Bridgeport Death Certificates

Bridgeport death certificates are filed and kept by the Town & City Clerk office. This office serves over 151,000 people in Connecticut's largest city. When someone dies in Bridgeport, the funeral director or medical examiner files the death certificate with the city clerk within days. The clerk then keeps these records and issues certified copies to anyone who needs them. You can walk in, mail a request, or order online through VitalChek. The city also uses its own online portal for faster service. Bridgeport sits in Fairfield County on the coast and has handled its own vital records since before 1900. Records from 1897 to now are on file at city hall.

Bridgeport Town & City Clerk

The vital records office at Bridgeport City Hall handles all death certificates for the city. Staff can look up records by name and date and provide certified copies on the spot if you visit in person. The office is on the first floor of city hall at Lyon Terrace. Walk-in hours are weekdays from 8:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon.

You can also mail your request or use online tools. Bridgeport has an online ordering system that speeds up the process. VitalChek is another option for remote orders. If you live far from Bridgeport or need records quickly, online service may work better than mail.

Parking near city hall includes metered street spots and nearby lots. Public transit serves the area with several bus routes. Bring your photo ID when you visit. If you call ahead, the staff can tell you if the record you need is on file and how long it will take to get a copy.

How to Request Death Certificates

Three ways to get a death certificate exist. Walk in during business hours. Mail a form with payment and ID. Or go online through the city website or VitalChek. Each method gets you the same certified copy, but timing and fees vary.

For walk-in requests, bring your photo ID and know the full name and date of death. Staff will search the records and print a certified copy while you wait in most cases. This is the fastest way to get a Bridgeport death certificate. Pay by cash, check, or card at the window.

Mail requests take longer. Download the state death certificate request form from the Connecticut DPH website or call the clerk office to have one sent to you. Fill it out and include:

• Full name of deceased person
• Date and place of death
• Your full name and mailing address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Reason you need the certificate
• Copy of your photo ID
• Money order for $20 per copy

Send the form and payment to the Bridgeport clerk office. Processing by mail usually takes one to three weeks. Personal checks are not accepted. Use a money order made out to the Town of Bridgeport.

Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. This service adds fees for processing and shipping but may deliver faster than regular mail. You can also check the city website for their direct online portal, which may have lower fees than VitalChek.

Death Certificate Fees in Bridgeport

The cost for one certified death certificate is $20 in Bridgeport. Each extra copy also costs $20. This is the standard fee set by Connecticut law for all towns. Pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card at the clerk office. Online orders add service charges on top of the base fee.

Veterans and their family may get one free copy. The spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran can ask for a free death certificate under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-74. You need to show proof of relationship and proof of veteran status. Bring your photo ID and documents like a marriage certificate or birth certificate to prove how you are related. The veteran status must show on the death certificate itself. Funeral directors can also get one free copy if they ask within 60 days of the death.

Note: Credit card payments at the clerk office may have a small processing fee added by the card processor.

Who Can Get a Death Certificate

Connecticut law lets any person 18 years or older buy a certified death certificate. You do not need to be related to the deceased. However, if the death happened after July 1, 1997, the social security number on the certificate is only visible to the spouse or next of kin. All other requesters get a copy with the SSN redacted. This rule is in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-51a.

Common reasons to request a death certificate include:

• Settling an estate or probate case
• Filing life insurance claims
• Closing bank and credit accounts
• Transferring real estate titles
• Claiming pension or survivor benefits
• Genealogy and family research

You must state your reason on the request form. Most uses are routine and accepted without question. If you are not sure what to write, call the Bridgeport clerk office for guidance before you submit your request.

Fairfield County Records

Bridgeport is in Fairfield County, the most populated county in Connecticut. Vital records are not kept at the county level in this state. Each town handles its own death certificates. Bridgeport keeps only the records for deaths within city limits. If someone died in Stamford, Norwalk, or another Fairfield County town, you need to contact that town's clerk office.

For court records, probate matters, or property issues related to a death in Bridgeport, you may need to go to county offices or state courts. The Fairfield County Probate Court system has multiple districts. Bridgeport has its own probate court district. Contact the local probate court for help with wills, estates, and guardianship after a death in Bridgeport.

Connecticut State Vital Records

The state office in Hartford also has copies of Bridgeport death certificates from 1897 forward. If you cannot get what you need from the city clerk, the state is a backup option. However, the state office takes much longer to process requests. It can be up to twelve weeks. Most people find it faster to work with the Bridgeport clerk directly.

Contact the state office at:

State office walk-in hours are limited. Check the website or call before you go. Mail requests to the state must use a money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." The state office does not accept personal checks or credit cards by mail.

Common Uses for Death Certificates

Many legal and financial tasks need a certified death certificate. Banks will not close accounts without one. Life insurance will not pay out without proof of death. Social Security must see a certificate to stop benefits and start survivor payments. Real estate sales and transfers need a death certificate when the owner has passed away. Probate courts need it to settle estates.

Order more than one copy if you know you will use them at several places. It is faster and cheaper to get five copies at once than to come back later for more. Each certified copy from Bridgeport has full legal standing. A photocopy does not work in most cases. The certified copy has a raised seal and signature from the clerk office.

Death Records in Nearby Cities

Cities near Bridgeport each keep their own death records. If the person died in Fairfield, Stratford, Norwalk, or Stamford, contact that town's clerk office. Bridgeport records only cover deaths within Bridgeport city limits. The town where the death took place is the place to get the certificate.