New Haven Vital Records Access

Death records in New Haven are managed by the New Haven Health Department's Vital Statistics office. This office handles all vital records for the city, including death certificates for deaths that occur in New Haven, Connecticut. Any person at least 18 years old can request a certified copy of a death certificate. New Haven has vital records from July 1897 to now. The health department processes most in-person requests the same day. Mail requests may take one to two weeks depending on the volume of requests. The staff is bilingual in English and Spanish, and additional translation services are available for other languages if you need help with your request.

Where to Get Death Certificates

The New Haven Health Department handles vital statistics for the city. You can visit the office in person or send a mail request. In-person visits are faster. Most people get a certified copy the same day if the record is on file. The office is at City Hall on Church Street.

City Hall is in downtown New Haven. Public parking garages are nearby. The vital statistics office is in Suite 154. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The staff can help you fill out the request form if needed. Payment is due when you submit your request. The office accepts cash, money order, and credit cards.

Requesting a Death Certificate

Connecticut law allows any adult to ask for a death certificate. You do not have to be related to the deceased. The office will ask you to fill out a request form with details about the death and about yourself. For deaths after July 1, 1997, only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy that shows the social security number. Other requesters get a copy with the number redacted.

To request a death certificate from New Haven, you need to provide:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death
• Place of death
• Parents' names if known
• Your name and address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Reason for the request

Use the official death certificate request form from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Download it at portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/applications-and-forms. Fill out all sections before you visit or mail the form. The New Haven office also has blank forms at the counter if you prefer to fill one out in person. Payment is required when you submit the form. The office accepts cash, money order, and credit cards.

For mail requests, send the completed form with a copy of your ID and payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. Make the money order payable to the City of New Haven. The mailing address is shown in the table above. Processing time for mail requests is usually one to two weeks. For faster service, visit in person or use online ordering through VitalChek.

Online Ordering via VitalChek

You can order New Haven death certificates online through VitalChek. This is the only third-party vendor approved by Connecticut. Go to vitalchek.com to place an order. The site is open 24 hours a day. You can use a credit card to pay. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the $20 state fee. Shipping costs depend on delivery speed.

VitalChek orders are filled by the state vital records office, not the city. The state processes the order and sends the certificate by mail. Processing takes less time than a regular mail request to the state but more time than visiting the New Haven office in person. Most VitalChek orders are processed within one to two weeks. Rush shipping is available for an extra fee if you need the certificate faster.

State Vital Records Office Option

The Connecticut Department of Public Health also has copies of all New Haven death records. The state office keeps a central registry of vital records from July 1897 to the present. You can order from the state if you prefer, but processing takes up to 12 weeks. The New Haven Health Department is much faster for most requests.

Contact the state at 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, Hartford, CT 06106. Call (860) 509-7700 for questions. Walk-in hours are 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. Payment must be cash or money order, or you can use a credit card with a $2.50 fee. The office is closed on observed state holidays.

For most people, the New Haven Health Department is the better choice. The state office handles requests from all of Connecticut and takes much longer to process each request. Use the state office only if you cannot visit or contact the New Haven office during business hours.

Note: The state vital records office can take up to 12 weeks to mail a death certificate.

Legal Rules for Death Records

Connecticut General Statutes set the rules for vital records. Under C.G.S. § 7-51a, any person 18 years or older can buy a certified copy of a death record. For deaths on or after July 1, 1997, the social security number is given only to the spouse or next of kin. All other requesters get a copy with the number removed. This protects the privacy of the deceased while keeping death records public.

Veterans and their families have special benefits under C.G.S. § 7-74. The spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran can get one free certified copy of the death certificate. You must show proof of your relationship and a valid photo ID. The free copy is only available if the death certificate shows the veteran status. Funeral directors can also get one free copy on behalf of the family within 60 days of the death.

Each town registrar must send copies of death certificates to the state by the 15th of each month. This is required by C.G.S. § 7-36. That is why both the city and the state have the same records. The city usually processes requests faster since it handles fewer requests than the state office does.

Additional New Haven Resources

The New Haven Health Department offers more than just death certificates. The office also handles birth certificates, marriage licenses, and other vital records. If you need multiple types of records, you can request them all at the same visit. The staff can help you with any questions about what documents you need or how to fill out request forms.

New Haven also has lifespan services for people who need help with vital records. This includes help for newborns, people getting married, and families dealing with a death. Visit nhvhealth.org/issuance-of-vital-records-lifespan-services for more information about these services. The health department can guide you through the process of getting the records you need during major life events.

For historical research, the Connecticut State Library has death records that go back before 1897. The Barbour Collection has pre-1850 vital records for many Connecticut towns, including New Haven. You can search the library's collection online or visit in person. Go to libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/home for more details on historical vital records research in Connecticut.

Other New Haven County Cities

New Haven is the county seat of New Haven County. Other cities in the county also have their own vital records offices. Each town clerk or health department keeps its own death records. If the death happened in a different town, you must contact that town's office to get a death certificate.

Cities near New Haven include:

• Waterbury - 20 miles northwest
• West Haven - 4 miles west
• Branford - 7 miles east
• Wallingford - 12 miles north
• Cheshire - 14 miles north

Each of these towns has walk-in hours for vital records. If you need records from multiple towns, you must contact each office separately. Connecticut does not have a single database that covers all town records, though the state office does keep copies from every town in the state.

New Haven County Death Records

New Haven is in New Haven County, Connecticut. The county does not maintain vital records, but all towns in the county have their own offices. For more information about death records in New Haven County and links to other town offices, visit the county page.

View New Haven County Death Records