Find Obituaries in Fairfield County

Fairfield County obituary records are kept by town clerks across the region. Connecticut has no county government. Each of the 24 towns in Fairfield County keeps its own death records. Town clerks serve as local registrars of vital statistics. They hold birth and death records for their town. The state also keeps copies of all death records. You can search obituary records at the town level or through state databases.

Understanding Fairfield County Obituary Records

Fairfield County death records work differently than in other states. The county does not have a vital records office. This fact surprises many people who are new to the state. Connecticut towns have always kept their own records. This system dates back to colonial times. Each town clerk acts as the registrar for that town. They record births, marriages, and deaths that happen in their area.

Death records in Fairfield County fall into two main types. Death certificates are the official state record. A doctor or medical examiner signs them. They show the cause of death and other facts. Town clerks keep these on file. Obituary records are different. They come from funeral homes and newspapers. An obituary is a notice of death published in a paper. It often includes biographical details about the person.

Finding obituary records in Fairfield County takes some work. There is no central obituary database for the whole county. You must check town by town. Many towns have their own historical societies. These groups often keep old newspaper clippings. The Connecticut State Library also has obituary collections. They cover many papers from across the state. Genealogy groups in Fairfield County can help too. They often know where to find old death records.

Where to Find Fairfield County Death Records

Town clerks are the key to finding death records in Fairfield County. Each town has its own clerk. This office keeps the official records for that town only. You must know which town the death occurred in. That is where the record will be filed. Most town clerks are open during business hours. Some also take requests by mail. A few offer online ordering through third parties.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health keeps copies of all state death records. They have records from 1897 to the present. You can contact them for death certificates. They work with VitalChek for online orders. You can also visit their office in Hartford. Mail requests are another option. The state office is a good choice when you do not know which town has the record.

The Connecticut State Library has a rich collection of obituary records. Their history and genealogy unit is open to the public. You can search old newspapers on microfilm. They have papers from towns across Fairfield County. The library also has the Connecticut Death Index. This database covers deaths from 1897 to 2001. It is a great tool for finding older death records in the county.

The main sources for Fairfield County obituary records include:

• Town clerk offices in each of the 24 towns
• Connecticut Department of Public Health state office
• Connecticut State Library history and genealogy unit
• Local historical societies in Bridgeport, Stamford, and Greenwich
• Funeral home records from local providers
• Newspaper archives including the Connecticut Post and Stamford Advocate
• The Connecticut Death Index online database

Fairfield County Death Records in Major Cities

Fairfield County has several large cities. Each has its own town clerk. Bridgeport is the biggest city in the county. It is also the county seat. The Bridgeport town clerk keeps death records for that city. They have records going back many decades. You can visit their office in person. They also take requests by mail.

Stamford is the second largest city in Fairfield County. It sits on the border with New York. Many people commute from Stamford to New York City. The Stamford town clerk handles death records for that area. They have a busy office due to the city's size. Norwalk comes next in size. It is a coastal city with a rich history. The Norwalk town clerk keeps their own death records too.

Danbury is another major city in Fairfield County. It is in the northern part of the county. The Danbury town clerk has records for that area. Fairfield and Greenwich are also large towns. Both have their own clerks. Each office works the same way. They all keep death records for their own town only. You cannot get records for other towns from these offices.

How to Request Fairfield County Death Records

Getting death records in Fairfield County takes planning. First, decide which level you need. Town records are best for recent deaths. They often have the file faster than the state. State records work well for older deaths. The state has copies of all records from 1897 onward. They can search when you do not know the town.

To request from a town clerk, contact the right office. You must know which town the death happened in. Call the clerk to ask about their process. Most need a written request. Include the full name of the deceased. Add the date of death if you know it. Some towns charge a fee for copies. Fees vary by town in Fairfield County.

For state-level requests, use the Department of Public Health. Their website has a town clerk directory. This helps you find local offices. They also list contact details for each town. For mail requests to the state, send your letter to the vital records office in Hartford. Include all known facts about the death. Add a check for the search fee. You can also use VitalChek online for faster service.

Researching older obituaries takes more work. Start with the Connecticut Death Index. It lists deaths from 1897 to 2001. Each entry has a town name. This tells you which clerk to contact. For obituaries before 1897, check church records. Many old churches kept death logs. The Connecticut State Library has some of these. Local historical societies in Fairfield County are another good source. They often have family papers and old newspapers.

Online Resources for Fairfield County Obituary Records

The internet has made death record research easier. Many Fairfield County obituary records are now online. The Connecticut Death Index is free to search. It covers almost the entire 20th century. You can search by name or year. Results show the town where the death was filed. This helps you know which clerk to contact next.

The Connecticut State Library offers online tools. Their website has guides for genealogy research. They list their newspaper holdings. You can plan a visit to use their microfilm. Some papers are now digitized. The library links to these when they can. Check their site before you make the trip to Hartford.

Newspaper websites have obituary sections. The Connecticut Post covers Bridgeport and nearby towns. The Stamford Advocate serves that area. The Greenwich Time has local obituaries. These sites often keep archives. You can search for recent obituaries online. Older ones may need a paid search. Some libraries offer free access to newspaper databases. Check with your local library in Fairfield County.

Here are key online resources for Fairfield County death records:

• Connecticut Death Index (1897-2001) - Free state database with town-level death records
• Connecticut DPH Town Clerk Directory - Contact information for all 24 Fairfield County town clerks
• Connecticut State Library - Genealogy resources and newspaper archives for obituary research

Other Towns in Fairfield County

Beyond the major cities, Fairfield County has many smaller towns. Each keeps its own death records. Stratford sits along the coast. It has a historic downtown area. The Stratford town clerk holds their vital records. Shelton is another mid-sized town. It grew from a factory town to a modern city. Their clerk has records for that area.

Trumbull and Westport are suburban towns. Both have their own clerks. Ridgefield and Newtown are in the northern hills. They also keep separate records. Every town in Fairfield County works this way. No matter how small, each has a clerk. Each clerk is the registrar for that town only. This system has worked for over 300 years in Connecticut.

Nearby Counties for Death Records

If you cannot find a record in Fairfield County, check nearby areas. The death may have happened in another county. New Haven County is to the east. It has 27 towns. Each has its own clerk. Litchfield County is to the north. It is more rural. Westchester County in New York borders Fairfield to the west. Some people from Fairfield County die in New York hospitals. Their records would be in New York, not Connecticut.