How to Find Connecticut Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Connecticut Deaths

Death records in Connecticut were kept by the towns from the beginning of each town starting in the early 1600s. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1897 in Connecticut and was generally complied with by 1915. The towns continue to record deaths.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:


 * Deaths before 1897
 * Deaths from 1897 to the present
 * I don't know when the death is


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Deaths before 1897
The state of Connecticut started keeping death records in 1897. Before that time, town clerks kept death records. The clerks recorded the deaths in town records and/or in land records.

Step 1 - Check indexes
Most online resources for Connecticut Vital Records are indexes. After locating a person in an index always consult the original record to confirm the information in the index.  


 * Barbour Collection by Jane Devlin, hosted by Rootsweb - Free (see also the Wiki article Barbour Collection)
 * Connecticut Collections on FamilySearch.org - Free. This is a growing database.
 * Online Connecticut Death Indexes and Records - Free
 * Connecticut Databases listed on Rootsweb.com- Free

Two film indexes are:


 * Bowman Collection. This is a card index to Connecticut vital records in Massachusetts, 1800 to 1900..
 * Index to the Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin, Vols 1-8.This is an index at the Connecticut State Library and is on microfilm at the Family History Library. . It indexes the names found in the Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin..

Step 2 - Check original records
In Connecticut, the following types of records often have death information:


 * Land records
 * Town records

Most of the land and town records have been filmed and are available through the FamilySearch site at Family History Centers, the Connecticut State Library, and the Family History Library.

To find the film numbers:


 * 1) Go to the Family History Lbirary Catalog
 * 2) Do a Place Search for the name of the town.
 * 3) On the list of record types for the town, click Land and Property, Vital Records, or Town Records for a list of the available records.
 * 4) Click titles with the town clerk as the author . Sometimes the records were made by the registrar of vital statistics. The original records were usually made by town clerks.

Step 3 - Check other types of records
You can also search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Return to top: Choose another death year

State Records
State registration of vital statistics began in 1897 and was generally complied with by 1915. For copies of state records, you can contact:

Department of Public Health Vital Records Section 410 Capitol Avenue, 1st Floor Hartford, CT 06134

Telephone: 860-509-7700 Mailing Address: CT Department of Public Health State Office of Vital Records 410 Capitol Ave. MS#11VRS P.O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308

Their Web site gives complete information for ordering births, marriages, and deaths. There is also a link to the town Web sites for information in ordering town vital records.

To find current fees, any restrictions, and where to write:


 * CDC.gov, Where to Write for Vital Records, Connecticut has information for births, deaths, marriages, and adoptions.


 * VitalRec.com ($). Select a state to see the fees for birth, marriages, and deaths. There is also a link for divorces and adoptions.

Town Death Records
Towns have kept death records from the beginning of each town and continue to keep these records. The towns send copies of the records to the state Department of Public Health (see above). People can also access the records at the town halls.

See the Town Vital Records Directory for the address, phone number, and link for each town clerk.

Related Wiki Articles

 * How to Find United States Birth Records
 * Learn more about U.S. Death Records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Birth Records
 * United States Marriage Records