Find Wallingford Death Certificates
Wallingford death records are available through the Town Clerk's office located at 45 South Main Street. The town has about 44,000 residents and sits in New Haven County. If a death occurred in Wallingford or the deceased was a Wallingford resident, you can request the certificate from the town clerk. Certified copies cost $20 each. The town office typically processes requests faster than the state vital records office, often providing same-day service for walk-in customers.
Wallingford Quick Facts
Requesting Death Records
The Wallingford Town Clerk handles all vital records requests for deaths that occurred in town. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (203) 294-2145 before you visit if you want to confirm hours or ask about a specific record. Bring valid photo identification when you request a death certificate in person.
When you request a death record in Wallingford, you need to provide identifying information. This includes the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. If you know the parents' names, that helps too. The clerk uses this information to locate the correct record in their files. More details mean faster service.
| Office | Wallingford Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 45 South Main Street Wallingford, CT 06492 |
| Phone | (203) 294-2145 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Fee | $20 per certified copy |
Each certified death certificate from Wallingford costs $20. This is the standard fee set by Connecticut state law. Payment must be by cash or money order payable to the Town of Wallingford. The office does not accept personal checks. If you need multiple copies of the same record, each copy costs $20. Town clerks can usually provide certificates on the same day for walk-in requests if the record is on file.
State Vital Records Office
You may also request Wallingford death records through the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The state office maintains copies of all death records from July 1, 1897 to the present. This includes deaths in Wallingford and deaths of Wallingford residents that occurred elsewhere in Connecticut. The state office address is 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, Hartford, CT 06106.
Requests sent to the state office can take up to twelve weeks to process. This is much slower than town office requests. The state fee is also $20 per certificate. You must pay by money order made out to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." The state office does not accept personal checks or credit cards for mail orders. For faster service, order from the Wallingford Town Clerk instead of the state.
The state office has limited walk-in hours. They are open Monday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You need photo ID to enter the state office building. Walk-in customers can pay with cash, money order, or credit card. A $2.50 fee applies to credit card transactions. Call the state office at (860) 509-7700 if you have questions.
Ordering Wallingford Death Certificates Online
Online ordering for Connecticut death certificates is available through VitalChek. This service is the only third-party vendor approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. VitalChek operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can place an order any time. The website is vitalchek.com.
VitalChek charges additional fees beyond the $20 state certificate fee. Processing fees and shipping fees apply. You can choose expedited shipping for faster delivery or standard shipping to save money. All major credit cards are accepted. You can also call VitalChek at 1-888-279-9888 to order by phone if you prefer not to use the website. Phone orders have the same fees as online orders.
Who Can Get Death Certificates
Under Connecticut law, any adult age 18 or older can purchase a certified copy of a death record. You do not need to be related to the deceased to request a Wallingford death certificate. You do not need to provide a reason for your request. This is stated in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-51a.
One restriction applies to the social security number. For deaths on or after July 1, 1997, only the surviving spouse or next of kin can receive a certificate that shows the decedent's social security number. All other requesters get a certified copy with the number redacted. Funeral directors can also obtain the social security number, but only within 60 days of the death. After that time, even funeral directors receive redacted copies.
If you visit the Wallingford Town Clerk in person, bring a current, valid photo ID. Acceptable IDs include a state driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID. Without proper identification, the clerk cannot process your request. Minors under age 18 cannot request death certificates even if they are related to the deceased.
Free Certificate for Veteran Families
Connecticut offers a fee waiver for one certified death certificate for the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran. This benefit is authorized by Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-74. To qualify, you must present a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased veteran.
Proof of relationship can include a marriage certificate for a spouse, a birth certificate for a child, or the deceased's birth certificate if you are the parent. The veteran status must be indicated on the death certificate itself. If these conditions are met, the Wallingford Town Clerk will issue one free certified copy. Additional copies beyond the first still cost $20 each.
Funeral directors may also receive one free copy of a veteran's death certificate when requesting it on behalf of the family at the time of death. This allows the family to save money during a difficult time. The funeral director must request the certificate while handling the final arrangements.
Correcting Errors on Death Records
If you find an error on a Wallingford death certificate, you can request an amendment. Connecticut law controls how amendments are processed. The rules are in Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-42. Not every error can be fixed. Typos and clerical mistakes are usually corrected. Changes to the cause of death require supporting medical records.
Contact the Wallingford Town Clerk to start the amendment process. The clerk can tell you what forms to complete and what documentation to provide. Some amendments must be handled by the state Department of Public Health instead of the town. The state makes the final decision on whether to approve an amendment. There may be a fee for processing your amendment request.
When an amendment changes the cause of death, the original information must remain visible. A copy of the original certificate is made and sealed in a confidential file at the state office. Only the Commissioner of Public Health can order it unsealed. The amended version becomes the public record. All future certified copies will show the amended information.
Note: Contact the town clerk first before trying to amend a death record on your own.
Older Wallingford Death Records
Connecticut did not have a statewide vital records system before 1897. Death records from Wallingford before that year are not maintained by the town clerk. For older records, contact the Connecticut State Library. The library holds the Barbour Collection, which contains vital records from many Connecticut towns for events before 1850. Visit libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/home to learn more.
The Connecticut State Library also maintains a death records index covering 1897 to 2001. This index lists the name, place, and date of death for Connecticut residents. It does not include full certificates, but it helps researchers identify which records to order. The index is available through Connecticut Open Data. You can search it at this page for free.
If you are researching Wallingford family history, the state library can assist. Call (860) 757-6580 or email csl.history@ct.gov for help. Members of incorporated genealogical societies may have access to older records that are not available to the general public.
New Haven County Death Records
Wallingford is part of New Haven County. Connecticut does not keep vital records at the county level. Each town maintains its own death records. The state office in Hartford also has copies. For more details on how death records work in New Haven County, including contact information for other town clerks and state resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Towns
Other New Haven County towns near Wallingford include New Haven, Cheshire, and Southington. Each town maintains its own death records at the town clerk's office. If you need records from multiple towns, you must contact each office separately. All Connecticut towns charge $20 per certified death certificate.