The history in Connecticut goes way back, and you will find state-recorded birth records as old as 1897. If you are looking for a Connecticut birth record from that date until the present, you can either make a request to the town registrar where the birth took place, or send it to the state office of Vital Records. You will likely get faster results from the town offices as the state office will take about 6 weeks to get your records back to you.
The website for the Department of Public Health (http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3132&q=388128) has a list of the town clerk offices and their contact information.
For the main state office, your applications will have to send your application to the Department of Public Health - Vital Records Section, 410 Capitol Avenue MS#11VRS, PO Box 340308, Hartford CT, 06134-0308 USA. The DPH website also has the forms you need for your application (http://www.ct.gov/dph/LIB/dph/hisr/VR/vs_39bst.pdf).
The form is fairly simple, and you need to supply relevant details on the Connecticut birth record you are seeking. Their name, parent's names, date and place of birth are all important in narrowing down the right record.
With your completed application, you have to pay a fee (which is currently $30 USD). You can make money orders out to the "Treasurer, State of CT" (no personal checks). You also need to include photocopies of your own identification when you file your application. If no record is found, your money is unfortunately not refunded which tends to be the policy in any state.
Of course, before you apply, you need to establish if you are permitted to get a Connecticut birth record in the first place. Generally, records are kept sealed for 100 years so you will only have free access to births from more than 100 years ago. Otherwise, you can only get certified copies of your own birth certificate, or that of a direct relative. That means your own parents and children, as well as grandparents and grandchildren. You can also access a spouse's record.
An exception would be if you are a member of one of the historical or genealogical societies in Connecticut. They have unrestricted access to all years of records, regardless of relationship.
As mentioned above, the state began recording Connecticut birth records in 1897. But the area is quite a bit older than that, and you may be able to track down some records from the late 1600s. One particular source of old births is the Barbour collection which contains information up until around 1850. You can search these indexes at the Connecticut State Library and some genealogy services have searchable databases as well.
For the years between 1850 and 1897, you will have to check with the individual town registrars. Some of the birth records for this time frame have been collected on microfilm by the Genealogical Society of Utah, so you can contact them for further research.
To order a copy of your Connecticut birth certificate, you must:
Step 1.
Access the online Connecticut Birth Certificate form, complete, and print it.
Step 2.
Attach a photocopy of an authorized photo ID.
Step 3.
Return the application in person or by mail along with the $15 fee. Payment must be made by money order, as personal checks are not accepted.
If you need more help accessing Connecticut birth records, you can contact the Department by one of the following methods:
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Vital Records Section, Customer Services
410 Capitol Ave, MS# 11VRS
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
(860) 509-7700
How to Access Connecticut Birth Records
If you would like to access Connecticut birth records, then you will need to contact the Connecticut Department of Health. However, birth records less than 100 years old are closed to the public and have restrictions as to who is authorized to access them.
Requesting Copies of Birth Certificates
You can access Connecticut birth certificates by mail or in person. Keep in mind that mailed requests take approximately 6 weeks to complete.
Restrictions on Public Access of Birth Records
Because Connecticut birth records less than 100 years old are closed to the public, they can only be accessed by certain people. To be given access to a record, you must be the registrant and at least 18 years of age. Alternatively, you can be the parent, guardian, grandparent, or spouse of the registrant, the adult child or grandchild of the registrant, an attorney representing the registrant or immediate family member, or otherwise an individual able to prove legal access to the record.
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