Vital Records Online (VRO), a US-based service, offers a secure and simple platform for obtaining Connecticut’s birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates online. Your documents will be safely delivered with guaranteed confidentiality.
Summary:
Connecticut, “the Constitution State,” has a population of 3.6 million. The Connecticut State Board of Health, now called the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH), was established in 1878. The Vital Records Office (VR); maintains the statewide registries for births, deaths, marriages, and fetal deaths for all vital events from July 1st, 1897, to the present. Each of Connecticut’s 169 towns operates a vital records office. Birth records are confidential and are not open to the public for 100 years. You can request a certified certificate if you are named on the certificate, a parent, guardian, grandparent, spouse, adult child, adult grandchild, or someone who can show cause. Anyone 18 years or older may order a marriage certificate.
If you’re doing genealogy research, the Vital Records Offices may be able to help or try the many available public archives. Find out what information they contain, where to obtain them, and how they are used.
Start Your Application Online for CT Vital Records
Request a certified copy of live birth for your baby or child.
Obtain marriage records for yourself or a family member.
Get an original copy of a death certificate replacement for a lost record.
Vital records play an essential role in our lives. These documents can prove identity, citizenship, and family relationships. They also aid in resolving legal disputes, claiming inheritances, and researching family history. They can offer key details about your ancestors, including their full names, birth and death dates, and places of residence. If you lose these vital documents, you should inform the police and promptly request a certified copy. Vital records are indispensable for significant life milestones such as getting married, registering for school, joining the military, or obtaining a passport.
Every county is responsible for certifying and issuing vital records for birth, death, divorce, and marriages within its jurisdiction. The complete directory below lists all vital records-issuing agencies of the Connecticut State Department of Health. The directory offers location details, contact information, and online applications for birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificate requests.
❗️ If you’re seeking ancestral records for genealogy research in Connecticut, they are freely available from various public archives.
Visiting the Vital Records Office
Ordering Vital Records Online
Connecticut residents can obtain vital records in various ways. Though in-person and mail requests are possible, online applications are the most dependable and accessible option. The Vital Records Offices under the Connecticut Department of Public Health are responsible for generating and certifying copies of vital records when the eligibility criteria are met and the instructions are followed for each birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificate. Each vital record has unique requirements and conditions, but requesting a certificate is simple once these are understood.
The certificate you request and how you order will determine the eligibility and criteria requirements and influence the total costs and processing time.
Ordering Connecticut vital records online is quick and effortless and involves two simple steps:
Eligible individuals can conveniently request a Connecticut birth, death, or marriage certificate online. Before you begin your request, ensure you have the required documents ready for uploading during the secure application process.
VRO’s platform assists with gathering, generating, and securely submitting the documents required to request certified copies of vital records. VRO also helps to prevent application rejection due to typical errors or missing documents.
✔︎ Additional copies of your certified vital records can be purchased for the state’s fee during the online application to save future costs.
✔︎ Learn more about how the online ordering and premium handling process works
If you live close to the state vital records office or a town vital records office, you can apply in person for certified copies of vital records. Just ensure the office is open and be prepared for potentially long lines. Alternatively, ordering by mail or online could save you time and hassle.
The steps are generally the same whether you apply for vital records in person or by mail. If you choose to apply in person at the vital records office, prepare to complete the following:
Additionally, to apply by mail, you will need the following:
❗️ To avoid your application being denied due to mistakes or incomplete information, review the requirements for each vital record before mailing it.
❗️ If you mail your application and documents manually, it is recommended to purchase mail tracking to confirm their arrival at the correct office.
It’s crucial to understand the eligibility criteria and requirements for the specific vital records certificate you are requesting before gathering the documents for your application.
Proof of Identity for Verifying Authorization
The table below outlines the necessary documents and information to order certified copies of Connecticut vital records. If you do not possess a valid ID, you can submit two forms of secondary ID.
If you are requesting a certified birth certificate, you are required by the Connecticut Department of Public Health to verify your identity by providing a valid, government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) or two secondary forms of identity accepted by the CDPH.
If you are requesting a death or marriage certificate, it is only necessary to provide proof of identity if you are requesting a copy that contains the social security number(s) of the individual(s) on record.
What Documents Are Required to Order Vital Records in Connecticut?
The State Vital Records Office sets distinct criteria for each certificate type and individual circumstance. Refer to the Department of Public Health’s website for complete information regarding eligibility and requirements for replacing birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates in Connecticut.
What Information is Required to Apply for Vital Records in Connecticut?
When applying for a vital record in Connecticut, applicants must provide key identifying information related to the record type. This may include names, dates, locations, and other relevant details to ensure accurate identification and processing of the request.
Who can request vital records in Connecticut?
The individual on record can apply for a certified copy of their vital records. To do so, they must verify their identity during the application process.
If you request a vital record for another person, verify your eligibility to ensure you are authorized. In Connecticut, anyone over 18 can request certified copies of a death or marriage certificate. No proof of identity or relationship to the certificate holder is required unless you request a copy that displays the individual’s social security number on record. Birth certificates are restricted to third parties with some form of relationship, family or legal, to the certificate holder, where identification and proof of relationship are required.
✔︎ If you can provide documentation of legal interest or hold a Power of Attorney from the person on record, you are eligible to request the vital record for that person.
Do I need a notary with my application?
In Connecticut, notarized statements or signatures are not required. The DPH only requires notarized statements when requesting an amendment to a record.
The associated costs for requesting vital records certificates depend on the DPH’s fees for each type of certificate and how and where you submit your request.
If you order your vital records certificates through us, the online VRO Application Assistant starts at $29. The State Vital Records office will charge a fee of $30.00 ($20.00 for in-person orders) for each certified birth certificate and $20.00 for each certified death or marriage certificate.
✔︎ Additional copies can be requested during the same order to save future costs in case your vital records are lost, destroyed, or stolen.
VitalRecordsOnline.com processing fee is $29.
How long will it take to receive my vital records from Connecticut?
The processing times for requesting replacement birth, death, divorce, or marriage certificates can vary depending on the type of certificate needed, the required documents, the submission method, and the location.
❗️ A simple error, typo, or missing document can cause wait times to double, repeat shipping costs, or expose personal information.
When using VRO for your application, you can monitor the progress of your application processing and shipment.
If you manually mail your application packet to the Connecticut Vital Records Office, it is recommended to purchase first-class mail tracking to confirm when your application has been successfully received. The state Vital Records Office ships all certified vital records securely via first-class mail. However, they are not accountable for misdirected or undelivered certificates. If your birth certificate goes missing, report it promptly. Be aware that a minor mistake, typo, or missing document can lead to delays, additional shipping charges, or potential exposure of your personal records.
❓ Find more frequently asked questions below the Connecticut counties office locations directory.</a
| Address | Hours | Online Application |
|
(DPH-State Vital Records Office) CT Department of Public Health, Mailing Address: Connecticut Department of Public Health, |
Walk-ins: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM Phone: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate |
|
Fairfield County 611 Old Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
Hartford County 450 Main Street Suite A012 Hartford, CT 06103 |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
Litchfield County 74 West Street Litchfield, Connecticut, 06759 |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
New Haven County 165 Church Street New Haven, Connecticut, 06510 |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
New London County 181 State Street New London, CT 06320 |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
Middlesex County |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
Tolland County |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
|
Windham County |
Birth Certificate Death Certificate Marriage Certificate | |
You can obtain apostilles for Connecticut vital records online with VRO or directly through the office of the Secretary of State.
If you file your vital records copy with a foreign government, you will need an apostille seal to verify the certificate’s authenticity. This authentication can be requested for birth, death, and marriage certificates initially filed with the Connecticut Department of Health’s Vital Records Office.
How can I get an apostille for a vital record?
VRO is a trusted provider of authorized apostille services in all 50 US states. We offer endorsement services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, ensuring their legal validity in over 100 countries. With professional support and a simple three-step process, you can obtain these services starting at $149 (plus government fees).
Once your document is prepared, we utilize recognized courier services like FedEx and DHL to ship it directly to your doorstep.
If you are manually sending your certificates, you will need to provide the following:
You can submit requests for vital records apostilles to the DPH-State Vital Records Office CT Secretary of State at the following addresses:
For express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express), submit the request to the physical address:
Secretary of the State, Authentications, and Apostilles,165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106
For standard mail (ONLY US Postal Service Mail), use the following address:
Secretary of the State, Authentications and Apostilles, PO Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470
You can reach the office at (860) 509-6002 or online at https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Vital-Records/Apostilles
If you need to make a change or correction to a birth, death, divorce, or marriage certificate, you will need to contact the Vital Records Office in the town where the event occurred. An amendment is required when a vital record is changed, and all amendment requests must be accompanied by proper documentation. No entity can alter the original document, so any changes are made as addendums.
The requirements for requesting an amendment vary depending on which certificate needs to be changed, what changes need to be made, and where the certificate was filed. The procedure can vary.
Typically, requests to correct or amend vital records will require the following:
Where can I search for free Connecticut public records?
Connecticut birth certificates become public records after 100 years, but death and marriage certificates are unrestricted. If you are at least 18 years old and have the information needed to request the record, you can pay the fee and obtain a copy of any death or marriage certificate. It can be challenging to find free public records, but many vital records in Connecticut are freely accessible to the public. If you can devote the time to browse, you can search Connecticut’s archives of birth, marriage, and divorce records to find the information you want.
Are Connecticut Vital Records Open to the Public?
In Connecticut, the majority of state records are open to the public. However, accessibility varies depending on the type of certificate you’re looking for and the year the event took place.
Various third-party websites can facilitate the research of your vital records. These websites are good reference points, as they allow you to research specific types of vital records and are typically not limited by geographic location. Note: the data on these websites may differ from official government records. To search for a record on a third-party website, you will need to provide the following information:
Connecticut residents have the right to inspect or obtain copies of public vital records under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act.
Vital records certificates can vary by state, county, and municipality. To confirm that your certificate is a certified copy, you can check what the official, certified documents look like in the county where yours was issued.
In Connecticut, there are visual differences between authorized copies of vital records and informational copies. Authorized copies are official certified copies of the original record and can be used to establish identity. They have the raised seal of the issuing authority and are printed on security paper. On the other hand, informational copies are not valid for establishing identity and are typically marked as “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity” or something similar. These copies are often used for informational purposes and do not contain the raised seal or security features found on authorized copies.
Authorized Copy:
Certified copies of vital records are official identification documents that require proof of eligibility and a “direct and tangible interest” in the document. They can be used as official identification and may contain sensitive information such as social security numbers. Obtaining certified copies can be more difficult compared to informational copies, which are uncertified and cannot be used as official identification.
When requesting a certified birth certificate or a certified death or marriage certificate that includes social security numbers, it is necessary to provide valid identification. Without proper verification of identity, the request will be rejected and returned without processing.
Informational Copy:
Informational copies of vital records in Connecticut are uncertified and cannot be used as official identification. They are typically easier to acquire compared to certified copies. Informational copies do not require proof of eligibility or a “direct and tangible interest” in the document. They may have limitations on their use and may not be accepted for certain legal purposes. They are sometimes referred to as “Uncertified copies” or “commemorative documents” of vital records.
No paperwork is necessary to obtain informational copies of a public vital record. Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, citizens have the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records.
Find more references regarding birth, death, divorce, and marriage certificates in the resources section.
Visit the official Connecticut government website at https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Vital-Records
