To apply for an amendment or correction to a vital record:

• You must be a party that is entitled to make such a request;
• You must apply for the requested change in writing, and submit it to the vital records registrar in the town where the vital event occurred; AND
• You must submit documentation proving that the information to be entered onto the record is accurate.

It is advised that you call the local registrar of the town where the vital event occurred for further information about whether you are entitled to make the requested change, and to know what type of documentation you will need to provide. There is no processing fee for amendments or corrections.

See Connecticut General Statutes §§ 7-42 and 19a-42

If you are a member of a genealogical society that is authorized by the Secretary of the State, you are entitled to access all vital records except confidential files on adoption, paternity, gender re-assignment and gestational agreements. You may call for an appointment to search the vital records at a local town (See the Connecticut Town Clerk and Registrar Directory) or at the State of Connecticut Vital Records Office at (860) 509-7955 or 509-7289. The vital records registry maintained by the State only contains records from 1897 to the present. For older records, you will need to contact the local vital records office or the State Library.

See Connecticut General Statutes §7-51a.

To learn more about genealogical research visit:

• The National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/ OR
• The Northeast Regional Archives in Boston at http://www.archives.gov/northeast/

The Department of Public Health may release vital records data to individuals and organizations, in accordance with Connecticut General Statute section 19a-25 and sections 19a-25-1 through 19a-25-4 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (PDF). The individual or organization requesting the vital records data must show that the data will be used for medical or scientific research, or that the release of the data is authorized by the Freedom of Information Act. To obtain more information, please contact the Department of Public Health at 860-509-8000.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Marriage Certificate

In the State of Connecticut, marriage certificates are open to the public. Anyone over 18 years of age may request a copy of any Connecticut marriage certificate. You must be able to provide basic information such as the names of the bride and groom and the date of marriage, so that the proper marriage record can be identified.

If you are requesting a marriage certificate, the social security numbers of the bride and groom will NOT be included on the certificate that you receive, unless you are the bride, groom. (***See below)

Certified copies of marriage licenses may be obtained in the town where the marriage ceremony occurred OR in the Connecticut town of residence of the bride or groom at the time the marriage took place. You may request a marriage certificate either by mail or in person

Obtaining Certified Copies of a Marriage Certificate by mail:

To request a certified copy of a marriage license by mail send a letter to the Town Clerk’s Office with the following information OR print and complete the application below. Mail the application with the photocopy of your I.D., a check or money order payable to the Town of Windsor and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

• Name of bride and groom
• Date of Marriage
• Include photocopy of your driver’s license or state I.D. card with photo.
• State your relationship to the bride or groom (for marriages occurring on or after July 1, 1997, the access and issuance of a fully disclosable certified copy is restricted & proof of eligibility is required. See Below.)
• Remit a check or money order payable to the Town of Windsor for $10.00 per certified copy.
• Provide a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

*** In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 7-51A for all marriages occurring after July 1, 1997 access to social security numbers is allowed to all parties specified on the license and only those shall be issued a certified copy of a marriage license containing the social security numbers of the bride and groom. All other requesters will receive a certified copy with the security numbers redacted. Connecticut General Statutes §7-51a

Click here to download an Application to Request a Marriage Certificate.

Certified copies can also be obtained in person during normal office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A civil union is a legal union between two people of the same sex which grants the parties all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under state law, whether derived from the general statutes, administrative regulations or court rules, policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage. The laws allowing civil unions became effective October 1, 2005.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Civil Union Certificate

Connecticut civil union certificates are open to the public. Anyone over 18 years of age may request a copy of any Connecticut Civil Union Certificate. You must provide basic information such as the names of the parties to the civil union, the date of the civil union, and the town in which the civil union took place, so that the proper civil union certificate can be identified.

If you are requesting a civil union certificate, the social security numbers of the civil union partners will not be included on the certificate that you receive, unless you are one of the parties to the civil union. See Public Act 05-10 and Connecticut General Statutes §7-51a

Obtaining Certified Copies of a Civil Union Certificate by Mail:

To request a certified copy of a civil union certificate by mail send a letter to the Town Clerk’s Office with the following information OR print and complete the application below. Mail the application with a photocopy of your I.D., a check or money order payable to the Town or Windsor, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

• Name of both partners in civil union
• Date of Civil Union
• Include a photocopy of your driver’s license or state issued I.D. card with photo.
• State your relationship to either party in the civil union.
• Remit a check or money order payable to the Town of Windsor for $10.00 per certified copy.
• Provide a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

Click here to download an Application to Request a Civil Union Certificate.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate

Connecticut birth records that are less than 100 years old are NOT open to the public. To be eligible to receive a copy of a birth certificate, you must be able to document that you are related to the person whose birth is recorded in one of the following ways:

Birth records less than 100 years old

• You are the person whose birth is recorded, and you are 18 years of age or older;
• You are such person’s child, grandchild, spouse, parent, guardian, or grandparent (You must be able to provide documentation proving relationship);
• You are an attorney-at-law representing such person or such person’s parent, guardian, child, or surviving spouse;
• You are a member of genealogical society authorized by the Secretary of the State to do business in the State of Connecticut; or
• Other person or entity as allowed by Connecticut General Statutes §7-51. (See link below)

Birth records more than 100 years old:

• Available to any person over 18 years of age

See Connecticut General Statutes §§7-51 and 7-51a

How Do I Request A Birth Certificate?

If you are an eligible party to the birth certificate, you may request it either by mail or in person. To request a birth certificate by mail, please complete the application for the birth certificate (see link below) and mail it to the Town Clerk’s Office at 275 Broad Street, Windsor CT 06095.

You must submit a copy of a photo identification (Do Not Submit Originals). The identification must be a valid, government issued document. Acceptable forms of identification are:

• Driver’s license
• State issued identification card
• Government issued employment identification
• Passport

If you do not have an acceptable form of photo identification, you may submit photocopies of two (2) of the following documents:

• social security card;
• written verification of identity from employer;
• automobile registration;
• copy of utility bill showing name and address;
• checking account deposit slip stating name and address;
• Voter registration card.

Certified copies can also be obtained in person during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please bring photo identification with you.

Click here to download an application to Request a Birth Certificate.

How Do I File For A Divorce?

You may file for a divorce in the judicial district where you live or where your spouse lives. If your spouse resides out of the state, file the case in the judicial district serving your town. In the Town of Windsor, residents should file for divorce in the Hartford Judicial District (Family Division) located at 90 Washington Street in Hartford. They may be reached at 860-706-5100.

How Do I Request A Divorce Decree or Dissolution of Civil Union Decree?

To obtain a copy of your Divorce Decree or Dissolution of Civil Union Decree, you must request it from the Superior Court where the divorce or dissolution was granted. See Directory of Connecticut Superior Courts. Please call the appropriate court for fees and requirements.

Requesting Vital Record with an Apostille

If you are using a vital record for an international purpose, such as to apply for dual citizenship or to marry in a foreign jurisdiction, you may need to have the vital record certified with an Apostille. An Apostille is a special form of certificate authentication prepared under the terms of an international treaty known as "The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents." In Connecticut, the Office of the Secretary of State is designated to issue certifications by Apostille.

To request a vital record with the Apostille please contact the Office of the Secretary of State, complete the Apostille Request Form along with the appropriate vital record request form (click here for a listing of the forms) and send to:

State of Connecticut
Vital Records Section, MS #11VRS
Attn: Customer Services
PO Box 340308
Hartford, Connecticut 06134

The fees for a certified copy of a vital record with the Apostille are as follows:

1. Send a check or money order made payable to “Treasurer, State of Connecticut” for the cost of the certified copy of the vital record.
   • Birth -- $15.00
   • Death, Marriage, or Statement of Marital Status -- $10.00

AND

2. Send a second check or money order for the amount of $20.00 made payable to “Secretary of State of Connecticut” for the cost of the Apostille.

**NOTE: Before submitting request, please confirm with the State that the above fees are still correct.

The Department of Public Health – Vitals Division will process your request for the certified copy of the vital record and then forward the record to the Office of the Secretary of State, along with your completed Apostille Request Form, and your $20.00 payment. The Office of the Secretary of State will then authenticate the record with the Apostille, and send it to you at the address listed on the Apostille Request Form.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

In Connecticut death certificates are open to the public. Anyone over 18 years of age may request a copy of any Connecticut death certificate. You must provide basic information such as the name of the person, the approximate date of death, and the town where the death occurred, so that the proper death record can be identified.

If you are requesting a death certificate for a death that occurred after July 1, 1997, the social security number of the decedent will not be included on the certificate that you receive unless you are a surviving spouse, the executor of the decedent’s estate, a party specified on the death certificate such as the informant, funeral director/embalmer, or certifying physician, or other persons as authorized by Department of Public Health

See Connecticut General Statutes §7-51a

You may request a death certificate either by mail or in person. To request the death certificate by mail, please complete the application for the death certificate below. Mail the application, a photocopy of your I.D., a check or money order payable to the Town of Windsor and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Certified copies can also be obtained in person during normal office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please bring a picture I.D. with you.

Click here to download an Application to Request a Death Certificate.