Access Manchester Obituary Records and Death Documents
Manchester obituary records are public documents maintained by the Manchester Town Clerk. The town serves over 59,000 residents in Hartford County. You can search Manchester death records from July 1, 1897 to present. The Manchester Town Clerk keeps all vital records for deaths that occurred within town borders. You can visit the office in person or request records by mail. The staff can help you locate Manchester obituary records for genealogy or legal needs. The office provides certified copies of Manchester death certificates upon request.
Manchester Death Records Quick Facts
Manchester Town Clerk Obituary Records Office
The Manchester Town Clerk maintains all Manchester obituary records and Manchester death certificates for the town. The office is at 41 Center Street in Manchester. This is the main place to get Manchester death records. The staff keeps records from 1897 to today. They issue certified copies of Manchester death certificates. The office serves residents and non-residents alike.
Contact the Manchester Town Clerk for Manchester obituary records. The phone number is (860) 647-3037. You can also fax requests to (860) 647-3029. The office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed on weekends and holidays. Call ahead to confirm hours before you visit for Manchester death records.
The Manchester Town Clerk office is easy to find. It sits in the heart of downtown Manchester. Parking is available nearby. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. You need ID to get certified copies of Manchester death certificates. The staff can answer questions about Manchester obituary records during business hours.
Request Manchester Death Records in Person
Visiting the Manchester Town Clerk is the fastest way to get Manchester obituary records. Same-day service is often available. Walk into the office at 41 Center Street. Bring proper identification. Tell the staff you need a Manchester death certificate. Give them the name of the deceased. Provide the date of death if you know it.
The staff will search Manchester death records for you. They have computer databases and paper indexes. Older Manchester obituary records may be on microfilm. The search is free. You pay only if you want a certified copy. Each certified Manchester death certificate costs $20. The fee is set by Connecticut state law. Bring cash, check, or money order. Call ahead to ask about credit cards.
You do not need to be related to the deceased. Connecticut law allows any adult to get Manchester death records. You must be 18 or older. Show your photo ID. This rule makes Manchester obituary records open to the public. Genealogists use this access often. Lawyers and historians also request Manchester death certificates.
Mail Requests for Manchester Obituary Records
You can request Manchester death records by mail. This works well if you live far from Manchester. Write a letter to the Manchester Town Clerk. Include the full name of the deceased. Add the date of death. Include the place of death if known. The more facts you give, the faster they can find your Manchester obituary records.
Include a copy of your photo ID. Enclose payment by check or money order. Make it payable to "Treasurer, Town of Manchester." Each certified Manchester death certificate costs $20. Mail your request to: Manchester Town Clerk, 41 Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040. Allow two to three weeks for processing. Rush service is not available by mail.
Mail requests for Manchester obituary records take longer than in-person visits. The staff processes requests in order received. Peak times may cause delays. January through March is busy for Manchester death records requests. Plan ahead if you have a deadline. Call the office if you have questions about your mail request.
Search Manchester Obituary Records Online
The Manchester Town Clerk does not offer online ordering directly. But you can still get Manchester death records online. Use VitalChek for online orders. This is the only state-approved vendor for Connecticut. Visit vitalchek.com to place your order. You can pay by credit card. Extra fees apply for online service.
You can also search the Connecticut Death Index. This free database covers deaths from 1897 through 2001. It includes Manchester obituary records. The index shows name, date, and place of death. Use it to confirm a death occurred before ordering Manchester death certificates. Access the index at data.ct.gov.
Another free option is the Free CT Genealogy database. It has over 2.7 million Connecticut death records. The site covers deaths from 1897 through 2017. Many Manchester obituary records appear here. Search by name to find your ancestor. Visit connecticutgenealogy.org to search Manchester death records.
Manchester Obituary Records for Genealogy
Manchester has a rich history. The town was settled in 1672. It became a town in 1823. Early Manchester death records are valuable for family history. The Manchester Town Clerk keeps records from the late 1800s. Older records may be at the Connecticut State Library. They have colonial-era documents from the Hartford area.
The Manchester Historical Society can help with genealogy research. They have local records not found at the town clerk. Cemetery records are useful too. Manchester has many historic burial grounds. The oldest is the Center Cemetery. It dates to the 1700s. Tombstones can supplement Manchester obituary records. The State Library has the Hale Collection. It includes Manchester cemetery inscriptions from the 1930s.
Church records are another source for Manchester death records. Many early deaths were recorded by churches. The First Congregational Church of Manchester has old records. Methodist and Catholic churches also kept Manchester obituary records. Contact these churches directly. Some have transferred old records to the Connecticut State Library. Genealogists should check multiple sources for complete family history.
Newspapers publish Manchester obituary records too. The Manchester Journal Inquirer serves the area. It has run since 1919. Older Manchester newspapers are on microfilm. The Connecticut State Library has these. You can search for Manchester death notices. Obituaries often include family details. They name surviving relatives. They list funeral homes. They mention church services. This adds context to Manchester death certificates.
Types of Manchester Death Records Available
The Manchester Town Clerk offers certified copies of Manchester death certificates. These are official documents with a raised seal. You need them for legal purposes. Banks require certified Manchester death records. Insurance companies need them. Probate courts accept only certified copies. Each certified Manchester death certificate costs $20.
Manchester death certificates contain key facts. They show the full name of the deceased. They list the date and place of death. They include age at death. They show the cause of death. The certificate lists the last residence. It names the informant. Some copies include the Social Security number. Only spouses and next of kin can get these.
Uncertified copies of Manchester obituary records are also available. These are plain paper copies. They cost less than certified copies. But you cannot use them for legal matters. Genealogists often choose uncertified Manchester death records. They work well for research. Ask the staff about uncertified options when you visit.
What You Need to Get Manchester Death Certificates
Gather facts before you request Manchester obituary records. The more you know, the easier the search. The staff needs certain details to find Manchester death records. Here is what helps:
- Full legal name of the deceased
- Date of death or approximate year
- Place of death within Manchester
- Names of parents or spouse
Bring a valid photo ID to the Manchester Town Clerk. A driver's license works. A passport is fine too. The ID must be current. It must have your photo. You need ID to enter most government buildings. You also need it to get certified Manchester death certificates. Make sure your ID is not expired.
If you order by mail, send a copy of your ID. Write your phone number on the request. The staff may call if they have questions. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. This helps them return your Manchester obituary records faster. Double-check the address before mailing.
Nearby Resources for Manchester Obituary Records
Manchester is in Hartford County. Other towns nearby also keep death records. If you cannot find a Manchester death certificate, check surrounding areas. The person may have died in a neighboring town. East Hartford borders Manchester to the west. South Windsor is to the north. Vernon is to the east. Bolton and Glastonbury are nearby too.
The Connecticut State Vital Records Office is another option. They have all Connecticut death records from 1897 to present. This includes Manchester obituary records. The office is at 410 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. It is about 15 minutes from Manchester. You can visit in person. Their hours differ from the Manchester Town Clerk. Check their website before visiting.
The Connecticut State Library offers research help. Their genealogy unit is excellent. They have indexes not available online. Staff can assist with hard-to-find Manchester death records. Visit them at 231 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. Call ahead to plan your visit. Their resources complement Manchester Town Clerk records.
Browse Hartford County Obituary Records
Manchester is one of many towns in Hartford County. Each town keeps its own vital records. Browse other towns in the county to find more death records.