Access Sullivan County Death Index

Sullivan County death index records are held by town clerks throughout the county and by the New York State Department of Health for statewide access. Located in the Catskill Mountain region, Sullivan County was formed in 1809 from Ulster County. The county seat is Monticello. Death records here follow the local registrar system that New York State uses, with each town clerk acting as the registrar for their jurisdiction. The statewide death index covers records from around 1880 and 1881 forward. For deaths before 1809, records may be found in Ulster County files.

Sullivan County Death Records

The Sullivan County Clerk in Monticello handles land records, court filings, and other county documents. Death certificates are not kept by the county clerk. New York uses a local registrar system where the town clerk in the place of death holds the original record.

Sullivan County has 15 towns: Bethel, Callicoon, Cochecton, Delaware, Fallsburg, Forestburgh, Fremont, Highland, Liberty, Lumberland, Mamakating, Neversink, Rockland, Thompson, and Tusten. Each town clerk registers deaths that occur within their boundaries. The village of Monticello is within the Town of Thompson.

Some of these towns have part-time clerks with limited hours. Call ahead to confirm when the office is open. This is especially true for smaller, more rural towns in the western and northern parts of the county. Planning your visit or request in advance saves time.

How to Search Sullivan County Death Index

Start by determining which town the death took place in. Contact the town clerk for that location. Provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death or your best estimate, and the place of death. Most clerks accept written mail requests with a check or money order for the fee.

The New York State Department of Health has death records from 1880 onward in their statewide system. Mail requests go to PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. You can call (855) 322-1022 for information. Processing takes 8 months or more at the state level. Local town clerks in Sullivan County are generally faster.

The NYS Archives in Albany has microfiche death indexes that are free to use on site. The indexes cover the statewide death records and list names, dates, places, and certificate numbers. If you find an entry, the certificate number lets you order a full copy from the state or confirm the record at the local level.

State Death Index and Sullivan County

The statewide death index begins around 1880 and 1881. Death indexes become public after 50 years under New York law. The microfiche at the NYS Archives is the main free tool for searching these records. No fee is required to view them.

Genealogy copies from the NYS DOH cost $22 for a search of 1 to 3 years. Wider date ranges cost more, up to $202 for an 81 to 90 year search. Knowing the approximate year of death helps keep costs down. Under 10 NYCRR 35.4, the state governs how death records are filed and who can access them.

Vital records are not subject to FOIL requests in New York. The Public Health Law has its own rules for death record access. This is separate from the general Freedom of Information Law that covers other government records.

Sullivan County Death Index for Genealogy

Sullivan County was formed from Ulster County in 1809. Death and burial records from before that year may be in Ulster County collections. This is a critical point for genealogists working on older family lines in the Catskill region.

The Sullivan County Historical Society in Hurleyville holds genealogy resources. They maintain local histories, family records, and cemetery transcriptions. The NYS Archives microfiche indexes cover Sullivan County death records and are available for on-site research in Albany. Cemetery records from Sullivan County can fill in gaps when official death records are unavailable, especially for the period before statewide death registration began.

Sullivan County has a unique history tied to the resort industry that thrived in the Catskills during the 1900s. The seasonal population meant that some deaths occurred among visitors rather than residents. This can complicate searches because the deceased may have been from a different county or state. Check both local and home-state records in those situations.

Ordering Sullivan County Death Certificates

Contact the town clerk in the municipality where the death was recorded. Include a written request with all known details about the deceased. Send a check or money order for the fee. Response times vary across the 15 town clerk offices in the county.

For state copies, write to the NYS DOH Vital Records Section. Specify whether you need a certified copy or genealogy copy. Genealogy copies are available for deaths more than 50 years ago and cost less with a narrow date range. The state office takes 8 months or more. Use a local clerk when possible for faster results.

If you need records from multiple towns in Sullivan County, plan to send separate requests to each town clerk. There is no central county office that handles all death records. Each town operates on its own schedule and may have different response times.

When mailing requests to small town offices, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Some clerks may need that to send copies back to you. It also shows you are prepared and can speed things along.

Nearby Counties

Sullivan County borders Ulster County to the east, Orange County to the southeast, and Delaware County to the north. The county also borders Pennsylvania to the south and west. Death records in the neighboring New York counties all follow the same local registrar system. For deaths near the Pennsylvania border, you may need to check that state's records as well.