Help Ensure Access to New York City Vital Records

As some of you may have heard, New York City is trying pass a proposal which will significantly restrict access to vital records.  Here at The NextGen Genealogy Network, we stand with our colleagues all over the world in opposition to these proposed changes.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene wants to dramatically increase the amount of time that birth and death records are kept locked away from the public eye.  They are proposing that birth records would be locked for 125 years and death records for 75 years.

This would be catastrophic for researchers who rely on these documents and those of us with New York ancestors.

There are several ways you can help to try and stop this from happening.

*Write a letter to the NYC Department of Health stating that you are against this proposal and emphasize how damaging this would be for genealogists.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Gotham Center
42-09 28th St., 14th Fl, CN31
Long Island City, NY 11101-4132

*Sign the petition – found at the link below

https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/nyc-vital-records-access

*For those of you local to the NYC area, attend the public hearing for this issue on Tuesday October 24th at 10am-12pm.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Gotham Center
42-09 28th Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3-32
Long Island City, 11101

*Spread the news!

Share on social media, tell your friends and family – get the word out!