Records Description: This index covers two collections: Wills (Series 132) and Estate Records (Series 16). Original estate records usually detail the name(s) of the heirs as well as property of the deceased. Some estate files also include copies of the deceased individual's will. Original wills, however, have been filed separately with the Surrogate's Court. Collectively these records (commonly referred to as probate records) have been indexed in this database. Learn more about the types of information available in probate records.
Please note that because our online index only identifies wills, estate inventories and guardianships and there are additional surrogate records available (such as letters of administration), it is still a good idea to check our in-house microfilm index of the Surrogate records in case you do not find what you are looking for in the online index. To request a search of the microfilm index, please submit a Custom Research Request.
Index Arrangement: Alphabetical by last name.
Search IndexTo request a copy of an item that you find listed in this index, please fill out an Individual Record Request form.
Indexing Status: Indexing of original wills 1775-1784 (gaps), 1787-1941 has been completed; however, indexing of estate inventories is in process and so far only the years 1775-1918 have been added to the database.
To request a copy of a Surrogate record, please submit a Custom Research Request. Many estate files contain a copy of the will, but if an original will is available, you can request a copy along with the estate file. Please note this on the request form.
Note about Town names: If the information for where the person lived and/or where they owned property is not stated in the estate file or in the will, it will be noted with "not available". Those entries that have this field as a blank are files that still need to be checked for this information and will be added when it has been done, a project that is currently on-going.
Note about original wills: In a few cases we only have either miscellaneous paperwork about an original will or just an envelope. These have been noted in the database under the first name with brackets and either "No will", "envelope empty" or "will not in envelope". Also, there are a few cases where an individual may have two wills (noted under the first name in brackets by "two wills").
Note: We recommend scrolling through the index rather than using your browser's "Find" function. See our Tips for Searching Indexes for additional information.
The Westchester County Archives houses original recorded deed books dating from 1680 through 1930, and can provide online access to any deed ever recorded with the County Clerk’s office via the Clerk’s Westchester Records Online system. These deeds document the transfer of land in the County and can be accessed through either an alphabetical index of grantors (the individuals giving away the property) or grantees (the individuals receiving the property). These indexes are also available at the Archives or on the County Clerk's Westchester Records Online (see the Index Books tab under Land Records).
The text of deeds is fairly standard; with only the names of the parties, the boundaries and size of the property involved, and the price changing. Rarely are specific buildings mentioned in deeds. View a sample deed to get a better understanding of how the record may look.
Deed Records Available at the Westchester County Archives:
- Series 47 Deeds, 1680-1930
- Series 108 Deeds Index, Grantee, 1680-1907
- Series 34 Deeds Index, Grantor, 1680-1931
To locate a specific deed held by the Archives, the first step is to consult the Grantor or Grantee Index. This can either be done by visiting the Archives in person, using the indexes available on the County Clerk's Westchester Records Online Web site, or by submitting a Custom Research Request specifically asking that the appropriate index be searched for an individual or individuals. The more information that is available to the searcher when going through the index (such as approximate years, middle names or initials of the parties involved, etc.) to help narrow the search, the better. This will help limit the number of actual deeds that need to be reviewed.
Recorded deeds for 1931 through the present are maintained by the Land Records Division of the Westchester County Clerk in White Plains. Please visit or contact the Westchester County Clerk's office to obtain copies of post-1930 deeds.
If you have any questions regarding locating or using deeds at the Westchester County Archives, please contact us.
The Westchester County Archives houses an extensive collection of maps and building plans -- over 75,000 items -- dating from 1766 to the present. An item index of much of this collection is available through the Archives' in-house database, as well as other paper-based finding aids. Digital images are already available for some items in this collection, and high-quality scans can be produced for most other items if necessary. Price information for map reproduction is available upon request.
The Maps and Plans collection at the Westchester County Archives includes the following types of materials (dates are approximate):
- Property maps (1766-present) filed in the County Clerk's Office offer information regarding municipal boundaries, sub-divisions and, in some cases, individual properties. An index to these maps is available online at the Westchester County Clerk's Web site (A fee must be paid to view them online; however, they can be viewed for free in person at the Archives).
- Parks and parkways maps (1914-present) include land-taking maps used in parkway construction and detailed maps of many parks. The Bronx Parkway Commission Maps have been scanned and are available online.
- Atlases (1867-1953) of Westchester County, including some insurance atlases. The pages from an 1867 atlas, 1881 atlas, 1901 atlas, 1911 atlas, and 1930 atlas are all available online. See Westchester County Atlases Collection (Series 315) and Sanborn Maps and Atlases Collection (Series 316) for more information about atlases that are available at the Archives.
- Historic building plans of many county buildings, including Playland amusement rides and facilities, the County Office Building, various courthouses, the Grasslands Hospital complex, bridges of the Bronx River Parkway, and others (Note: some access restrictions may apply).
- Planning Department maps (Series 312) depicting themes in Westchester County’s growth and development through map studies on land use, population distribution, transportation routes, for both the county as a whole and local municipalities.
Some of these maps have been cataloged in our online Digital Collections: County Clerk Historical Maps
The Archives Reading Room is open to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except government holidays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We strongly encourage anyone thinking of visiting to contact us at Archives Reference Desk ahead of time with your planned visit date and what you are interested in researching.
We are still available to assist you over the phone (914) 231-1500 or by doing the Research By Mail if you are unable to visit us in person. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
The Archives' offices are open Monday through Friday, except government holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you are planning a trip to the Archives, please call or e-mail first to confirm the hours. A photo I.D. must be presented when registering to do research in the Reading Room.
Please review the Archives Reading Room page for more information about conducting research at the Archives.
For departmental research requests, Westchester County employees should call for an appointment.
Also located at our facility in Elmsford are the Greater Hudson Heritage Network and the Westchester County Historical Society, whose collections are also available in the Archives Reading Room.
Do you have birth, marriage, and death records (known as vital records) for genealogical research?
We only have marriage records from 1908-1935, when the County received copies from the towns. There are also “Returns for Births, Marriages, and Deaths” for 1847 for some, but not all, Westchester municipalities.
Since 1881, New York State has required city, town, and village governments to keep birth, marriage and death records. Prior to 1881, finding birth, death, and marriage information is very difficult unless you know the exact date of the event and could find a newspaper report or church record that documents the occasion. The Westchester County Historical Society has some church records and newspapers.
See the Westchester County Clerk's list of local municipalities for contact information for Westchester city, town, and village governments to obtain vital records after 1880.
I need a copy of my child's / my parent's / my own birth certificate. How do I do that?
Birth records are not available at the Westchester County Archives. In order to obtain a copy of the record, you need to contact the clerk of the local municipality where the birth took place. A list of local municipalties is available on the Westchester County Clerk’s Web site.
I need a copy of my marriage certificate. Can you help?
Marriage records are only available at the Westchester County Archives for the years 1908-1935. Copies of Vital Records may be used for genealogical purposes only. In order to obtain a copy of a marriage record for years other than 1908-1935, you need to contact the clerk of the town where the marriage license was issued. Contact information for local municipalities is available on the Westchester County Clerk's Web site.
I need a certified copy of a marriage certificate that you have from 1908-1935. How much does that cost?
Although the Westchester County Archives has marriage records from 1908-1935, they are for genealogical purposes only. To obtain a certified copy, you must contact the clerk of the town where the marriage license was issued. Contact information for local municipalities is available on the Westchester County Clerk's Web site.
I need a copy of a death certificate. How can I obtain one?
Death records are not available at the Westchester County Archives. In order to obtain a copy of the record, you need to contact the clerk of the local municipality where the death took place. Contact information for local municipalities is available on the Westchester County Clerk's Web site.
How can I obtain a birth, marriage, or death certificate if I am not sure of the local municipality in which the event occurred and therefore don’t know which clerk to contact?
Since 1881, copies of all birth, marriage, and death certificates have been filed with the New York State Department of Public Health in Albany. Check their Web site for more information.
For divorce records, see Court/Government FAQs