Town Clerk Alicia Kelly
(518) 963-4287 x1
Birth Certificates
A birth certificate is issued by the clerk of the municipality in which the birth occurred. Because we do not have a hospital within the Town of Essex we issue a very small number of birth certificates each year. If a birth has occurred within the Town, the parent must file the information with the Town Clerk within five days of the birth. A certificate for a birth occurring within the Town of Essex will be permanently maintained by the Town Clerk. Obtain a Birth Certificate via this URL.
Who is eligible to obtain a birth certificate copy?
The person named on the birth certificate.
A parent of the person named on the birth certificate (requesting parent’s name must be on birth certificate).
A spouse, child or other persons obtain a copy of a birth certificate only by order of a New York State Court.
Identification Requirements – Application must be submitted with copies of either A or B:
A. One of the following forms of valid photo-ID:
Driver license
State issued non-driver photo-ID card
Passport
U.S. Military issued photo-ID
B. Two of the following showing the applicant’s name and address:
Utility or telephone bills
Letter from a government agency dated within the last six (6) months
Important Notes:
Failure to include necessary identification will result in rejection of your application.
Copy of Passport required in addition to the above ID if request is made from a foreign country that requires a U.S. Passport for travel.
If you are applying for a copy of a birth certificate via the mail and your driver’s license does not reflect the address to which you want the certificate mailed, you must have your signature notarized.
There is a fee of $10.00 per certified copy of a birth certificate. Fees are payable by cash, check, money order, Master Card or Visa.