How to Find Connecticut Birth Records

Are Birth Records Public in Connecticut?

No. according to Connecticut statutes, birth records that are less than 100 years old are restricted and are only accessible to eligible members of the public (the subject of the data, parents of the person whose name is on the certificate, and anyone with legal rights). The Department of Health, Connecticut, maintains and manages vital records, which include public birth records, death records, and marriage or divorce records. The office of vital statistics also issues certificates; birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage or divorce certificates when requested.

What are Birth Records in Connecticut?

A Connecticut birth record is the official registration of a child's birth by a Connecticut government agency. It is a vital record that establishes the existence of a child under the law and provides the basis for ensuring many of the child's rights. Birth records are useful in providing state health status indicators and analyses that will be utilized in health program planning and evaluation. These records are also valuable in supporting health research projects in conjunction with educational, public, private, and community-based agencies.

A birth record will be required to apply for certain benefits and to request a driver's license, passport, or social security card. A Connecticut birth record contains:

Date of birth
Time of birth
Place of birth
Child's full name
Mother's name
Father's name
Child's gender
Type of birth
Mother's marital status
Birth registration number

Connecticut issues a wallet-size birth record to those interested in obtaining certification of a birth record. A wallet-size birth record contains less information than a full-size birth record. It may not satisfy all proof of identification requirements. For instance, a wallet-size birth record does not satisfy the proof of identification requirements needed for a passport or driver's license. Note that certifications are only available for births recorded within the State of Connecticut.

Where to Find Public Birth Records in Connecticut

Connecticut's birth records are maintained by the Department of Health, Connecticut, vital records office. Those seeking to find public birth records can request them online, via mail, or in person. Connecticut public birth records can also be accessed from third-party sites.

Please note that only eligible members of the public would be given access to the Connecticut birth registry.

How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Connecticut?

Connecticut makes no provisions for requesters to look up records of births. However, it is possible to obtain birth records through an online service provided by the partnership of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CDPH) and an independent company. Online orders can only be officially done through this provider as they are the only approved company to offer the service. Online orders are more convenient and take less time to complete than ways of obtaining birth records.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

How to Get Birth Records in Connecticut?

Connecticut birth records can be obtained by visiting the State Vital Records Office or any of the Vital Record offices in Connecticut towns. It is also possible to obtain birth records by mail. Note that for births occurring on or after January 1, 2003, certified copies of birth certificates can be obtained from any town vital records office of the State Vital Records Office. However, for births that occurred before January 1, 2003, a certified copy of a birth certificate can be obtained from:

The State Vital Records Office, or
The town of the mother's residence at the time of birth, or
The town vital records office of the town where the birth occurred

Any requester for birth records must present a valid government-issued photographic identification which includes the requester's name, date of birth, signature, and expiration date. If there is any reason to doubt the authenticity of a document provided, the State or town vital records office may ask the requester to provide further documentation.

If a requester cannot provide photographic identification, any two of the following documents may be used:

Social security card;
Social security card supplemented with either an employment identification card, a paycheck stub, or a W-2 form. Providing the documents in this subdivision fully satisfies the identification requirements of this section;
Automobile registration;
Copy of utility bill showing name and current address;
Checking account deposit slip or bank statement stating the requester's name and current address;
Voter registration card;
Valid government-issued trade or professional license;
Valid government-issued firearm permit;
Probation documents issued by a court or other government agency, pursuant to a criminal conviction;
Letter from a government agency verifying identity. The letter shall be dated within six months prior to the date of the request;
Release documentation from a correctional institution containing a photograph of the former inmate and a release date within 12 months prior to the date of the request;
Birth certificate of the requester;
Military discharge papers;
Current school or college photographic identification; or
Government-issued photographic identification that has expired within 12 months prior to the date of the request.

Photocopies of these documents will suffice for mail requests. Do not send originals. Requesters looking to obtain birth certificates for persons other than themselves or their children must present proof verifying their relationship to the persons named on the records. Any individual who has had a change of name whose identification documents do not match the information on the birth record requested must submit a copy of the court order confirming the name change.

A federal or state agency requesting a certified copy of a birth record must comply with the following guidelines:

Complete and sign the official request on agency letterhead
Submit a copy of an employee picture ID issued by the federal or state agency
Submit a Release of Information form signed by the client authorizing the agency to obtain the birth record or submit an official copy of a guardianship decree issued by a proper court.
If a State certified record is not needed, a certified copy may be obtained from the town of birth

To obtain an apostille on a birth record, contact the Connecticut Office of the Secretary of State at:

CT Secretary of State
30 Trinity Street
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 509-6002

How to Get Connecticut Birth Records in Person?

To obtain a birth record in person, visit the town records office where the birth occurred or the State Vital Records Office at:

CT Department of Public Health
State Vital Records Office
410 Capitol Avenue, 1st Floor
Hartford, CT 06106

The State Vital Records Office is open between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except for state holidays. Note that photo identification and payment of the appropriate fee is required.

How to Get Connecticut Birth Records in Mail?

To obtain a Connecticut birth record by mail:

Complete the State application and the Town Application
Include appropriate photo ID
Provide documentation showing that the requester is entitled to obtain the birth certificate (applicable to persons who are not birth registrants or parents listed on birth certificates)
Include the applicable mail
Mail all requirements to (State application):

CT Department of Public Health
State Vital Records Office
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS
Hartford, CT 06106

Send to the appropriate town Vital Records office location.

Where Can I Find Birth Records in Connecticut?

Birth records are maintained by the Vital Records Offices in the towns in Connecticut. There is a Vital Records Office in each of the 169 towns in Connecticut. Records of births that occurred in Connecticut before July 1, 1897, can only be found at the Vital Records Office of the town where the births took place. Certain collections of historical birth records are contained in the birth indexes maintained by the Connecticut State Library. These may help requesters identify where the births occurred.

Statewide, birth records are maintained by the Connecticut Vital Records Office, Department of Public Health. Only the State Vital Records Office in Hartford maintains original birth certificates and stillbirth certificates. These cannot be obtained from the Vital Records Offices in the towns.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Connecticut?

Connecticut birth records are confidential records and are not accessible to the public. The other exception is for records that are at least 100 years old. A requester can obtain a birth record if:

The individual is the subject of the record and is at least 18 years old, or an emancipated minor, or a certified homeless youth
The individual is the parent, legal guardian, grandparent, spouse, adult child, or adult grandchild of the person named on the record
The individual is an attorney-at-law (a legal representative) representing the person named on the birth record or an eligible relative
The individual is an agent of an approved state or federal agency.
The individual is a member of a Connecticut genealogical society or a Conservator of Person
The individual is a researcher approved pursuant to Section 19a-25 of the Connecticut General Statutes

How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Connecticut?

A town-issued certified copy of a birth certificate costs $20, while a state-issued birth certificate costs $30. Additional fees apply to online orders such as processing fees and shipping costs. Mail orders for town-issued records can be paid for with money orders made payable to the town. Personal checks are not accepted for town-issued certificates. Mail orders for state-issued certificates can be paid with money orders made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Personal checks and credit card payments are not accepted. A wallet-size birth certificate costs $15. An in-person order placed at the State Vital Records Office or any of the other town vital record offices can be paid in cash or money order.

Credit cards may be used to complete payments for online orders. All major credit cards, such as Discover, MasterCard, American Express, and Visa are accepted by Connecticut's third-party vendor.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Connecticut?

Walk-in orders placed early in the day usually result in same day returns. Online orders take about 1-3 business days to complete. Mail requests to the town vital records offices are processed more quickly than requests submitted to the State Vital Records Office. The State Vital Records Office processes birth record requests in about 10-12 weeks. Town vital records offices typically process requests in 6-8 weeks.

How to Get a New Birth Certificate in Connecticut

Members of the public who need to obtain a new birth certificate in Connecticut can do so by requesting a certified copy of the birth certificate from either the local or state vital records office in Connecticut.

Please note that only eligible persons would be granted access to a Connecticut new birth certificate.

Can You Find Connecticut Birth Certificates Online?

Yes, individuals seeking a Connecticut birth certificate online can access it on VitalChek or send a request via mail CT.gov: vital records. For those seeking to obtain a birth certificate as a third party, the requester would need to submit proof confirming one’s relationship with the person whose name is on the certificate.

How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Connecticut?

Expungement refers to the process of permanently deleting a record on file. This process is usually carried out following a court order. A birth record cannot be expunged in Connecticut.

How to Seal Your Birth Records in Connecticut?

Birth records can only be sealed under specific circumstances, such as when a child has been adopted by another parent. The process is an automatic one that takes effect upon the finalization of the adoption process. This means there is no need to send a petition to seal adoption records. Subsequently, an amended birth certificate is issued which includes all the information required to be outlined in a birth certificate, except that the adopting parents are now stated as the legal parents.

How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Connecticut?

Connecticut only allows adult adoptees whose adoptions were finalized on or after October 1, 1983, to obtain their original birth certificates without a court order. Identifying information may only be made available to adult adoptees if the birth parents consent to it. Note that only an uncertified copy of the original birth certificate may be obtained. Uncertified copies are for information purposes only. They cannot be used for legal purposes or to prove identity.

To be eligible to obtain an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate of an adoptee without a court order, the requester must be the subject of the record and at least 18 years old. A requester who is the adult child or grandchild of the person named on an original birth record is also eligible to make a request. Note that it is important that the adoption of the person named on the record was finalized on or after October 1, 1983.

Eligible persons must:

Complete the Application for Copy of Original Birth Certificate for Adult Adoptees
Include a photocopy of a government-issued photographic ID, such as a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID. Originals are not required.
Include the applicable fee of $65. Make payment by money order made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Connecticut".
Include documents verifying the relationship to the registrant such as birth certificates. This is only applicable if the requester is the adoptee's adult child or grandchild.
Submit the above requirements to:

CT Department of Public Health
State Vital Records Office
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS
Hartford, CT 06106

If a requester or the adoption conditions do meet the requirements above, an original birth record can only be obtained by a court order. After obtaining a court order allowing the release of an original birth record, follow the guidelines above to order an original birth record. Note that the original court order must be enclosed along with the application submitted to the State Vital Records Office.

Original birth certificates can only be obtained from the State Vital Records Office. Due to the off-site storage of these records, requesters cannot obtain original birth records in person. The $65 fee is non-refundable even if the Vital Records Office is unable to find the requested record.

Who Signs Birth and Death Certificates in Connecticut?

A Connecticut birth certificate is signed by either one or both birth parents of the subject of the certificate and the hospital where a baby was delivered. A death certificate is signed by either the hospital, a coroner, a physician certifier, or a funeral director.

What is a Connecticut Birth Index?

Connecticut birth index is a database online containing records of all registered births that took place in Connecticut. Information in the records includes details of the subject of the record. Some birth index is maintained by the Connecticut State Library.