Find Shelton Death Records
Shelton obituary records are kept by the Shelton Town Clerk in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The city has 42,805 residents. Shelton death records date back many years. You can search these records for family history work. The Shelton Town Clerk office helps people find obituary records. They also issue certified copies of death certificates. Records are open to the public. You can visit in person or request by mail.
Shelton Obituary Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Shelton Obituary Records
The Shelton Town Clerk is the main office for Shelton obituary records and death certificates. The office sits at P.O. Box 364 in Shelton, Connecticut. Their phone number is (203) 924-1555. You can call them with questions about records. The staff can help you find what you need. They keep all death records for the city of Shelton.
Office hours are Monday through Friday. The doors open at 8:30 a.m. They close at 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on weekends. They also close on state holidays. It is best to call before you visit. This way you know they are open. You can also ask what papers to bring.
The Connecticut State Vital Records Office also has Shelton death records. They keep all death records from July 1, 1897 to now. This office is in Hartford. You can visit them in person. You can also order by mail. They cover all towns in Connecticut. This includes Shelton obituary records.
For old Shelton obituary records, try the Connecticut State Library. They have records from before 1897. The library has newspaper death notices. They also have church records. These can help with family history work. The library staff can guide you. They know where to find old records.
Types of Shelton Obituary Records
Shelton obituary records come in different forms. Each type has its own use. Some are for legal work. Others help with family history. The Shelton Town Clerk can help you find the right type.
Certified copies are the most common. They have a raised seal on them. You need these for banks and courts. Insurance claims need them too. The fee is $20 per copy. Each copy costs the same. There is no discount for more copies.
Uncertified copies cost less. They are on plain paper. You cannot use them for legal work. But they work well for family history. Genealogists use them often. They show the same facts. They just lack the official seal.
Shelton obituary records from newspapers are useful too. Local papers print death notices. These tell about the person's life. They list family members. They may tell where the person worked. They often list church membership. The Shelton Town Clerk does not keep these. But the library might have them.
How to Request Shelton Death Certificates
You have three ways to get Shelton death certificates. You can visit in person. You can send a letter. Or you can use the internet. Each way has pros and cons. Pick the one that fits your needs.
In person is the fastest way. Visit the Shelton Town Clerk office. Bring a photo ID with you. Tell them whose record you need. Give them the date of death. Pay the fee. You may get the copy the same day. This works well if you live near Shelton.
Mail requests take longer. Write a letter to the Shelton Town Clerk. Include the full name of the deceased. Add the date of death. Include your ID copy. Send a money order for $20. Make it out to the Shelton Town Clerk. Mail it to P.O. Box 364, Shelton, CT 06484. Allow two weeks for processing.
Online orders go through VitalChek. This is the state-approved site. You can order any time. Day or night does not matter. You pay with a credit card. Extra fees apply for fast service. Visit vitalchek.com to start your order. They will send the record to you.
What You Need to Find Shelton Obituary Records
To find Shelton obituary records, gather some facts first. The more you know, the easier it is. The search goes faster with good data. Here is what helps most:
- Full name of the person who died
- Date of death or year
- Place of death in Shelton
The full name is key. Use the name at time of death. Women may have married names. Use that name if they were married. The date helps narrow the search. Even a year helps. The place in Shelton matters too. Deaths at home differ from hospital deaths.
You do not need to be family. Connecticut law lets anyone get death records. You must be 18 or older. Bring your ID to prove your age. You do not need to say why you want the record. The law treats these as public records.
Genealogy Research for Shelton Obituary Records
Shelton is great for family history work. The town has deep roots. Records go back to the 1800s. Some even go back further. You can trace your family tree here. The Shelton Town Clerk is a good start.
The Connecticut Death Index helps too. It covers 1897 to 2001. That is over 2 million records. You can search it free online. It shows names and dates. It gives places of death. Use it to confirm a death in Shelton. Then order the full record. Visit data.ct.gov to search.
Free CT Genealogy is another good site. It has over 2.7 million records. These cover 1897 to 2017. You can search by name. The site is free to use. It helps you find records before you order. Visit connecticutgenealogy.org to try it.
Church records add more facts. Many churches in Shelton kept death records. These go back before the state records began. Catholic churches have burial records. Protestant churches have funeral records. Some are at the state library. Others are still at the churches. Call ahead to ask about access. Some need appointments.
Cemetery records are useful too. Shelton has old cemeteries. Some date to the 1700s. Gravestones tell birth and death dates. They may list family ties. The Hale Collection has stone inscriptions. It covers 1750 to 1865. This is at the state library. You can also visit cemeteries in person. Take photos of stones. Note the location of each grave.
Nearby Shelton Obituary Records Resources
Fairfield County has more records. Shelton is one of many towns. Other towns nearby have their own records. You may need to check them too. Here are nearby offices:
- Derby Town Clerk - nearby records
- Ansonia Town Clerk - close to Shelton
- Seymour Town Clerk - nearby area
- Trumbull Town Clerk - Fairfield County
- Monroe Town Clerk - near Shelton
Each town keeps its own death records. Fees are the same in all towns. The process is similar too. Call before you visit. Ask about their hours. Ask what to bring. This saves time.
The Fairfield County clerk does not keep vital records. Town clerks do that work. Go to the town where the death occurred. That is where the record is filed. Do not go to the county office for death records.
Browse More Connecticut Obituary Records
Connecticut has many towns with obituary records. Fairfield County alone has many cities. You can browse records by county or city. Click below to find more resources.