Apostilles

Overview

Apostilles are an internationally recognized way to verifying the authenticity of one country’s official document to another country. In New York State, the Department of State issues apostilles on official documents. The NY Department of State requires the document be authenticated at the city and county levels before an Apostille can be issued. That means that your marriage certificate, birth certificate and/or death certificate must have the original signature of the City Clerk and the County Clerk along with a raised seal.


Access to certified copies of vital records is restricted by Public Health Law Section 4174, Section 4139 and Domestic Relations Law Section 20. To obtain any of these certified documents you must provide one of the following forms of photo ID which has your date of birth, signature and valid expiration date: 

  • U.S. Driver's License 
  • Non-driver photo ID card (DMV issued identification)
  • Passport 
  • U.S. Military ID (Active, Reserve or Retired personnel)

ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.


BIRTH CERTIFICATE

 

Only the person and/or their parent (s) listed on the birth record may obtain a certified copy of the birth record by completing the Birth Certificate Application.

If the person is deceased a NYS court order is mandatory to obtain a certified copy of the Birth Certificate. 

 

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE


The Bride and Groom may request their own marriage license.


If the Bride and Groom are deceased and the applicant needs a copy for Dual Citizenship purposes, they must provide a certified copy of the bride and grooms death certificates along with documentation demonstrating the relationship, additionally the applicant must provide proper identification and a notarized Affidavit of Request for Certified Marriage Certificate.


DEATH CERTIFICATE


Parents, spouses, children and siblings must have a completed Death Certificate Application, along with certified proof of your relationship. For Dual Citizenship, you must also have a completed notarized Affidavit of Request for Certified Death Certificate along with documentation demonstrating your relationship and you must provide proper identification. 

 FEE

Certified Copy Fee: $10 (each) 

  • Marriage Transcript 
  • Birth Certificate
  • Death Certificate

In person, payment in cash (mandatory for births and deaths) , credit or debit cards: Discover, Master Card and Visa are accepted. 

By mail, mail application to:  

Mount Vernon City Hall

Office of the City Clerk  (for marriages)

Office of the Registrar   (for births and deaths)

1 Roosevelt Square

Mount Vernon, New York 10550

                            money order made payable to "The City of Mount Vernon"

Once your documents have been signed and certified by the City Clerk you must then take the documents to the Westchester County Clerk for their authentication. Once that is done you must then take your completed documents to the New York State Department of State for apostille. The New York City office for the NYS Department of State is 123 William Street, New York, NY 10038 and the phone number is (212) 417-5747.