Norwich Death Certificate Access

The Norwich City Clerk's office handles death records for the city. This office keeps vital records for all deaths that occur in Norwich, Connecticut. Any adult 18 years or older can ask for a certified copy of a death certificate. Norwich has death records from July 1897 to the present. For records before that date, you need to contact the Connecticut State Library, which has historical vital records. Most walk-in requests are filled the same day. Mail requests usually take one to two weeks. The City Clerk's office is at City Hall on Broadway in downtown Norwich.

Norwich City Clerk Office

The City Clerk is the main source for Norwich death records. The office issues certified copies for deaths that took place in the city. You can visit in person or send a mail request. In-person visits are faster. Most people get their death certificate the same day when they visit the clerk's office during business hours.

City Hall is on Broadway in downtown Norwich. Parking is available near the building. The City Clerk's office is inside the main entrance. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Staff can help you fill out the request form if you have questions. Payment is required when you submit your request. The office accepts cash or money order. Call ahead to confirm which payment methods are accepted.

How to Request a Death Certificate

Connecticut law allows any adult to request a death certificate. You do not need to be related to the deceased. The clerk will ask you to fill out a request form with basic information. For deaths after July 1, 1997, only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy with the social security number shown. All other requesters get a copy with the number redacted.

When you request a death certificate from Norwich, you need to provide:

• Full name of the deceased person
• Date of death (month, day, year)
• Place of death (Norwich)
• Parents' names if known
• Your name and mailing address
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Reason for your request

Download the official death certificate request form from the state at portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/applications-and-forms. Fill out all sections before you visit or mail the form. The Norwich clerk's office also has blank forms at the counter if you prefer. Payment is due when you submit the form. The office accepts cash or money order, and possibly credit cards. Call first to check payment options.

For mail requests, send the completed form with a copy of your photo ID and a money order for $20 made payable to the City of Norwich. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail. The mailing address is listed above. Processing time for mail requests is usually one to two weeks but may take longer if the office is busy. For faster service, visit in person or use online ordering through VitalChek.

Connecticut State Vital Records

The state also has copies of all Norwich death records. The Connecticut Department of Public Health keeps a central registry from July 1897 to now. You can order from the state if you cannot visit the Norwich clerk. State processing takes up to 12 weeks, so the city clerk is a better choice if you need the record soon.

Contact the state at 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, Hartford, CT 06106. The phone number is (860) 509-7700. 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, same as the city fee. 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.

Most people find the Norwich clerk more convenient. 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 reach the city clerk during business hours or if you are ordering records from multiple towns and want to send one request.

Note: State processing can take up to 12 weeks for death certificate requests.

Order Death Records Online

VitalChek is the only approved third-party vendor for Connecticut vital records. Visit vitalchek.com to place an order. The site is open 24 hours a day. You can pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee to the $20 state fee. Shipping costs depend on how fast you need the certificate.

VitalChek orders go to the state vital records office, not the city 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 Norwich clerk in person. Most VitalChek orders are processed within one to two weeks. Rush options are available for an extra fee if you need the certificate faster.

VitalChek is a good option if you need a death certificate outside normal business hours or if you live far from Norwich and want to avoid mailing documents. The extra cost may be worth it for the convenience of online ordering and quicker delivery than regular mail to the state office.

Connecticut Death Records Law

Connecticut General Statutes govern vital records. Under C.G.S. § 7-51a, any person at least 18 years old can 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 copy with the number redacted. This protects the privacy of the deceased while keeping death records public.

Veterans' families have special rights 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 veteran status. Funeral directors can also get one free copy on behalf of the family if requested within 60 days of the death.

Each city registrar must send copies of death certificates to the state by the 15th of each month under C.G.S. § 7-36. This 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.

Historical Death Records

For death records before July 1897, contact the Connecticut State Library. The library has historical vital records in the Barbour Collection. This collection includes pre-1850 vital records for many Connecticut towns, including Norwich. You can search the collection online or visit the library in person. Go to libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/home for more details.

The state library also has a death records index from 1897 to 2001. This index lets you find the name, place, and date of death. The index has been moved to Connecticut Open Data. Visit libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hgindexes/DeathRecordsIndex to search the index. Once you find the record you need, you can order a certified copy from the Norwich clerk or the state vital records office.

Other New London County Cities

Norwich is the largest city in New London County. Other cities in the county also have their own vital records offices. Each town clerk or city clerk keeps its own death records. If the death happened in a different town, you need to contact that town's clerk. New London County has three cities with populations over 25,000.

Cities near Norwich include:

• New London - 12 miles south
• Groton - 10 miles southeast

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 Connecticut.

New London County Death Records

Norwich is in New London 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 New London County and links to other town offices, visit the county page.

View New London County Death Records