West Hartford Death Records

The Town Clerk's office in West Hartford handles all death record requests for the town. West Hartford has more than 64,000 residents and is part of Hartford County. If the death happened in West Hartford or the person lived here, you can get the certificate from the town clerk. The office is at 50 South Main Street in Town Hall. Certified copies are $20 each. Walk-in customers often receive certificates the same day if the record is on file at the time of request.

West Hartford Town Clerk Office

Death certificates in West Hartford are available at the Town Clerk's office. The office is in Room 313 at Town Hall. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (860) 561-7430 before you visit if you want to check on a specific record or ask about the request process. Bring valid photo ID when you visit in person.

To request a death certificate, you need to give details about the deceased. Include the full name, date of death, and place of death. If you know the parents' names, include those as well. This info helps the clerk find the record in their system. More detail means faster service for your request.

The fee for a certified death certificate is $20. This is the standard rate set by state law. You can pay with cash or money order payable to the Town of West Hartford. Personal checks are not accepted. Each additional copy of the same record costs $20. If you walk in during office hours, the clerk can usually give you the certificate on the same day.

Order Online Through VitalChek

West Hartford death records can be ordered online using VitalChek. This is the only online service approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. VitalChek is available 24 hours a day, every day. You can place an order at any time. Go to vitalchek.com to start.

Online orders cost more than in-person orders. VitalChek charges the $20 state fee plus processing fees and shipping fees. You can pick standard or expedited shipping. Faster shipping costs more money. All major credit cards work on the site. You can also call VitalChek at 1-888-279-9888 to order by phone. Phone orders have the same fees as online orders. The $7 expedite fee applies to VitalChek orders from West Hartford.

Connecticut State Vital Records Office

You can also get West Hartford death records from the state. The Connecticut Department of Public Health keeps copies of all death records from July 1, 1897 to the present. This covers deaths in West Hartford and deaths of West Hartford residents that happened elsewhere. The state office is at 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS, Hartford, CT 06106.

State requests take longer than town requests. The state office says it can take up to twelve weeks to process a request. The fee is $20 per certificate. You must pay with a money order made out to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut." Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted for mail orders. If you need a record fast, go to the West Hartford Town Clerk instead.

Walk-in service at the state office is limited. Hours are 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 must show photo ID to get into the building. Walk-in customers can pay with cash, money order, or credit card with a $2.50 fee. Call (860) 509-7700 for more info or visit portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/death-certificates.

Who Can Request Death Records

Any adult age 18 or older can buy a certified copy of a Connecticut death record. You do not need to be related to the deceased to request a West Hartford death certificate. You do not need to give a reason for your request. This rule is in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-51a.

One restriction involves the social security number. For deaths on or after July 1, 1997, only the spouse or next of kin can get a copy that shows the deceased person's social security number. Other requesters get a copy with the number redacted. Funeral directors can also get the social security number within 60 days of the death. After 60 days, they get the redacted version too.

Minors under 18 cannot request death certificates. This is true even if they are related to the deceased. If you visit the West Hartford Town Clerk in person, bring a current photo ID. Acceptable IDs include a state driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.

Free Certificates for Veteran Families

Connecticut law allows the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran to get one free certified death certificate. This benefit is in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-74. You must show a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the veteran.

Proof of relationship can be a marriage certificate for a spouse, a birth certificate for a child, or the deceased's birth certificate if you are the parent. The death certificate must show that the deceased was a veteran. If these conditions are met, the West Hartford Town Clerk will give you one free certified copy. Additional copies beyond the first one still cost $20 each.

Funeral directors can also get one free copy of a veteran's death certificate when they request it on behalf of the family at the time of death. This helps families save money during a hard time. The funeral director must request the certificate while making the final arrangements for the deceased veteran.

Note: The veteran status must be listed on the death certificate for the fee waiver to apply in West Hartford.

Correcting Death Record Errors

If you find an error on a West Hartford death certificate, you can ask for an amendment. Connecticut law sets the rules for amending vital records. The law is Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-42. Not all changes are allowed. Clerical errors and typos can usually be fixed. Changes to the cause of death need medical records.

Contact the West Hartford Town Clerk to begin the amendment process. The clerk can tell you what forms to fill out and what proof to send. Some amendments must go through the state Department of Public Health. The state makes the final choice on whether to approve an amendment. There may be a fee to process your request.

When an amendment changes the cause of death, the original wording stays visible. A copy of the original certificate is sealed in a confidential file at the state office. Only the Commissioner of Public Health can unseal it. The amended version becomes the public record. All future certified copies will show the amended info.

Older Death Records in West Hartford

Death records from West Hartford before 1897 are not at the town clerk's office. Connecticut did not have a statewide vital records system before that year. For older records, try the Connecticut State Library. The library has the Barbour Collection, which includes vital records from many towns for events before 1850. Visit libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/home for details.

The state library also has a death records index covering 1897 to 2001. This index lists the name, place, and date of death for Connecticut residents. It does not have full certificates. The index helps you find which records to order. You can search the index at this page for free.

If you are researching West Hartford family history, the state library can help. Call (860) 757-6580 or email csl.history@ct.gov for research assistance. Members of incorporated genealogical societies may have access to older records that are 100 years old or more.

Hartford County Death Records

West Hartford is in Hartford County. Connecticut does not keep vital records at the county level. Each town maintains its own death records. The state office also has copies. For more on how death records work in Hartford County, including contact info for other town clerks and state resources, see the Hartford County page.

View Hartford County Death Records

Nearby Towns

Other towns near West Hartford include Hartford, Bristol, Farmington, and Newington. Each town clerk's office maintains its own death records. If you need records from more than one town, you must contact each office separately. All Connecticut towns charge $20 per certified death certificate.