Death certificates in Connecticut
In Connecticut, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $20 from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office. Each copy costs the same. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Connecticut
| Office | Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $20 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $20 Town offices also charge $20 per copy. Mail orders must be paid by money order. Online orders through VitalChek add processing and shipping fees. |
| Who can order | Anyone 18 or older can buy a certified copy. Only the spouse, next of kin, or a funeral director acting for the family can get a copy that shows the Social Security number. |
| ID you need | Proof of identity and proof of relationship are required only for a copy that shows the Social Security number. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At the town vital records office where the death occurred or where the person lived, or at the State Vital Records Office. Deaths from the last 4 months should be requested from the town. |
| How long it takes | Up to 12 weeks at the state office. Town offices are generally faster. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
A funeral director acting for an eligible family member can get copies that show the Social Security number. Funeral directors can also get one free copy for a veteran's family.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Connecticut?
- $20 for the first certified copy from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office, and $20 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Town offices also charge $20 per copy. Mail orders must be paid by money order. Online orders through VitalChek add processing and shipping fees.
- Who can order a death certificate in Connecticut?
- Anyone 18 or older can buy a certified copy. Only the spouse, next of kin, or a funeral director acting for the family can get a copy that shows the Social Security number.
- How do I order a death certificate in Connecticut?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. Proof of identity and proof of relationship are required only for a copy that shows the Social Security number.
Sources
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office: portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/death-certificates
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office: portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/how-to-obtain-a-record
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, State Vital Records Office: portal.ct.gov/-/media/departments-and-agencies/dph/hisr/vr/death-certificate-request-form_state-1_2023.pdf
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)