Enfield Death Certificates

Enfield death certificates are filed and maintained by the town clerk office at town hall on Enfield Street. With over 41,000 residents, Enfield is a mid-sized town in Hartford County on the Massachusetts border. The town clerk has death certificates on file from 1897 to the present for all deaths that occurred in Enfield. You can get certified copies in person at town hall, by mail, or through online services. Walk-in service is usually the same day. Mail requests take one to two weeks. Online orders through VitalChek add fees but offer tracking and fast shipping. The clerk staff can search for records even if you only have partial information about the death.

Enfield Town Clerk Office

The vital records section at Enfield Town Hall processes all death certificate requests for the town. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is located in town hall on Enfield Street. Staff can search for records and provide certified copies while you wait.

Town hall has parking for visitors. The building is on Enfield Street in the center of town. Bus service in Enfield is limited, so most people drive. When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. If you want to check if a record is on file before you make the trip, call ahead at (860) 253-6438. The clerk staff can look up records by name and date.

Getting Death Certificates

Three ways to get an Enfield death certificate exist. Visit the town clerk office in person. Mail a completed request form with payment and ID. Or order online through VitalChek. Walk-in service is fastest. Mail takes longer but requires no trip. Online ordering adds fees but gives you tracking and shipping options.

For in-person requests, come to town hall with your photo ID. Be ready to give the full name of the deceased and the date of death. The clerk will search the records and print a certified copy. You pay at the counter. Most requests are done quickly. Payment methods include cash, check, money order, and credit cards.

To request by mail, get the Connecticut death certificate request form from the state DPH website. Fill it out with:

• Full name of deceased
• Date of death
• Place of death (Enfield)
• Your name and address
• Your relationship to deceased
• Reason for request

Attach a copy of your photo ID and a money order for $20 per certificate. Personal checks are not accepted. Mail to Enfield Town Clerk, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT 06082. Processing takes one to two weeks. Call (860) 253-6438 to check on your request if needed.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the only approved third-party vendor for Connecticut vital records. The site adds service fees and shipping charges on top of the $20 certificate cost. You can pick expedited shipping for faster delivery. VitalChek accepts all major credit cards.

Enfield Death Certificate Fees

The cost for one certified death certificate in Enfield is $20. This is the state rate that applies to all Connecticut towns. Each extra copy also costs $20. You can order as many as you need at once. Getting all the copies you need in one request saves time and return trips.

Veterans and their families may qualify for a free death certificate under state law. The spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran can get one free certified copy if they provide proof of the relationship and veteran status. This is in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-74. You need a valid photo ID and documents like a marriage certificate or birth certificate to show the relationship. The death certificate must indicate veteran status for the waiver to apply.

Note: Online orders through VitalChek add processing and shipping fees that can increase the total cost significantly.

Eligibility to Request

Any adult 18 or older can buy a certified death certificate from Enfield. You do not have to be related to the deceased. This is set by Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-51a. However, for deaths after July 1, 1997, only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy showing the social security number. All other requesters get a copy with the SSN redacted.

Common reasons people request Enfield death certificates:

• Estate settlement and probate
• Life insurance claims
• Bank account closures
• Real estate transfers
• Social Security survivor benefits
• Pension claims
• Genealogy research

You must state your reason on the request form, but most uses are approved without delay. If you are not sure what to write, call the Enfield clerk office for guidance.

Hartford County Context

Enfield is in Hartford County in northern Connecticut, close to the Massachusetts state line. Vital records are kept at the town level in Connecticut, not the county level. Each town in Hartford County maintains its own death certificates. Enfield only has records for deaths that happened within town limits. For deaths in nearby towns like East Windsor, Somers, or Suffield, contact those towns directly.

For legal matters related to a death in Enfield, such as probate or estate issues, you may need to work with the local probate court. Enfield has its own probate court district. Contact the Enfield Probate Court for help with wills, estates, and guardianship. The town clerk does not handle these legal processes.

Connecticut State Vital Records

The Connecticut State Vital Records Office in Hartford has copies of all Enfield death certificates from 1897 forward. If you cannot get a record from the Enfield town clerk, the state office is a backup option. However, state processing can take up to twelve weeks. Most people get faster service by working directly with the Enfield clerk office.

State office walk-in service is limited. Check the website or call before you go. For mail requests to the state, use a money order payable to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted by mail at the state office.

Using Death Certificates

A certified death certificate is required for many legal and financial tasks. Banks need it to close accounts or transfer funds. Life insurance companies require it before paying claims. Social Security needs a copy to stop payments and start survivor benefits. Real estate offices use it to transfer property titles. Probate courts need it to open estates and settle wills.

Order several copies if you know you will use them at multiple places. It is faster and cheaper to get all the copies you need at once. Each certified copy from Enfield has the same legal weight. A plain photocopy will not work for most official purposes. The certified copy has a raised seal and the clerk's signature.

Death Records in Nearby Towns

Towns near Enfield each keep their own death records. If the person died in East Windsor, Somers, Suffield, or Longmeadow, Massachusetts, contact that town's clerk office. Enfield records only cover deaths within Enfield town limits. You must request from the town where the death occurred.