How to Find Connecticut Birth Records

How to Find United States Births Connecticut Births

In Connecticut, towns were created starting in the early 1630s. Births were and are recorded by town clerks, starting with the beginning of the town. Statewide registration of births began in 1897 in Connecticut and was generally complied with by 1915. The towns have copies of these records.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Birth Records
 * Choose a time period:


 * Births before 1897
 * 1897 to the Present
 * Birth year unknown


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Births before 1897
Town clerks kept records of the births in the town from the time the town started. Connecticut towns are like western townships, so several populated places are in a town. The name of the town is used in official records rather than the name of the populated place. Early town clerks put birth records in town records and in land records. After about 1850, the birth information was only put in town records. Town clerks were usually good at recording birth information.

If you do not find the birth information in the town where your ancestor was born, you may need to look at substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1853 thru 1912

 * 1853 - Virginia law required counties to record births
 * West Virginia was created from the state of Virginia in 1863
 * From 1853-1879, 15% of the births were recorded
 * From 1880-1920, 65% of the births were recorded
 * 1917 - West Virginia Statewide birth registration began

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.

For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the West Virginia Department of Health office.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1931 thru 1969
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the West Virginia Vital Registration office.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth: For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information.  Return to top: Choose another birth year

Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records
Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years from the government agency, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, you can search other records with birth information. Return to top: Choose another birth year

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