Search Connecticut Obituary Records
Connecticut obituary records are public documents that you can search and obtain through official Connecticut state and local offices. The Connecticut Department of Public Health maintains Connecticut death certificates from July 1, 1897 to the present day. Each of Connecticut's 169 towns also keeps Connecticut vital records for deaths that occurred within their borders. You can access these Connecticut death records online, by mail, or in person. Whether you need a certified copy of a Connecticut death certificate for legal purposes or are tracing family history through Connecticut obituaries, the state provides multiple ways to find the Connecticut vital records you need.
Connecticut Death Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Connecticut Obituary Records
There are two main places to get Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death certificates. The Connecticut State Vital Records Office in Hartford keeps all Connecticut death certificates from July 1, 1897 to the present. This office is part of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. You can visit in person, order by mail, or use the online system to obtain these Connecticut vital records. The state office serves all of Connecticut. Their Connecticut death records cover deaths in every Connecticut town and city.
Connecticut town clerks also keep Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records. Each of the 169 towns maintains Connecticut vital records for deaths that occurred in their town. Connecticut town records often go back further than state records. Some town clerks have Connecticut death records from the 1600s and 1700s. You can contact the Connecticut town clerk where the death took place to get a copy of the Connecticut death certificate. Town clerks can issue certified copies of Connecticut death certificates just like the state office. Fees for Connecticut vital records are the same at both levels.
The Connecticut State Library has older Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records. They have the Hale Collection of newspaper death notices from 1750 to 1865. They also have the Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records. These are great for genealogy research into Connecticut death records. The Connecticut State Library is at 231 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. You can visit their genealogy unit in person or search online indexes of Connecticut death records. Visit their website at libguides.ctstatelibrary.org for more info on Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut vital records.
Note: Always check the Connecticut town of death before you request Connecticut vital records or Connecticut death certificates. This will speed up your search for Connecticut obituary records.
How to Search Connecticut Death Records
Connecticut offers several ways to search for Connecticut death records and Connecticut obituary records. The method you choose depends on what you need. Some methods are faster for obtaining Connecticut death certificates. Others are better for older Connecticut obituary records. You can search Connecticut vital records from home or visit a Connecticut office in person to get copies of Connecticut death records.
The Connecticut Death Index is a free online database for finding Connecticut death records. It covers deaths from 1897 through 2001. This index has over 2.28 million Connecticut death records. You can search by first name, last name, date, and city. The index gives you basic facts from Connecticut obituary records. It shows the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death. You can use this info to order a full Connecticut death certificate. Access the Connecticut Death Index at data.ct.gov.
For Connecticut death records after 2001, contact the Connecticut State Vital Records Office or the Connecticut town clerk. The state office has all Connecticut vital records from 1897 to present. Town clerks have Connecticut death certificates for their town only. You can also use VitalChek to order Connecticut death records online. VitalChek is the only state-approved third-party vendor for Connecticut vital records. They charge extra fees for fast service on Connecticut death certificates. Visit vitalchek.com to order Connecticut death records.
Free CT Genealogy is another helpful site for Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records. It has a free database with over 2.7 million Connecticut death records. The site covers deaths from 1897 through 2017. You can search this index to confirm a Connecticut death record exists before ordering Connecticut death certificates. Visit connecticutgenealogy.org to search Connecticut vital records.
To search Connecticut death records effectively, gather the following facts:
- Full name of the deceased
- Approximate date of death
- Connecticut town or city where death occurred
Types of Connecticut Obituary Records
Connecticut has different types of Connecticut death records and Connecticut obituary records. Each type serves a different purpose. A certified Connecticut death certificate is the most common document. It is an official copy with a raised seal. You need this for legal matters in Connecticut. Banks, insurance companies, and courts require certified copies of Connecticut vital records and Connecticut death certificates.
A Connecticut death certificate shows key facts. It lists the full name of the deceased. It shows the date and place of death. It includes the cause of death. The certificate also lists the decedent's age and address. Social Security numbers appear on some copies of Connecticut death records. Only spouses and next of kin can get copies of Connecticut death certificates with Social Security numbers from Connecticut vital records offices.
Uncertified copies of Connecticut death certificates are also available. These are plain paper copies of Connecticut vital records. They cost less but are not for legal use. Genealogists often use uncertified copies for research into Connecticut obituaries and Connecticut death records. Members of genealogical societies can access more Connecticut death records. They can view Connecticut death certificates, ledgers, and indexes. Social Security numbers are still redacted for genealogists researching Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records.
Newspaper Connecticut obituaries are another type of record. These are not official Connecticut vital records or Connecticut death certificates. But they can provide useful family facts about deaths. The Connecticut State Library has the Hale Collection. It has newspaper death notices from 1750 to 1865. Local libraries and historical societies also keep old Connecticut obituaries and Connecticut death records.
Connecticut Vital Records Laws
Connecticut law controls access to Connecticut death records and Connecticut obituary records. The state wants to balance public access with privacy for Connecticut vital records. These laws tell you who can get copies of Connecticut death certificates and what info they can see. They also set fees and rules for keeping Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records.
Under CGS § 7-51, any person 18 or older can buy certified copies of Connecticut death records. This is more open than birth records. Birth records have a 100-year waiting period. Connecticut death certificates are public to adults. You do not need to be related to the deceased. You do not need to give a reason for your request for Connecticut vital records or Connecticut death records.
CGS § 7-51a gives special access to genealogists. Members of Connecticut-authorized genealogical societies can see all Connecticut vital records. This includes Connecticut death records that are not yet public. They can view ledgers, card files, and indexes of Connecticut obituary records. They can make notes from Connecticut death records and Connecticut death certificates. But they cannot see Social Security numbers. Federal law requires this protection for Connecticut vital records.
Chapter 93 of the Connecticut General Statutes covers all Connecticut vital records law. It includes rules for registrars, filing, and fees for Connecticut death certificates. Connecticut town clerks must file Connecticut death certificates within set time limits. Funeral directors usually file the papers for Connecticut death records. The law also covers amendments and corrections to Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death certificates.
Social Security numbers have special protection in Connecticut death records. Under federal law, these numbers are redacted from most copies of Connecticut death certificates. Only the spouse or next of kin can get a Connecticut death record with the full Social Security number. You must show proof of your relationship. You must also show a valid photo ID. This rule helps prevent identity theft in Connecticut vital records.
Fees for Connecticut Death Certificates
The cost of Connecticut death certificates is set by state law. Fees are the same at the Connecticut state office and town clerks. You can pay by different methods depending on where you go for Connecticut vital records or Connecticut death records.
Certified copies of Connecticut death certificates cost $20 each. This is the standard fee. There is no discount for multiple copies of Connecticut death records. Each copy you order costs $20. Rush service for Connecticut vital records costs more. If you use VitalChek online, they add processing fees for Connecticut death certificates. The state office charges $2.50 for credit or debit card payments.
Veterans and their families get one free Connecticut death certificate copy. This is for the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran. You must show proof of your relationship. You must also show that the veteran status is on the Connecticut death record. Funeral directors can also get one free copy of Connecticut death certificates for veteran families. This applies at the time of death only for Connecticut vital records.
Payment methods for Connecticut death records vary by office. The State Vital Records Office takes cash, money orders, and credit cards. They do not take personal checks for Connecticut death certificates. Connecticut town clerks may accept checks for Connecticut vital records. Always call ahead to check payment options. Bring a valid photo ID to the state office. You need ID to enter the building.
How to Get Copies of Connecticut Obituary Records
You can get copies of Connecticut death records in several ways. Each method has different timing and costs. Pick the method that works best for your Connecticut vital records needs and Connecticut death certificate requests.
In-person requests for Connecticut death certificates are the fastest. You can visit the State Vital Records Office in Hartford. The office is at 410 Capitol Avenue, 1st Floor. Walk-in hours are Monday 9am to 1pm, Wednesday 9am to 3:30pm, and Friday 11am to 3:30pm. Same-day service is often available for Connecticut death records. You can also visit the Connecticut town clerk where the death occurred. Most Connecticut town clerks offer same-day service for Connecticut vital records and Connecticut death certificates too.
Mail requests for Connecticut death certificates take longer. Send your request to the State Vital Records Office. Include the Connecticut death certificate request form. Include a copy of your photo ID. Include payment by money order. Make it payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." Mail to: CT Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records, 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, P.O. Box 340308, Hartford, CT 06134-0308. Mail requests for Connecticut vital records take 10 to 15 business days.
Online ordering of Connecticut death records is available through VitalChek. This is the only state-approved third-party vendor for Connecticut vital records. Visit vitalchek.com to place your order for Connecticut death certificates. You can pay by credit card. Expedited shipping is available. Extra fees apply for online orders of Connecticut obituary records. But you can order Connecticut death records any time of day from home.
For genealogy research into Connecticut obituary records, contact the Connecticut State Library. They offer a limited search service for a fee. Connecticut residents pay $5. Non-residents pay $15. Each search gets about 30 minutes of staff time. You can also visit in person to do your own research into Connecticut death records. The genealogy unit has many indexes and collections of Connecticut vital records available.
Genealogy Research in Connecticut
Connecticut is a great state for family history research into Connecticut obituary records. The state has kept Connecticut vital records since the 1600s. Many Connecticut death records resources are free to use. Others have small fees. You can research Connecticut obituaries and Connecticut death records from home or visit archives in person.
The Connecticut State Library is the main place for genealogy research into Connecticut death records. Their History and Genealogy Unit has many indexes of Connecticut vital records. The Barbour Collection covers Connecticut vital records before 1850. The Hale Collection has newspaper death notices from 1750 to 1865. They also have cemetery inscriptions and church records. Most of these collections are on FamilySearch. You can search them online for free. Visit libguides.ctstatelibrary.org to learn more about Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death certificates.
Connecticut town clerks are another key resource for Connecticut death records. Each Connecticut town keeps its own Connecticut vital records. Some Connecticut records go back to colonial times. Contact the Connecticut town clerk where your ancestor lived or died. They can help you find old Connecticut death records. Fees are the same as for modern Connecticut death certificates. Some Connecticut towns have online indexes of Connecticut death records. Others require in-person visits.
Joining a Connecticut genealogical society helps with research into Connecticut obituary records and Connecticut death records. Members get expanded access to Connecticut vital records. They can view Connecticut death records that are not yet public. The Connecticut State Library has a list of authorized societies. Membership fees vary. The benefit is worth it for serious researchers of Connecticut death certificates. You get access to more records and expert help.
Browse Connecticut Obituary Records by County
Connecticut has eight counties. Each county has multiple towns that keep Connecticut vital records and Connecticut death records. Click a county below to find local resources for Connecticut death certificates in that area.
Connecticut Death Records in Major Cities
Major cities in Connecticut maintain their own vital records offices. These cities have larger populations and more staff to handle Connecticut death certificates. Click a city below to learn about Connecticut death records in that area.