Find Birth Records in Allegany County
Allegany County birth records are kept at the town and city clerk level, not by a single county office. Each local clerk serves as the registrar for births that took place within their borders. The county seat is Belmont, but the County Clerk there handles land records and court files, not vital records. If you need a birth certificate from Allegany County, you first have to figure out which town the birth happened in. This guide covers how to get records from local clerks, the state DOH, and other sources.
Allegany County Birth Records Overview
Allegany County Local Registrars
In Allegany County, the town clerk where a birth took place is the first stop for getting a certified copy. New York Public Health Law Article 41, Section 4140 requires that birth certificates be filed with the local registrar within five days. That means the original record lives with the town or city clerk, not at the county level.
The Town of Wellsville Clerk at 156 Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895, is one of the more active registrars in the county. They hold birth records from about 1881 to the present. Certified copies cost $10 each. You need to bring a valid ID and proof of relationship. Their phone number is (585) 593-1780, and hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Town of Alfred Clerk at 8950 Main Street, Alfred, NY 14802, also holds birth records for births that happened within that town. Call them at (607) 587-8976.
Written requests sent to any Allegany County town clerk should include the full name on the birth certificate, date and place of birth, your relationship to the person, and a copy of your photo ID.
Allegany County Birth Record Sources
The Wellsville Town Clerk's office handles a large share of Allegany County vital records requests due to the town's population.
Wellsville also maintains marriage and death records, so it is a good starting point for anyone doing family research in the area.
The Allegany County Historical Society in Belmont keeps family histories, cemetery records, and old newspapers that can help fill gaps in the official record.
They are at 3780 Route 275, Belmont, NY 14813. Call (585) 968-8200 to set up a research appointment. They publish a quarterly newsletter with genealogy tips for Allegany County families.
The Allegany County NYGenWeb page is a volunteer-run site with free links to local records and research tools.
This is a useful first stop when you are not sure which town clerk holds the record you need.
Allegany County Records at the State Level
The NYS Department of Health keeps copies of Allegany County birth records from 1881 to the present. The mail order fee is $30. Send your request to Vital Records Section, PO Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Online orders through VitalChek cost $45 plus processing fees and are usually handled within 24 hours on weekdays.
Under Public Health Law Section 4174, genealogy requests are only filled for records older than 75 years, and you must show proof that the person has died. Direct-line descendants can sometimes get records before that cutoff. Processing takes eight months or longer for genealogy orders. Call the toll-free line at (855) 322-1022 for questions.
Other Allegany County Birth Record Sources
The New York State Archives has microfiche birth indexes for Allegany County through 1937. They also hold State Census records for 1855 through 1925, which can help confirm family details when birth certificates are missing. No appointment is needed. Staff can hand off your DOH genealogy application through interagency mail.
The Allegany County Surrogate's Court at 7 Court Street, Belmont, handles probate and adoption records. Adoption files are sealed and need a court order. But wills and estate papers sometimes name children and their dates of birth, which can help when a birth certificate is lost.
The Allegany County Clerk's Office at 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813, handles land records and passports. Phone is (585) 268-9273. They do not hold birth certificates but can help point you to the right town clerk.
Note: VitalChek is the fastest way to get a certified copy, but the total cost is higher than ordering by mail.
Cities in Allegany County
Allegany County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a separate page. Contact the town clerk where the birth took place for local records.