Town Clerk/Registrar of Vital Statistics
1 Heady St
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
(914)734-1020

Records for the Purpose of Obtaining Dual Citizenship

Application Process

Identification:
  • Current Photo ID is required OR two of the following:
    • Utility or telephone bill.
    • Letter from a government agency dated within the last six months.

Documentation of Relationship:

  • Uncertified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates showing relationship to the person are sufficient. We cannot approve your documentation in advance of your application. You must submit the documentation you have and we will contact you if it is not sufficient.
  • Attorneys or agencies working on behalf of an individual must have their client apply for the record themselves.

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Grandparent or Great-Grandparent's Death Record:

The applicant must include along with a completed and signed Application for a Death Certificate, a completed and notarized Affidavit to Request Certified Copy of Death Certificate, documentation demostrating relationship, and a copy of the applicant's identification. Regular Instructions for obtaining a Death Certificate can be found here.

 

Parent, Grandparent or Great-Grandparent's Marriage Record:

Only a spouse on the record, a person with a judicial or other proper purpose or a person with a New York State Court Order may order a certified copy of the marriage record. Regular Instructions for obtaining a marraige certificate can be found here.

  • Still Living: If either party to the marriage is still living.
    • Either party to the marriage may request his or her own marriage record. The record will be sent to the requester who may then give it to the applicant for dual citizenship. The requester must include a copy of his or her identification along with a completed application for a marriage certificate
    • Either party to the marriage may request his or her own marriage record and include a signed and notarized letter stating that he or she gives the department permission to send the document to the applicant for dual citizenship. The requester must include a copy of his or her identification along with a completed application for a marriage certificate
    • If the applicant has power of attorney (POA) for either party to the marriage, the applicant may request the record. The POA must be signed by the one of the spouses on the marriage certificate. The language stated in the POA must be sufficient to allow the person given POA to obtain the marriage certificate. Applicant must include an attorney certified copy of the power of attorney (certification must have been done within the last year), a copy of the applicant's identification and a completed application for a marriage certificate.​​​​​​​
  • Deceased: If both parties to the marriage have died.

 

​​​​​​​Parent, Grandparent or Great-Grandparent's Birth Record:

Only the person on the 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. Regular Instructions for obtaining a birth certificate can be found here.

  • Still Living: If the person whose record is being requested is still living.
    • The parent/grandparent/great-grandparent may submit a completed APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE for his or her own record. The record will be sent to the requester who may then give it to the applicant for dual citizenship. The requester must include a copy of his or her identification.
    • The parent/grandparent/great-grandparent may submit a completed APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE for his or her own record and include a signed and notarized letter stating that he or she gives the department permission to send the document to the applicant for dual citizenship. The requester must include a copy of his or her identification.
    • The applicant may apply if he or she has power of attorney (POA) for the parent/grandparent/great-grandparent. The POA must be signed by the person named on the birth certificate. The language stated in the POA must be sufficient to allow the person given POA to obtain the birth certificate. Applicant must include an attorney certified copy of the power of attorney (certification must have been done within the last year), a copy of the applicant's identification and a completed APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
  • Deceased: If the person whose record is being requested has died.
    • A court order from a New York State Court of competent jurisdiction is required. We cannot advise you on obtaining a court order. You may wish to consult an attorney familiar with New York State Public Health Law. The applicant must submit a court certified copy of the order along with a copy of the applicant's identification, the appropriate fee and a completed APPLICATION FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

 

Other Information:

Access to certified copies of Vital Records in New York State is restricted by Public Health Law Section 4174, Section 4139 and Domestic Relations Law Section 20.

Our office cannot advise you on obtaining a court order. Visit the NEW YORK STATE COURT SYSTEM WEBSITE.

Apostille or Authentication:

1. Authentication by the Westchester County Clerk

  • Submit to the Westchester County Clerk a certified copy of the document which has been issued within the last year.  The fee ($3.00 per authentication) should be made payable to the "Westchester County Clerk". If you are submitting the document by mail, send it to The Office of the Westchester County Clerk, 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Attn:  Notary Department, Room 330, White Plains, NY 10601, along with payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
  • Contact by phone at (914) 995-3070 or send an e-mail to CC-Notary@westchestergov.com

2. Apostille by the New York State Department of State

  • Submit the Authenticated document to the New York State Department of State along with the required fee ($10 per document) and application form available on the New York State Department of State website.