Exemplification of New York City birth and death records: do you need it for an apostille?
Exemplification of Birth or Death Record is a separate page which the New York city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene attaches to NYC birth and death certificates. Exemplification means "an attested copy of a document, under official seal" and the Exemplification Letter does exactly that - attests that the attached birth or death certificate is a true certified copy. The reason for issuing a Letter of Exemplification is mere convenience. The New York City (Manhattan) County Clerk's Office does not have the signature of the City Registrar on file, and cannot authenticate this signature directly. However, the signatures of Deputies City Registrar who sign Letters of Exemplification are on file with this office.
New! Effective Febrruary 11, 2025 birth and death certificates (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) must be accompanied by a Letter of Exemplification.
New! Effective February 11, 2025 short form birth certificates are not accepted for apostilles.
