Connecticut Death Records: Are They Public & How to Get One

Connecticut is an open-record state for death certificates. Any person 18 or older may purchase a certified copy of a Connecticut death record, regardless of how recent the death was. There is no general waiting period before death records become public, though for deaths occurring on or after July 1, 1997 the decedent's Social Security number is restricted to a limited list of eligible parties and is redacted for everyone else.

Are Death Records Public in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut is an open-record state for deaths. Under Connecticut General Statutes section 7-51a, any person eighteen years of age or older may purchase certified copies of death records held by a registrar of vital statistics.

This makes Connecticut more open than closed-record states, where only family members or those with a documented legal interest can buy a certified copy. In Connecticut, you do not need to prove a relationship to the deceased just to obtain a standard certified death certificate.

There is no general waiting period before a Connecticut death record becomes available. The 100-year confidentiality rule in state law applies to birth and fetal-death records, not to death certificates. For broader context, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

Who Can Request a Connecticut Death Record?

Any person who is at least 18 years old may request a certified copy of a Connecticut death certificate. You will need to present valid government-issued photo identification when you order.

There is one important exception. For deaths occurring on or after July 1, 1997, the decedent's Social Security number is recorded in the restricted "administrative purposes" section of the death certificate. Under section 7-51a(c), that section is disclosed only to the surviving spouse, the next of kin, the parties named on the certificate itself (including the informant, licensed funeral director, licensed embalmer, conservator, physician or advanced practice registered nurse, and town clerk) for the purpose of processing the certificate, and state and federal agencies authorized by federal law. Any other requester still receives the certificate, but with the Social Security number removed or redacted. Relatives ordering a copy that shows the number should expect to provide proof of identity and proof of their relationship to the deceased.

Connecticut also offers a benefit for veterans' families. The spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran may obtain one free certified copy of the death certificate, provided the certificate reflects veteran status and the requester shows valid photo ID and proof of relationship.

How to Get a Connecticut Death Certificate

You can order a Connecticut death certificate from the State Vital Records Office or from the town where the death occurred. The State Vital Records Office is part of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, located at 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134.

A certified copy costs $20 per copy. When ordering by mail from the state office, include a money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut" along with the completed application and a copy of your photo ID.

There are three main ways to order:

By Mail

Send a completed application and the $20 fee to the State Vital Records Office, or to the town vital records office in the town where the death took place.

In Person

Visit the State Vital Records Office in Hartford or the relevant town clerk's office. Town offices often process requests more quickly than the state office.

Online

Order through VitalChek, the only third-party vendor the Department of Public Health authorizes to accept vital record orders. Additional service fees apply for online and expedited requests.

Processing time at the State Vital Records Office can take up to twelve weeks. Town offices typically turn requests around faster, so if you know the town where the death occurred, that route is often quicker.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Connecticut?

The cause of death is recorded on the Connecticut death certificate, and it is not separately sealed from someone eligible to purchase a certified copy. Because any adult may buy a certified death certificate, the medical cause of death listed on that certificate is effectively available with the record.

This is different from records held by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Autopsy reports and detailed investigative findings are handled under their own access rules and are not the same document as the vital-records death certificate. To understand how those records work, see Are Autopsies Public Records?.

The Social Security number remains the one field on the certificate that is restricted to the limited list of eligible parties described above, and it is redacted for other requesters.

How Far Back Do Connecticut Death Records Go?

Connecticut has registered vital events for centuries, and historical death records are widely available. Towns kept death records long before statewide registration, and the Connecticut State Library holds extensive historical vital-records indexes for genealogical research.

Because death records carry no 100-year restriction, older Connecticut death certificates are available to any adult requester, subject to the same $20 fee and identification requirements.

For nationwide research, remember that there is no single federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death certificates are issued and held by the states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration's public Death Master File can help locate older deaths, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 it excludes deaths that occurred within the most recent three calendar years. For related vital-records access, see Are Birth Certificates Public Records?.

Connecticut Death Records: Quick Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public records access in Connecticut and is not legal advice. Fees, forms, and procedures change over time. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Connecticut State Vital Records Office or the relevant town clerk before ordering.

Sources

This article draws on the Connecticut Department of Public Health State Vital Records Office, Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 93, and federal vital-statistics guidance from the CDC and Social Security Administration; see the linked citations below.

Death Records by State