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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where do I find the birth/death/marriage records?

1. Birth and Death Certificates
   Onondaga County Health Department's Bureau of Vital Statistics is responsible for maintaining both death and birth certificates for the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County. Some of the municipalities keep some birth and death records but certified records are obtained through the County.
   There is a fee for each certified copy of a birth or death record. Requests may be made by mail or by visiting their office.
   Onondaga County Bureau of Vital Statistics
   421 Montgomery St., Room 20 Basement Level
   Syracuse, New York 13202, Phone: (315) 435-3241
   
2. Additional information can be found on the New York State web site: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/vr.htm
   New York State Department of Health
   Vital Records Section
   Corning Tower Building/ESP
   Albany, NY 12237-0023 Phone: (518) 474-3077
   
3. A marriage license record may be obtained from the municipal clerk’s office that issued the license. There is a fee (approx. $10.00) if you obtain a certified copy.

2. What do I need to know to obtain Birth, Death, and/or marriage records?

as per http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/

1. No information shall be released from a record of birth, which has been placed in a confidential file pursuant to Public Health Law Section 4138.
2. No information shall be released from a record of birth unless the record has been on file for at least 75 years and the person to whom the record relates is known to the applicant to be deceased.
3. No information shall be released from a record of death unless the record has been on file for at least 50 years.
4. No information shall be released from a record of marriage unless the record has been on file for at least 50 years and the parties to the marriage are known to the applicant to be deceased.
5. The time periods specified in (3b), (3c), and (3d) are waived if the applicant is a descendant or has been designated to act on behalf of a descendant of the person whose record is being requested. A descendant is a person in the direct line of descent. The applicant shall provide documentation of descendancy prior to the release of information in those instances where a waiver of the waiting period is requested. A party acting on behalf of a descendant shall further provide documentation that the descendant authorized the party to make such application.
6. All uncertified copies, abstracts, or information issued for genealogical research purposes shall be clearly marked with the statement "For Genealogical Purposes Only."

3. Where do I find records relating to real property?

1. Deeds and mortgages are held by the County Clerk.
2. Tax and assessment records are held by both the town and village, as well as county, officials associated with these functions.
3. Building, planning and zoning records are held by town and village officials associated with these functions.
4. Some additional genealogical sources related to real property are available at the New York State Archives web page at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml

4. Where do I find old newspapers?

1. New York State Library Newspaper Project, http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/
2. Local Libraries
3. The local newspaper offices
4. A website to locate newspaper printer’s in Onondaga County is: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/nysnp/134.htm

5. Do you have tax records/vouchers?

1. Tax and assessment records are held by both the town and village, as well as county, officials associated with these functions.
2. Some additional genealogical sources related to real property are available at the New York State Archives web page at http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml.

6. Where do I find wills and estates?

1. Surrogate Court at Courthouse