Connecticut Birth Records

From the inception of the state, local town clerks maintained birth entries in ledgers. However, a centralized statewide registry was established on July 1, 1897, when the Department of Healthbegan consolidating vital records.

Connecticut birth records are the official documents that report a live birth in the state. Connecticut offers two primary versions of its birth certificate:

• Certified Birth Certificate: It is the official, detailed version of the birth record, with an embossed, raised seal bearing details of the registrant's birth. It includes information such as the registrant's name, gender, birth date, parents' detailed information, attending physician's information, and registrar's signature. The certified copy of the birth record, also called the authorized copy, is suitable for all legal purposes.
• Uncertified Birth Record: The uncertified birth record, called the informational birth record, contains information about a Connecticut birth. It is typically printed on plain paper and marked "Informational Copy". The document is more suited for personal use and genealogical research. It cannot be used as legal proof of identity or to obtain government benefits.

Connecticut issues two versions of the certified birth record. The full-size certificate and the wallet-size certificate. The full-size birth certificate is the complete version of the birth record containing all information about a child's birth. It is required for all legal transactions in Connecticut.

The wallet-size certificate is a reduced-content birth record that contains basic information about a birth. It excludes information such as the parents' birthplace and occupation. Although it is issued by the state, it is not an acceptable form of identity verification by state or federal agencies. It is more suited for personal records and where informal proof of age is required.

How To Order a Connecticut Birth Certificate?

You may order Connecticut birth certificates as follows:

• For births occurring before January 1, 2003, you may order the birth record from the specific town vital records office where the birth occurred, the mother's town of residence, or at the State Vital Records Office.
• For Births after January 1, 2003, obtain the record from any town vital records office or the State Vital Records Office.

To order the record, complete the State Application form for the state-issued copies and the Town Application form for the town-issued copies. Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID, proof of eligibility to obtain the document, and the applicable fees. It costs $30 to order a certified birth certificate at the State Vital Records Office and $20 at the town Vital Records office. Mail the record request. You may also request the birth record at the town clerk's office. For record requests at the State Vital Records, mail the request to:

Birth records are also accessible online through an approved third-party service provider. Additional fees for processing and shipping the record apply when using this service.

Are Birth Records Public in Connecticut?

Birth certificates are confidential under Connecticut law, and access to the record is restricted to protect individual privacy. To this end, the public cannot view, inspect, or obtain copies of another individual's birth certificate. Only persons eligible according to state law may order certified copies.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Connecticut?

Per state law, the following persons are eligible to obtain certified copies of birth certificates in Connecticut:

• The person named on the birth record, if 18 years or older
• The parents listed on the birth certificate
• Immediate family members, including spouses, grandparents, adult children, grandchildren,
• Legal guardians and legal custodians of the registrant
• Attorneys representing the registrant
• Agents of approved state or federal agencies
• Conservators of the person named on the record

How Long Does it Take to Get A Connecticut Birth Certificate?

It takes up to 12 weeks for the State Vital Records Office to process mail requests for birth certificates. Online requests for birth certificates are typically processed within 2-3 business days, with expedited processing within 24 hours.

The State Vital Records Office does not provide expedited services for birth record requests. If you need the birth certificate urgently, purchase the record in person at the town clerk's office. In-person requests are typically processed within 24 hours.

Where Can I Find Connecticut Birth Records Free?

In Connecticut, certified birth records are not available for free and are restricted to only eligible individuals. However, unauthorized persons can access informational or historical records at no cost through other sources.

The National Vital Records Archives (NARA) does not hold state-issued Connecticut birth certificates. However, it provides access to a vital record landing page with links to all 50 states' registration offices and guidance for locating birth records.

The Connecticut State Library offers free access to indexes and uncertified historical birth records pre-1897. Family Search.org provides digitized Connecticut birth records and indexed data pre-1900s. It also offers indexed images of Connecticut birth and christenings from 1649-1906. Ancestry.com offers a searchable abstract index of Connecticut birth records pre-1870 and an online statewide birth index from 1897-1918.

PublicRecords.us offers a free Connecticut directory of vital records resources aggregated from multiple governmental websites. The web tool provides access to basic birth information at no cost.

When Would I Need My Connecticut Birth Records?

A Connecticut birth certificate serves as primary proof of identity, age, and citizenship, and it is required in various legal, government, and personal situations, including:

• Applying for a visa and travel documents
• Obtaining a driver's license and state ID
• Employment verification
• Obtaining a marriage license
• Establishing parental rights
• Prove familial relationships in estate settlements
• School enrollment and college applications
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Change your name or gender marker
• Applying for government benefits
• Replacing a Social Security card

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Connecticut?

You may need a replacement birth certificate if the document is damaged, stolen, destroyed, or missing. Replacing your legal birth certificate is crucial to accessing vital services in Connecticut. To this end, the process of replacing the record is the same as ordering the birth certificate.

Depending on your birth year, you may order the record from the town clerk's office where the birth occurred or at the State Vital Records Office. Complete the applicable form. Submit a valid government-issued ID and pay the fees.

It costs $30 to replace your birth certificate at the State Vital Records Office and $20 if ordering the replacement from the town clerk's office. Mail the record requests to the appropriate office. The town clerk's office also accepts in-person requests for replacement birth certificates.

When Can the Public Access Connecticut Birth Certificates?

Birth records are confidential for the first 100 years from the date of birth. During that period, only qualified persons may purchase certified copies of the birth certificate. After the 100 lapses, the birth record becomes publicly accessible, allowing persons 18 years and older to request a copy without needing to prove a familial relationship or legal interest.

How To Correct an Error on a Connecticut Birth Certificate?

You may correct the following errors on your birth certificate:

• Minor errors, such as spelling mistakes in names, incorrect birth dates or parents' age, and typographical errors in location, such as the wrong hospital name
• Parentage, including adding or removing a parent and correcting the parent's name, race, or birthplace
• Legal name changes, such as updating a child's name within one year of birth
• Gender marker changes
• Paternity updates

Generally, amendments to birth certificates within the first year of birth do not require a court order. After one year, a court order is essential to amend birth certificates.

To amend a birth certificate, provide a notarized affidavit stating that the existing birth record is incomplete or incorrect and that you are providing the accurate information. Include documents supporting the correct information, such as hospital records or a court order. Mail the request to the town clerk's office where the birth occurred. There is no fee to amend birth certificates in Connecticut.

Does Connecticut Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

Yes. Connecticut allows residents to amend their birth certificates to include the non-binary "X" gender marker. Connecticut's framework for issuing gender-neutral birth certificates is governed by Public Act 15-132. The law explicitly permits the inclusion of the non-binary gender marker as an option alongside the Male (M) and Female (F) gender markers.

Furthermore, the Act removed the requirement for surgery to amend gender markers and allows individuals to update their birth certificates based on affidavits affirming gender transition through clinically proven treatment.