Find Death Records in New London County

Death records in New London County are maintained by each town. Connecticut has a town-based vital records system. Counties do not keep these files. All 21 towns in New London County handle their own death certificates. The town clerk office in the town where the death occurred is your starting point. You can also request records from the state office in Hartford. State records go back to July 1897 for all New London County deaths. Town offices often have faster service for recent certificates.

New London County Town Clerk System

Each town in New London County operates its own vital records office. The town clerk is the local registrar. This person receives death certificates and keeps them on file. Town clerks issue certified copies to people who ask. There is no central New London County office for these records. You must go to the specific town where the death took place.

The three largest towns in New London County all have clerk offices open weekdays. Norwich is the biggest town in the county. Norwich City Clerk is at City Hall, 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. Call (860) 823-3700 for hours and fees. Groton is the second-largest town. Groton Town Clerk is at 45 Fort Hill Road, Groton, CT 06340. Phone is (860) 441-6640. New London is the county seat. New London City Clerk is at 181 State Street, New London, CT 06320. Call (860) 447-5205 to check what you need to bring.

All New London County towns charge $20 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. This fee is set by state law. Extra copies may cost less if ordered at the same time. Payment methods vary by town. Some take only cash or money orders. Others accept checks or credit cards. Call ahead to confirm what the town accepts before you go to get death records in New London County.

How to Request a Death Certificate

Start by finding out which New London County town has the record. Death certificates are filed where the death occurred. This may be different from where the person lived. Hospitals and nursing homes report deaths to the town clerk where the facility is located. Home deaths go to the town where the home is in New London County.

Connecticut law at C.G.S. § 7-51a allows anyone 18 or older to buy a death certificate. You do not need to be family. Bring your ID to the clerk office. Fill out the request form. The form asks for the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death. You also give your name and why you need the record. Most New London County towns use the standard state form from the Department of Public Health.

To get a death certificate in New London County, provide:

• Full name of deceased
• Date of death or approximate year
• Town where death occurred
• Your relationship to deceased (if any)
• Reason you need the certificate

Walk-in service is often same-day in New London County. The clerk searches the files and prints a copy while you wait. Some towns can take a few hours if the record is old. Mail requests take longer. Send your completed form, a copy of your ID, and a money order for $20. Make the money order out to the town name. Allow two to three weeks for processing and mailing in New London County.

Note: The state office in Hartford can also issue death certificates for New London County but takes up to 12 weeks.

Online Access to Death Records

Some New London County towns offer online ordering through VitalChek. This is the only approved third-party service for Connecticut death records. VitalChek works 24 hours a day. You pay the $20 certificate fee plus a processing fee and shipping. Most orders ship within a few days. Credit cards are accepted.

The Connecticut State Library has a death index online. This index covers 1897 to 2001. It shows the name, date, and place of death for people who died in Connecticut. You can search the index for free. It tells you which New London County town has the record. The index does not give you a certificate. Use it to find where to send your request.

For research purposes, Connecticut publishes annual vital statistics reports. These reports count deaths by town and county. They do not list names. Researchers use the reports to study trends in New London County. The data goes back to 1992 and is free on the Department of Public Health website.

Privacy Rules for Death Certificates

Death certificates are public records in Connecticut. Most of the information on the certificate is available to anyone. The Social Security number is an exception. Under C.G.S. § 7-51a, only the spouse or next of kin can get the SSN for deaths after July 1, 1997. Funeral directors can also get it within 60 days of the death. All other requesters receive a copy with the SSN redacted in New London County.

Town clerks in New London County must keep records secure under C.G.S. § 7-36. They store files in locked cabinets or secure databases. Each clerk sends a copy of every death certificate to the state within 15 days. This creates a backup system. It also ensures the state registry is complete for New London County and all other areas.

Connecticut uses an electronic death registration system. The law at C.G.S. § 19a-41 allows funeral directors, medical examiners, and hospitals to file death information online. The town registrar reviews and approves each certificate. Electronic records are as valid as paper ones. Security measures prevent unauthorized changes in New London County vital records.

If you need to correct a death certificate, follow the process in C.G.S. § 19a-42. Amendments require proof of the error. For cause of death changes, the original text stays on file. A new copy is made with the corrected info. The state seals the original. This protects the accuracy of death records in New London County.

Veterans Death Certificate Benefits

Connecticut offers a free death certificate to certain family members of veterans. Under C.G.S. § 7-74, the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased veteran can get one copy at no charge. The veteran status must be noted on the death certificate. You must show proof of your relationship. A marriage certificate proves a spouse. A birth certificate proves a child or parent relationship.

Bring your photo ID and proof of relationship to the town clerk in New London County. The clerk will check that the death certificate shows the person was a veteran. If it does, they issue one free certified copy. This benefit is only good for the first copy. Additional copies cost $20 each. Funeral directors can also get one free copy at the time of death if they are acting for the family in New London County.

This benefit helps families cover costs related to veteran burials. Many agencies require a death certificate to process veteran benefits. Having a free copy makes it easier for families in New London County. Not all clerks are aware of this law. If you have trouble, refer them to the statute by number.

Old Death Records in New London County

Death records before July 1897 are not at town clerk offices. The Connecticut State Library keeps historical vital records. The Barbour Collection has pre-1850 births, marriages, and deaths from most towns. This includes many New London County towns. Contact the State Library History and Genealogy Unit to search for old records.

Church records and cemetery records can fill gaps. Many churches in New London County kept detailed burial registers. Cemetery offices have plot maps and burial logs. These are not official vital records but provide useful information. Check with local historical societies. They may have transcribed old records or know where church books are kept in New London County.

Genealogical societies can access certain restricted records. Connecticut law gives members of incorporated genealogical societies special access to records over 100 years old. You must prove your membership to the State Vital Records Office. This access is for research only. You cannot use it to get certified copies for legal purposes in New London County.

Cities and Towns in New London County

New London County has 21 towns. Each keeps death records for its jurisdiction. The three largest towns with populations over 25,000 have pages on this site:

Other towns in New London County include Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown, and Waterford. Contact the town clerk where the death occurred to request certificates.

Nearby Counties

These counties border New London County. If you are not sure which county a town is in, check with the town clerk or use an online map. Each town's records are kept at that town's office.