Access Stamford Birth Certificates
Stamford birth records are kept by the Town and City Clerk. This office serves as the main place for vital records in the city. Stamford sits in Fairfield County along the Long Island Sound. The city has over 135,000 people. All births that happen in Stamford get recorded here. The Clerk keeps files from 1920 to now. You can get copies of birth certificates in person. You can also order them online. The records are public in most cases. Some limits apply to newer records.
Stamford Birth Records Location
The Stamford Town and City Clerk is at the Stamford Government Center. The full address is 888 Washington Boulevard, 5th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901. This is where all birth records are stored. The office is on the fifth floor. You can take the elevator up from the main lobby. The building sits near the downtown area. It is easy to find from I-95.
Hours are Monday through Friday. The office opens at 8:30 in the morning. It closes at 4:30 in the afternoon. The office is closed on weekends. It is also closed on state holidays. You should arrive early. Lines can form near closing time. Call ahead if you have questions. The phone number is (203) 977-4054.
| Office | Stamford Town and City Clerk, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 888 Washington Boulevard, 5th Floor Stamford, CT 06901 |
| Phone | (203) 977-4054 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Records | 1920 to present |
| Fee | $20 per certified copy |
Parking is close to the building. There is a garage nearby. Street parking is also an option. Bring quarters for the meters. The Metro-North train station is a short walk. You can reach the office by bus too. Several CT Transit routes stop near the Government Center.
Request Stamford Birth Certificates
You have three ways to get birth records in Stamford. You can go in person. You can order by mail. Or you can use the online system. Each way has its own steps. All ways need the same facts about the birth.
In-person visits work best for same-day service. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license works. A passport works too. Tell the clerk the name on the birth record. Give the date of birth. The clerk will look up the file. You pay the fee. You get the copy right away.
Mail requests take longer. Send a letter to the address above. Include the full name at birth. Include the date of birth. Include the parents' names. Add a copy of your ID. Add a check for $20. Make it out to City of Stamford. Allow two to three weeks for mail.
Online orders go through VitalChek. This is the only site the city approves. Visit vitalchek.com to start. You will pay the $20 fee. You will also pay a service fee. The service fee is extra. Cards are accepted online. Records come by mail in a few days.
The official Stamford Clerk page has more details. Visit stamfordct.gov for forms. You can also find the latest fee list there.
Who Can Get Stamford Birth Records
Not everyone can get any birth record. The rules depend on how old the record is. They also depend on who you are. Connecticut law sets these rules. The law aims to keep personal data safe.
Birth records less than 100 years old are not fully public. Only certain people can get them. The person named on the record can ask. Their parents can ask. Their spouse can ask. Their children can ask. Their legal rep can ask. Each must show proof of who they are. They must show proof of how they relate.
Birth records over 100 years old are public. Anyone can get them. No proof of relation is needed. Stamford keeps records from 1920 on. So records from 1920 to 1925 are public now. Records from 1926 on have limits. More records become public each year.
You must show ID for all requests. The ID must be current. It must have a photo. State or federal IDs work best. Bring a second form of ID if you have one. This helps if there are questions about the name match.
What You Need for Stamford Birth Records
To get a birth record in Stamford, gather key facts first. The more you know, the faster the search. The clerk needs certain details to find the right file.
- Full name as it appears on the birth record
- Date of birth with month, day, and year
- City of birth
- Father's full name
- Mother's full maiden name
Spelling matters a lot. Names on old records may differ from what you think. Some records use short names. Others use full names. If the first search fails, try other spellings. The clerk can help with this. Bring any papers that show the right name.
You do not need the birth record number. It helps if you have it. Most people do not have it. The clerk can find the record without it. Extra facts just speed up the search.
Note: Certified copies have a raised seal. This seal makes them valid for legal use. Plain copies do not have a seal. They cost less but serve few legal needs. Most people need certified copies.
Order Stamford Birth Records Online
VitalChek handles online orders for Stamford. This is the only way to order online. The city does not take orders by email. VitalChek is a secure site. It works with many towns and states.
Go to vitalchek.com to start. Pick Connecticut as the state. Pick Stamford as the city. Pick birth certificate as the record type. Fill out the form with care. Check all names for spelling. Check all dates for accuracy.
You will pay $20 for the record. You will pay more for the service fee. The fee depends on how fast you need it. Rush orders cost more. Regular mail costs less. You can pay by credit card. You can also pay by debit card.
Processing takes time. Most orders ship in five to seven days. Rush orders ship faster. The records come by mail. They go to the address you give. Make sure your address is correct. Wrong addresses cause delays.
State Records for Stamford Births
The state also keeps birth records. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has copies. This helps if the city record has gaps. State records go back to 1897. They cover all towns in the state.
The state office is in Hartford. You can order by mail from there. You can also order online. The state uses VitalChek too. The fees are about the same. State records may take longer. They handle requests from all towns.
For births before 1920, try the state. Stamford records start in 1920. Earlier births may be at the state. They may also be at the Connecticut State Archives. Older records often move to the archives.
Uses for Stamford Birth Certificates
People need birth records for many tasks. Most need them for ID papers. Some need them for school. Others need them for work. Here are common uses.
A birth record proves who you are. It shows when and where you were born. This is key for a passport. The post office needs it. The passport office needs it too. You must have a certified copy. Plain copies do not work.
Schools often want birth records. They check age for class placement. They check ID for records. Bring a certified copy when you sign up. Keep a copy at home too.
Some jobs need birth records. State jobs may need them. Federal jobs often need them. The HR office will tell you what to bring. Ask if they need a certified copy.
Genealogy is another use. People trace family trees. They look for parents and grandparents. Birth records show family links. They show maiden names. They show places of birth. This data helps build a full family story.
Fairfield County Birth Records
Stamford is in Fairfield County. The county has many towns. Each town keeps its own birth records. There is no county clerk for vital records in Connecticut. Each town is on its own.
If you need records from other towns in Fairfield County, contact each town clerk. Norwalk keeps Norwalk records. Bridgeport keeps Bridgeport records. Each town has its own office. Each has its own fees and hours.