Torrington Death Records and Obituaries

Torrington obituary records are public documents you can access through the Torrington City Clerk. The city is the largest in Litchfield County with a population of 35,673. Torrington death records date back many decades. The Torrington City Clerk keeps all vital records for deaths that occurred within city limits. You can search these Torrington obituary records in person or by mail. The office is at 140 Main Street. This guide shows how to find Torrington death certificates and obituary records.

Where to Find Torrington Obituary Records

The Torrington City Clerk is the main office for Torrington obituary records. The clerk keeps all Torrington death certificates for deaths in the city. You can visit the office at 140 Main Street in downtown Torrington. The office is easy to find. It sits in the heart of the city. The staff can help you search for Torrington death records. They can issue certified copies of Torrington obituary records.

The Torrington City Clerk office has set hours. They are open Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday hours extend to 6:30 p.m. Friday hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call before you visit. The phone number is (860) 489-2236. Staff can tell you what you need to bring. They can also check if your Torrington death record is on file. This saves you a trip.

The Connecticut State Vital Records Office also keeps Torrington obituary records. The state office has death certificates from July 1, 1897 to present. This includes all Torrington death records. You can visit the state office in Hartford at 410 Capitol Avenue. You can also order by mail or online. The state office serves all cities in Connecticut. They have Torrington death certificates in their database. Visit portal.ct.gov for state vital records.

How to Request Torrington Death Records

You have several ways to get Torrington obituary records. Each method has pros and cons. Pick the one that works best for you. Some ways are faster. Others cost less. You can choose based on your needs for Torrington death certificates.

In-person visits to the Torrington City Clerk are fastest. You can get same-day service. Bring a valid photo ID. You must be 18 or older. Any adult can request Torrington death records. You do not need to be related to the deceased. The clerk will search their files. They can print a certified copy on the spot. You pay the fee and leave with your Torrington obituary record in hand.

Mail requests take longer but work well from far away. Send a letter to the Torrington City Clerk. Include the full name of the deceased. Include the date of death. Include your contact info. Send a copy of your photo ID. Include payment by check or money order. Make it payable to the City of Torrington. Mail to: Torrington City Clerk, 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790. Mail requests for Torrington death records take one to two weeks.

Online ordering is also an option. The state uses VitalChek for online Torrington obituary records. This is the only approved vendor. Visit vitalchek.com to order. You can pay by credit card. You can choose expedited shipping. Extra fees apply. But you can order Torrington death records any time. You do not need to visit an office.

Types of Torrington Obituary Records Available

The Torrington City Clerk offers different types of records. Each type serves a purpose. Know what you need before you request. This saves time and money. It also gets you the right Torrington death record.

Certified copies are the most common. They have a raised seal. They are official documents. You need these for legal matters. Banks need them. Insurance companies need them. Courts need them. A certified Torrington death certificate proves a death occurred. It shows the facts of the death. The cost is $20 per copy.

Uncertified copies cost less. They are plain paper copies. They are not for legal use. Genealogists use them. Family historians use them. They show the same info. But they lack the official seal. Torrington obituary records in uncertified form work for research. They work for family trees. They do not work for legal claims.

Torrington death certificates contain key facts. They show the full name of the deceased. They show the date of death. They show the place of death. They show the cause of death. They show the age at death. Some show the last address. Some show the funeral home. Social Security numbers appear on some copies. Only spouses and next of kin can get those. Regular copies redact this info.

Torrington Death Certificate Fees

The cost of Torrington obituary records follows state rules. Fees are set by Connecticut law. They are the same across the state. The Torrington City Clerk charges the standard rate. This keeps things fair. It keeps things simple.

Certified copies of Torrington death certificates cost $20 each. This is the fee per copy. There is no bulk discount. Each copy you need costs $20. If you need three copies, you pay $60. The clerk accepts cash. They accept checks. They accept money orders. Some offices take credit cards. Call ahead to check. The Torrington City Clerk can tell you what payment types they accept.

Veterans and their families get one free copy. This helps with funeral costs. It helps with estate matters. The spouse can get a free copy. The child can get a free copy. The parent can get a free copy. You must show proof of relationship. You must show the veteran status is on the record. Funeral directors can also get one free copy for the family. This applies at the time of death only.

Genealogy Research in Torrington

Torrington has rich history for family researchers. The city dates back to the 1700s. Many families have deep roots here. Torrington obituary records help trace these roots. They show connections between generations. They show where people lived. They show when they died.

The Connecticut State Library helps with Torrington death records. They have indexes online. The Connecticut Death Index covers 1897 to 2001. It has over two million records. You can search by name. You can search by date. You can search by place. This tells you if a Torrington obituary record exists. It helps you know where to look. Visit data.ct.gov to search.

The Hale Collection is another resource. It has newspaper death notices. It covers 1750 to 1865. This is before official Torrington death records began. Local newspapers printed obituaries. They printed death notices. The State Library collected these. They are on microfilm. You can view them in Hartford. You can also find some on FamilySearch. This is free to use. Visit familysearch.org to search.

Local resources exist in Torrington too. The Torrington Historical Society keeps old records. They have photos. They have maps. They have family papers. These add context to Torrington obituary records. They show what life was like. They show where families lived. Contact the society for hours. They can help with research. They know the local history well.

Nearby Torrington Obituary Records Resources

Torrington sits in Litchfield County. Other towns nearby also keep death records. If you cannot find a Torrington death record, check these towns. The death may have occurred just outside city limits. Nearby clerks may have what you need.

• Winsted Town Clerk - Winsted is close to Torrington
• Litchfield Town Clerk - The county seat nearby
• Harwinton Town Clerk - Adjacent to Torrington
• Barkhamsted Town Clerk - North of Torrington
• New Hartford Town Clerk - East of Torrington

Each town clerk has the same fees. They charge $20 per certified copy. They follow the same state laws. They keep records for deaths in their town. Call before you visit. Ask about their hours. Ask what you need to bring. This saves time. It makes your search easier.

Tips for Finding Torrington Death Records

Searching for Torrington obituary records takes patience. Some records are old. Names may be spelled wrong. Dates may be off. Here are tips to help you find what you need.

Start with what you know. Write down the full name. Write down any nicknames. Write down the date of death if you know it. Write down the approximate year. Write down the place. Even a guess helps. The Torrington City Clerk can search with partial info. But more is better.

Check variant spellings. Names were not always spelled the same. Immigrants changed spellings. Clerks made errors. Try different versions of the name. Try the maiden name. Try the married name. Women often appear under their husband's name in old Torrington death records.

Use online indexes first. They are free. They are fast. The Connecticut Death Index is a good start. FamilySearch is another. These show if a Torrington obituary record exists. They give you dates. They give you certificate numbers. This helps when you order from the clerk.

Contact the Torrington City Clerk with questions. They know their records. They can guide you. They can explain what they have. They can explain what they need from you. Be polite. Be clear. Give them all the facts you have. This helps them help you.

More Connecticut Obituary Records

Torrington is one of many cities in Connecticut. Each city keeps its own death records. You can browse other cities in Litchfield County. You can also browse all Connecticut cities and counties.