👶 Birth certificates (children born here)

The hospital registers the birth; certified copies for upstate births come from the NY State Department of Health or the city/town registrar where the baby was born. Parents named on the certificate (and the person themselves) may order — bring photo ID. State fees per ny.gov: $30 by mail, $45 + $8 processing online/phone; VitalChek (the state's vendor): 1-877-854-4481. A child's U.S. birth certificate is also proof of U.S. citizenship.

💍 Marriage

Get a marriage license from any city or town clerk in New York (both partners, ID, 24-hour waiting period, license valid 60 days), marry, and the clerk files the certificate. Certified copies: from the clerk who issued the license, or the State DOH for marriages outside NYC.

🕊️ When a loved one passes

The funeral home usually files the death certificate with the local registrar within days. Family can order certified copies from the registrar or the State DOH — you'll need several (bank, insurance, benefits, and sending remains home). Ask the funeral director to walk you through it, and lean on the community: our funeral support network and fundraisers exist for exactly this moment. For sending a loved one home to Congo, the DRC Embassy consular section issues the needed documents — see the Embassy section.

📋 First steps in New York

• The funeral home files the death certificate with the local registrar (within 72 hours) and can order certified copies for you — order 8–12 copies (bank, insurance, benefits, embassy).
• Certified copies: $30 by mail, $45 online/phone via NYS Dept. of Health Vital Records, 1-855-322-1022. health.ny.gov — death certificates ↗
• Who decides: NY law gives priority to a written designee, then spouse, adult children, parent, siblings.

✈️ Sending remains to DRC

The DRC Embassy issues a corpse-transport permit. You need:

• Proof of the person's Congolese citizenship
• Certified death certificate
• Health-authority letter of no contagious disease
• Metal, hermetically sealable casket
• Embalming letter signed by the funeral director
• Prepaid FedEx/UPS A4 return envelope

Embassy fee: $100 with a valid passport, $150 without (per the embassy's own page).

💰 Help with funeral costs

• County burial assistance: NY counties help low-income families with burial costs under Social Services Law §141 — apply through the funeral home or your county social services office. Amounts vary by county; ask.
• Community fundraisers: our fundraiser board exists for exactly this — the community rallies around grieving families.
• ⚠️ FEMA's COVID-19 funeral assistance is closed — do not rely on it.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse

After-school programs for ages 5–18 at 3 club locations.

YMCA Teen Centers

Free after-school + meals for teens 12–18 at Maplewood and Lewis St — no membership required.

After School in the Park

City-run program for ages 6–12, $120/week — DSS subsidies accepted.

Say Yes Buffalo Summer Camp

Free annual summer camp for Buffalo students PK–8, meals included. Register each spring. 716-218-3347.

📝 How to get it

1. Gather documents: 6 points of name proof + date-of-birth proof + NY residency proof + Social Security card (or proof you're ineligible for one).
2. Fill out Form MV-44 (available at the DMV or online).
3. Go to a DMV office in person — IDs are not issued online.
4. Pay the fee and wait — your ID arrives by mail in about 3 weeks (temporary document valid 60 days).

💵 Fees

• Standard: $9.50–$14 depending on validity period.
• Free if you are 62 or older, receive SSI, or receive public assistance/SNAP/Medicaid at any age.

🛂 Who qualifies

• The non-driver ID requires lawful status: green-card holders, refugees, asylees and TPS holders qualify.
• Undocumented? You cannot get the state non-driver ID — but under NY's Green Light law you can get a standard driver license regardless of citizenship or lawful status. See Driving in NY.