable Identification
One of the following items:

  • State issued driver’s license or non-driver’s license
  • Military ID card
  • Passport

Or two of the following items showing the applicant’s name and address:

  • Current utility bills issued immediately preceding the application
  • Letters from a government agency dated within the last six months

What Do I Need if My Last Name Has Changed?
In the event that the applicant’s last name on the identification differs from the information on the certificate, a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, marriage certificate, and legal name changes paperwork must accompany.

How Do I Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate for Another Person?
If the applicant has a notarized authorization to obtain the record on behalf of an eligible individual, an original notarized statement authorizing such, and ID from the eligible individual must accompany the request.

Cost of a Birth Certificate
There is a $10 fee to obtain a birth certificate directly from the town, which must be in the form of cash, check, or money deposit.

Can I Order a Copy of my Birth Certificate Online?
You can order a copy of your birth certificate through the New York State Department of Health, which has the same requirements for identification. Applicants must file for the certificate online and pay a $30 fee with credit card online, or by mail with a check or money order. Internet or telephone requests further reuire an additional $15 priority handling fee, and mail-order requests can choose priority handling or regular shipping.

Internet and telephone requests are processed within 5-10 days or the order, mail-orders with priority shipping are processed within 2-4 weeks, and regular mail requests are processed within 10-12 weeks.

Nassau County Town & City Clerks

City of Glen Cove
9 Glen Street
Glen Cove, NY 11542
516-676-3345
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-12:30 p.m., 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Town of Hempstead
One Washington Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
516-489-5000
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:45 p.m.

City of Long Beach
One West Chester Street
Room 307
Long Beach, NY 11561
516-431-1000, ext. 314
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:30 p.m., Summer hours - 9:00-3:30 p.m.

Town of North Hempstead
200 Plandome Road
Box 3000
Manhasset, NY 11030
516-869-7646
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:15 p.m.

Town of Oyster Bay
54 Audrey Ave.
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
516-624-6332
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:45 p.m.

Suffolk County Town Clerks

Town of Babylon
200 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
631-957-3005
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:30 p.m.

Town of Brookhaven
1 Independence Hill
Farmingville, NY 11738
631-451-9101
Hours: Monday - 9:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday - 9:00-4:30 p.m.

Town of East Hampton
159 Pantigo Place
East Hampton, NY 11937
631-324-4142
Hours: Monday-Friday  9:00-4:00 p.m.

Town of Huntington
100 Main Street
Huntington, NY 11743
631-351-3206
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30-4:30 p.m., Friday 8:30-7:30 p.m.

Town of Islip
655 Main Street
Islip, NY 11751
631-224-5498
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:45 p.m, Tuesday extended hours 8:30-7:45 p.m.

Town of Riverhead
200 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-727-3200
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 p.m

Town of Shelter Island
44 North Ferry Road
PO Box 970
Shelter Island, NY 11964
631-749-1166
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-4:00 p.m

Town of Smithtown
Town Hall
99 West Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
631-360-7620
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 p.m, July-August Extended Hours 9:00-4:00

Town of Southampton
631-287-5740
116 Hampton Road
Southampton, NY 11968
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:15-4:15 p.m

Town of Southold
PO Box 1179
Southold, NY 11971
631-765-1800
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:00 p.m
 

Additonal Resources: