Get a certified Connecticut Death Certificate

Deaths that occur on U.S. military bases overseas are not filed with the state of Connecticut. Instead, the U.S. Department of State holds the record if the deceased's parents were U.S. citizens at the time. Contact the U.S. Department of State for a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA or form DS-5542) to request the relevant documentation.

An official certified death certificate from the Connecticut Department of Health and Social Services (CTDPH) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue. Yet, it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at death. Official death certificates from Connecticut typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The CTDPH issues these certificates by state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: Age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation of the deceased.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

Connecticut death certificates are essential legal documents that are the only official proof of a person's death. They are vital for various legal, financial, and personal matters. A vital record is essential for managing ongoing life events after someone has passed away.

Death certificates are often helpful or required for:

Settling Estates

Claiming Pension and Retirement Benefits

Marriage and Divorce Finalization

Genealogy and Historical Research

Claiming Life Insurance

Managing Accounts at Financial Institutions

Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements

Tax Filings

Claiming Social Security and Government Benefits

Handling Property Mortgage and Real Estate Matters

Enrolling in school

The process for correcting or amending a death certificate in Connecticut depends on the type of correction needed. When an amendment is made, the original certificate remains unchanged; instead, a new certificate is issued with the corrected information.

Types of corrections may include fixing misspelled names, correcting dates or places of death, updating demographic details such as age or marital status, or modifying the cause of death. Changes to the cause of death require appropriate medical or legal documentation.

Complete the Connecticut Affidavit Form: To request an affidavit form or for general questions regarding amendments, you can contact CTDPH at 860-509-7956 or contact the Vital Records office in the town where the vital event occurred for further information to determine who is entitled to make the requested change and what type of documentation will need to be presented to the town to support the requested amendment or correction.

Supporting documentation requirements vary based on the type of correction.

Submit your amendment request either by mail or in person. For mail submissions, send the completed Request for Amendment form and supporting documents to:

Connecticut Department of Public Health Vital Records Office 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11VRS P.O. Box 340308 Hartford, CT 06134-0308

You can make in-person submissions at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Vital Records Office, or local town health departments. See the Town Vital Records Directory for contact information.

The amendment fee: There is no processing fee for amendments or corrections.

Processing times: simple amendments typically take 6 to 8 weeks to complete. More complex amendments involving medical or legal documentation may require additional processing time, depending on the nature of the correction and the level of review needed.

You can order an apostille directly through the Secretary of State or VRO’s Online Express Apostille Service. The Secretary of State issues Apostilles, often required when filing a Connecticut death certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

The Apostille can be added to documents that have the official signature and seal of a Connecticut notary public, probate judge, or the current Connecticut State Registrar.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Connecticut Secretary of State's Office, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of your death certificate, with the original signature and seal of the current Connecticut State Registrar;
2. A completed Authentication and Apostille Request Form (specify which country you will submit the document to); and
3. A payment of $40.00 per document – checks and money orders should be made payable to the "Connecticut Secretary of State," or you can provide your credit card information.

Submit your request to the Connecticut Secretary of State Authentication and Apostille Unit at the following addresses:

In-person/by mail (standard or express courier):

The Connecticut Secretary of State's website provides more information about requirements and restrictions for obtaining apostilles for Connecticut death certificates. You can also reach the office at (860) 509-6100.