Search Litchfield County Birth Records

Finding birth records in Litchfield County works differently than in most states because Connecticut does not keep vital records at the county level. Instead, each of the 26 towns in Litchfield County maintains its own birth records, and every town clerk serves as the local registrar for their jurisdiction. Residents seeking Litchfield County birth records must contact the specific town where the birth occurred to obtain certified copies of birth records for legal purposes such as passport applications, school enrollment, or genealogy research.

Litchfield County Birth Records System

Connecticut uses a unique town-based vital records system for maintaining Litchfield County birth records that differs from most other states, which means Litchfield County itself does not issue birth certificates and the Litchfield County government does not operate a vital records office. Each town clerk in Litchfield County acts as the registrar for births in their town and maintains complete authority over those Litchfield County birth records. This system places the responsibility for birth records at the most local level.

The State Vital Records Office in Hartford maintains copies of all birth records in Connecticut, and this office can issue certified copies of birth records for any birth in the state. However, town offices in Litchfield County often process requests for birth records faster because they have fewer requests to handle, and many residents prefer to get Litchfield County birth records directly from the town where the birth took place because of this quicker service. Town clerks in Litchfield County know their birth records well and can locate birth records efficiently.

Torrington serves as the largest city in Litchfield County and acts as a regional hub for vital records. New Milford is another significant town in Litchfield County with a substantial population and active town clerk office for birth records. Both towns have town clerks who issue birth certificates for births occurring within their boundaries in Litchfield County. Other towns in Litchfield County include Litchfield, Washington, Warren, Kent, and Canaan.

Each town clerk in Litchfield County maintains birth records for births occurring within their jurisdiction, and these Litchfield County birth records go back many decades. Some towns in Litchfield County have birth records dating to the 1800s that remain in their vaults. Older Litchfield County birth records may be housed at the Connecticut State Library for preservation and research purposes.

Connecticut State Vital Records Office

The State Vital Records Office can help with Litchfield County birth records. This office maintains copies of all birth records from July 1, 1897 to the present day. You may request a certified copy of birth records from the state if you do not know which town in Litchfield County to contact or if you prefer to deal with one central office rather than multiple town clerks.

Visit the State Vital Records Office website to learn more about the process of obtaining birth records. The site explains who can order birth records and lists the required forms for submission of requests for birth records. The address is portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records.

The state office is located in Hartford. You may visit in person during walk-in hours, or you can mail your request for birth records to their office. Processing takes up to 12 weeks at the state level. Town offices in Litchfield County usually provide faster service for those who need Litchfield County birth records quickly.

VitalChek serves as the only approved third-party vendor for online orders of birth records, and the state authorizes this service for faster processing of requests for birth records from residents. Visit vitalchek.com to order birth records online. Additional fees apply for this expedited service for birth records.

Note: The State Vital Records Office accepts only money orders for mail requests for birth records and does not accept personal checks.

Who Can Order Litchfield County Birth Certificates

Birth records in Connecticut remain confidential and are not open to the general public, and state law strictly limits who can obtain a certified copy of a Litchfield County birth record. This rule applies to all Litchfield County birth records less than 100 years old.

The person named on the birth record may request their own birth certificate if they are 18 years or older. Parents can obtain copies of birth certificates for their children without restrictions, and legal guardians have this right as well and can request Litchfield County birth records on behalf of their wards. The law recognizes the immediate family connection to birth records in Litchfield County.

Other eligible individuals include spouses, grandparents, and adult children of the person named on the birth record in Litchfield County, and adult grandchildren can also make requests for birth records under Connecticut law. Attorneys representing eligible parties may order copies of birth certificates with proper documentation. Members of Connecticut genealogical societies have access rights to birth records for research purposes.

Records over 100 years old become public birth records that anyone can access. Any person can request these older Litchfield County birth records without proving a relationship. The Connecticut State Library maintains many old birth records and can assist with genealogy research for historical births in Litchfield County.

You must prove your identity when requesting a birth record in Litchfield County. A valid photo ID is required for all requests submitted to town or state offices for birth records. This can be a driver's license or passport. Some towns in Litchfield County accept alternative forms of ID if you lack a photo ID.

Major Towns for Litchfield County Birth Records

Torrington stands as the largest municipality in Litchfield County with the most active vital records office, and the Torrington City Clerk issues birth certificates for births occurring in Torrington. Contact their office directly for requests for birth records in Litchfield County. They can provide same-day service for birth records in many cases when you visit in person.

New Milford serves as another key town in Litchfield County with a busy town clerk office, and the New Milford Town Clerk maintains birth records for that town. Residents born in New Milford should contact this office for certified copies of birth certificates. They offer both in-person and mail services for birth records for convenience.

Winchester, Watertown, and Plymouth also rank as large towns in Litchfield County. Each has its own town clerk who serves as registrar, and each keeps birth records for their specific area and can issue certified copies of birth certificates. You must know the town of birth to get the fastest service possible for birth records in Litchfield County.

Smaller towns like Litchfield, Washington, and Kent also issue birth records to eligible requesters, and you should not assume the county seat maintains all birth records for the entire county. Litchfield town has its own clerk who only handles birth records for Litchfield County. Each town operates independently under state law.

How to Request Litchfield County Birth Certificates

Three methods exist for obtaining birth records in Connecticut. You can visit the town clerk in person. You can mail a request for birth records to the office. Or you can use an online service like VitalChek for faster processing of birth certificate requests.

In-person visits provide the fastest results for those who need birth records quickly. Bring your photo ID with you when you visit the office, fill out the application form provided by the clerk, and pay the required fee at the time of your request for birth records. Most town clerks in Litchfield County can print your birth certificate while you wait.

Mail requests for birth records take longer to process but work well for those who cannot visit in person. Send a completed application form with all required information, include a copy of your photo ID for verification purposes, and include payment with your request for birth records in the form of a money order or certified check.

Online ordering of birth records is available through VitalChek for most Connecticut towns, and this option works for most towns in Litchfield County including Torrington and New Milford. The service adds extra fees to the base cost for birth records. But it remains fast and convenient.

For births before January 1, 2003, you must request birth records from the town of birth or the town where the mother lived at the time. For births on or after January 1, 2003, any Connecticut town can issue the birth certificate.

Litchfield County Birth Record Fees

Town-issued birth certificates cost less than state-issued copies from Hartford. Most towns in Litchfield County charge $20 per certified copy of birth records. This represents the standard rate for birth records across Connecticut.

The State Vital Records Office charges $30 per copy for state-issued birth certificates. This applies to all requests for birth records processed at the state level in Hartford. Use the state office only if you cannot reach the town clerk for birth records.

Payment methods vary by town office in Litchfield County. Most accept cash and money orders for birth records. Some accept credit cards with an additional convenience fee for birth records. Call ahead to confirm payment options before visiting.

VitalChek adds service fees to the base cost for processing and shipping birth records. Express shipping costs more than standard delivery for birth records. Standard mail costs less but takes longer to arrive at your address.

Information Needed for Litchfield County Birth Records

Gather key facts before requesting a birth certificate from any town clerk in Litchfield County. The clerk will need the full name on the birth record exactly as it appears, and you must provide the date of birth including month, day, and year. The town where the birth occurred is essential for locating the birth record in the system.

You also need both parents' full names for the birth certificate application. Include the mother's maiden name before marriage. This information helps locate the correct birth record among similar names, and you should bring your current phone number as well for follow-up questions about your birth records request.

Proof of your relationship is required if you are not the person named on the birth certificate. Parents should bring their own ID showing their name matches the parent on record, and spouses may need a marriage certificate to prove the relationship when requesting birth records.

Valid ID is mandatory for all requests submitted to town or state offices for birth records. A driver's license works best for most people. Passports are also accepted as valid photo identification. Some towns in Litchfield County accept two forms of non-photo ID if you lack a photo ID.

Laws Governing Litchfield County Birth Records

Connecticut General Statutes control all birth records in the state. Section 7-51 defines who can access birth records and sets the fees for birth certificates. All towns in Litchfield County follow this law for consistency.

Section 7-36 outlines the duties of town registrars in Connecticut, and each town clerk in Litchfield County must keep birth records secure in a fireproof vault. They must issue certified copies of birth certificates to eligible parties who request them. They send copies of birth records to the state each month for the central registry.

Birth records remain confidential for 100 years after the birth date. After that period, birth records become public records open to anyone, and this rule applies to all birth records in Litchfield County. Genealogists can access older birth records without restrictions.

You can read the full statutes online at the state website. Visit law.justia.com for Section 7-51. The Connecticut General Assembly website also contains the full text about birth records.

Note: Telephone verification of birth information is prohibited by Connecticut state law.

Genealogy Research in Litchfield County

Family historians often need to search Litchfield County birth records for their research, and older birth records are available at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. They have microfilm of many town records from Litchfield County.

The Barbour Collection covers pre-1850 births in Connecticut. This collection includes many Litchfield County towns, and the birth records are indexed by name for easy searching. It serves as a good starting point for research.

Members of genealogical societies can request recent birth records under state law. They must be members of a Connecticut society incorporated in the state. This right comes from CGS Section 7-51a.

FamilySearch.org has some Connecticut vital records available online, and you can search from home on your computer without visiting an office to access birth records. Create a free account to access these birth records. Many Litchfield County births are indexed there.

Cities and Towns in Litchfield County

Litchfield County has 26 towns. Each maintains its own birth records. Here are some of the larger ones:

Other towns include Litchfield, Washington, Warren, Kent, Canaan, Winchester, Plymouth, Thomaston, and Morris. Each town clerk can issue birth certificates and maintain birth records for births in their town.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Litchfield County. If you cannot find a birth record in Litchfield County, check these areas for birth records: