Letter of Exemplification

NOTARY911 doesn’t provide or help to obtain New York birth certificates or letters of exemplification.

What is a Letter of Exemplification?

Exemplification of Birth or Death Record (letter of exemplification) is a separate page that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene attaches to New York City-issued birth and death certificates.

If you were born outside of New York City, including elsewhere in New York State or a different state, please check the CDC website for information on ordering a copy of your birth certificate.

Exemplification means “an attested copy of a document, under official seal.” In other words, a Letter of Exemplification attests that the attached NYC-issued birth or death record is a true and certified copy.

If you need a Letter of Exemplification, request a new Long Form or Vault copy of your birth or death record.

The fastest way to request New York vital records is to do it online. Vitalchek is the only vendor authorized by the Health Department to process birth certificate orders.

When you order the birth/death certificate, explain your request and the Health Department will determine if a Letter of Exemplification is needed.

If you plan to use your birth certificate in a foreign country, you may need to authenticate it through an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication.

An example of the Letter of Exemplification

You can obtain a Letter of Exemplification for your NYC birth certificate alongside the certified, long-form copy from Vitalchek.

They are only issued as part of the same request; you must get them together.

Only persons listed on the birth certificate can order it - no third party can order any vital documents for you.

The Letter of Exemplification is essential for obtaining an apostille for your NYC birth certificate. It plays a crucial role for various reasons:

1. Verifies Authenticity for Apostille Requirements:

The Hague Convention, an international treaty that simplifies document authentication for foreign use, has specific requirements for apostilles. One of these requirements is that the document being apostilled is a true and certified copy issued by a competent authority.

The Letter of Exemplification is an official statement from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It confirms that the attached birth certificate is a genuine copy obtained from their official records. So that you know, this verification is necessary for the apostille issuing authority to accept and process your request.

2. Not Included with Standard Certified Copies:

A short copy of your birth certificate is valid for domestic purposes but does not contain the Letter of Exemplification. This additional document is required explicitly for the Hague Convention's requirements for apostille issuance. Therefore, requesting a certified copy "with a Letter of Exemplification" is essential for the apostille process.

Why Letter of Exemplification is so essential?