Find Death Records in New Britain
Death certificates in New Britain are handled by the Town Clerk's office at City Hall. The office holds vital records for all deaths that happen in New Britain, Connecticut. Anyone over age 18 can buy a certified copy of a death certificate from the clerk. New Britain maintains death records dating back to July 1897. The clerk can search their records by name or date of death. If you need a record from before 1897, you must contact the Connecticut State Library or search the Barbour Collection, which has pre-1850 vital records for many Connecticut towns. The clerk's office processes most walk-in requests on the same day, and mail requests within one week.
New Britain Quick Facts
New Britain City Clerk Contact Info
The City Clerk handles all vital records for New Britain, including death certificates. You can visit the office in person at City Hall or send a request by mail. In-person visits are the fastest way to get a death certificate. The clerk's staff can search the records and give you a certified copy right away if the record is on file.
| Office | New Britain Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 27 West Main Street New Britain, CT 06051 |
| Phone | (860) 826-3343 |
| Fax | (860) 826-3348 |
| mark.bernacki@newbritainct.gov | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 8:15 AM to 3:45 PM |
| Fee | $20 per certified copy |
City Hall is on West Main Street in downtown New Britain. There is a parking lot next to the building. Enter through the main doors and follow signs to the Town Clerk's office. Bring a valid ID if you are picking up a death certificate in person. The staff can help you fill out the request form if you have questions about what info is needed.
How to Request a Death Certificate
Connecticut law allows any adult to ask for a death certificate. You do not need to prove a relationship to the deceased. The clerk will ask you to fill out a request form with basic information about the death and about yourself as the requester. For deaths after July 1, 1997, only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy that shows the social security number. All other people get a copy with the number removed.
When you request a death certificate from New Britain, you need to provide:
- Full name of the deceased person
- Date of death (month, day, and year)
- Place of death (should be New Britain)
- Your name and mailing address
- Your relationship to the deceased
- Why you need the certificate
Use the state's official death certificate request form. Download it from portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/applications-and-forms. Fill out all sections before you visit or mail the form. The New Britain clerk's office also has blank forms you can fill out on site if you prefer. Payment is required when you submit your request. The town accepts cash or money order, and some offices take credit cards. Call first to ask which payment types are accepted at the New Britain office.
If you are mailing your request, send the completed form with a copy of your photo ID and a money order for $20 made payable to the Town of New Britain. Add a stamped envelope with your address if you want the certificate returned by regular mail. The mailing address is listed in the table above. Processing time for mail requests is usually one week but may take longer during busy periods. For faster service, visit in person or use the VitalChek online system.
Connecticut State Vital Records Office
The state also has copies of all death records from New Britain. The Connecticut Department of Public Health keeps a statewide registry of vital records from July 1897 to now. You may order from the state office if you cannot visit the New Britain clerk. State processing takes up to 12 weeks, so the town clerk is a better choice if you need the record quickly.
Contact the state at 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, Hartford, CT 06106. The phone number is (860) 509-7700. Walk-in service is available Monday 9 AM to 1 PM, Wednesday 9 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday 11 AM to 3:30 PM. The fee is $20 per certified copy, same as the town fee. Payment must be cash or money order. Credit cards are accepted with a $2.50 fee. The state office is closed on all observed state holidays.
For most people, the New Britain clerk is the faster and easier option. Use the state office only if you cannot reach the town clerk during business hours or if you are ordering records from multiple towns in Connecticut and want to send one request to cover all of them.
Order Death Records Online
VitalChek is the only approved vendor for online vital records in Connecticut. Visit vitalchek.com to place an order. The site is open 24 hours a day, so you can order any time. You pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee to the state fee of $20. Shipping costs depend on how fast you want the certificate delivered.
Orders placed through VitalChek go to the state vital records office, not the town clerk. The state processes the order and mails the certificate. Processing time is faster than a regular mail request to the state but slower than visiting the New Britain clerk in person. Most VitalChek orders ship within one to two weeks. Rush options are available for an extra fee.
VitalChek is a good choice if you need a death certificate outside normal business hours or if you live far from New Britain and want to avoid mailing documents. The extra cost may be worth it for the convenience of online ordering and faster delivery.
Note: VitalChek orders can take 7 to 14 days from order to delivery.
Death Records Under Connecticut Law
Connecticut General Statutes govern vital records. Death certificates are public records that any adult can request. Under C.G.S. § 7-51a, any person at least 18 years old may buy a certified copy of a death record. The law limits access to the social security number for deaths after July 1, 1997. Only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy with the number shown. All other requesters get a redacted copy.
Veterans' families can get one free death certificate under C.G.S. § 7-74. The spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran may request one certified copy at no charge. You must show proof of your relationship and a valid photo ID. The free copy is only available if the death certificate shows the deceased's veteran status. Funeral directors may also get one free copy on behalf of the family if requested within 60 days of the death.
Each town registrar in Connecticut must send a copy of every death certificate to the state by the 15th of each month. This is required under C.G.S. § 7-36. The state uses these copies to maintain the central registry. That is why both the town and the state have the same records, though the town usually processes requests faster since they handle fewer requests overall than the state office does.
Other Hartford County Cities
New Britain is part of Hartford County. Other cities in the county also have town clerk offices that handle death records. Each town keeps its own vital records. If a death happened in a different town, you need to contact that town's clerk. New Britain is the third-largest city in Hartford County, after Hartford and West Hartford.
Cities near New Britain include:
- Hartford - 10 miles northeast
- Bristol - 9 miles northwest
- West Hartford - 7 miles north
- Newington - 5 miles east
- Middletown - 12 miles south
If you are not sure which town to contact, check the death certificate or ask the hospital where the death occurred. The town where the death took place is the town that will have the record. You cannot get a New Britain death certificate if the death occurred in another town, even if the deceased lived in New Britain.
Hartford County Death Records
New Britain is in Hartford County, Connecticut. The county does not maintain vital records, but all towns in the county have their own clerk offices. For more information about death records in Hartford County and links to other town clerk offices, visit the county page.