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Death Certificates: Corrections

Common corrections: COVID-19 as Cause | Name | Residence | Military Service | Relationship Status | Place/Date of Birth | Social Security Number | Occupation | Education | Parent's Information | Death Reporting | Miscarriage/Still Birth

Corrections for death certificates must be submitted by mail or in person. You cannot request a correction online or by email.

To request a death certificate correction, you must be: the decedent’s (deceased person’s) spouse or registered domestic partner; child, parent, or sibling or an informant listed on the death certificate; court-appointed guardian, fiduciary, estate beneficiary or person in control of the decedent’s disposition.

Certificate corrections require 12 weeks to process. Delivery by mail can take an additional two weeks.

All in-person orders require an appointment. Click here to schedule an appointment online.

If the error was made by the facility or provider within 12 months of the date of death, contact the facility or provider listed on the death certificate. They can submit the correction request electronically.

If you are unable to schedule an appointment and have an emergency request related to travel, health care coverage, government services, military, housing or employment, call 311 or email correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov. In your email, include current photo ID and documents showing that you have an emergency, such as a paid plane ticket, letter from an employer with a job start date, or letter from a government agency with an appointment date.

When submitting a request, it is important to follow the below guidelines and provide the correct forms and documentation:

• Submit the correction application by mail or in person.
  • Death Certificate Correction Application (PDF)
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• Provide the required photo identification. If you are submitting the application by mail, make a photocopy.
• Submit original documents on official letterhead or with an original seal, depending on the kind of correction you want. Submit one photocopy with each of the original documents. Original documents will be returned to you. We will not accept photocopies, altered documents or notarized copies without the original documents.
• Calculate the required fees.

Review below information about common types of death certificate corrections and their required documentation.

Common Death Certificate Corrections

Add COVID-19 as the Cause of Death

In addition to the application, you must have a letter from a health care provider who treated the person named on the death certificate.

The provider's letter must include: the provider’s letterhead, signature and license number; dates showing when the provider started and stopped treating the deceased; a statement from the provider that the cause of death was related to COVID-19 (the letter may use phrasing indicating the death was caused by, may have been caused by, or was likely a result of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms); and a statement that the provider reviewed the current cause of death on the death certificate.

Mail the application, letter, and all required documents to:

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Attention: FEMA Death Certificate Amendment Request, Corrections Unit
125 Worth Street, Room 144, CN-4
New York, NY 10013

For more information, email correctionsunit2@health.nyc.gov, with “FEMA burial assistance” in the subject line.

Name

Legal Name

• If the error was made by the facility or doctor within 12 months of the date of death, contact the facility or doctor listed on the death certificate. They can submit the correction request.
• If it has been more than 12 months, a letter from the facility or doctor listed on the death certificate is required. The letter must state that they made an error with the name. Medical records may also be required.

Aliases or AKAs (Also Known As)

You must provide a legal court document, marriage certificate, birth certificate or letter from a funeral home admitting error.

Usual Residence

You must provide two proofs of address, such as:

• Letter from a government agency
• Utility bill
• Mortgage statement
• Rental or lease agreement dated within three months before the date of death

Service in the U.S. Armed Forces

You must provide a Forces Discharge paper, discharge certificate or original letter from the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.

Relationship Status Correction

Marital/Partnership Status or Removing/Adding the Name of the Surviving Spouse

You must provide a civil marriage certificate, registered domestic partnership certificate, legal separation document, divorce decree, notification of no divorce on file from where the deceased was married, or a death certificate of spouse.

Name of Surviving Spouse/Partner

You must provide a civil marriage certificate, registered domestic partnership certificate or legal separation document.

Date of Birth/Age or Birthplace

You must provide the original birth certificate.

Social Security Number

You must provide the original Social Security Card or a Social Security Administration letter showing the deceased person's full social security number.

Occupation

Usual Occupation

You must provide an employee ID or a letter from the employer.

Kind of Business or Industry

You must provide an employee ID, letter from employer, last pay stub(s), last W-2 form or professional license.

Education

You must provide a diploma, degree or letter from the educational institution.

Parents' Information

You must provide the deceased person's original birth certificate.

Death Reporting and Funeral Home

Informant's Information

If you are removing the informant's information, you must provide a court order from Surrogate's Court.

If you are correcting the informant's information, you must provide a government letter or utility bill, mortgage statement, rent/lease agreement, or letter from the funeral home admitting error.

Disposition Information

You must provide the original letter from a cemetery/crematory on letterhead or return to the funeral home.

Funeral Home Information

You must provide a letter from the funeral home with on letterhead signed by the funeral director.

Miscarriage, Certificate of Still Birth

You must complete the Birth Certificate Correction application (PDF)

To submit a still birth certificate correction, you must be a parent named on the certificate or, if both parents are deceased at the time of still birth, an aunt, uncle or grandparent.

To submit a miscarriage (spontaneous termination of pregnancy) certificate correction, you must be a parent. Funeral directors may also apply for these corrections.

Note: There are no fees for this type of correction.