Lisa Wilson
Director of Vital Statistics
165 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Tel: 203-946-7931
Office Hours 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday
THE BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, CITY OF NEW HAVEN, ISSUES BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE & CIVIL UNION CERTIFICATES AND THE ELM CITY RESIDENT CARD.
This office issues certificates for birth, death, marriages & civil unions that have occurred in the city of New Haven. It also issues the Elm City Resident Card to all New Haven residents. To receive any certificate from the office of Vital Statistics, an individual must have proper identification. Acceptable forms of identification (ID) include:
- Current State ID issued by the State of Connecticut DMV;
- Current motor vehicle ID issued by the State of Connecticut DMV (with the correct address);
- Current motor vehicle ID issued by the state where you currently reside;
- A valid passport.
If you do not have any of this information, you will need any two of the following documents:
- Two utility bills (gas, phone, cable) with your current address;
- One utility bill along with a pay stub, social security card or medical card.
All fees for documents are payable by cash in the office or money order in the mail. Money orders should be made payable to Vital Statistics.
For more information on what documents are needed to obtain the Elm City Resident Card, see below.
Applications for the Elm City Resident Card
Download the Application Form here
Documents Required To Obtain an Elm City Resident Card
Two requirements: 1) proof of identity; 2) proof of residency
ACCEPTABLE FORMS FOR PROOF OF IDENTITY:
ONE of the following (CATEGORY “A” ID’s):
- Passport;
- U.S. Driver’s License;
- Birth Certificate; (for kids 16 and under only)
- Consular ID Card;
OR TWO of the following:
- National identification card (must have photo, name, address, date of birth and expiration date;
- Foreign Driver’s license (current - NOT expired);
- Voter registration card (must be presented with original birth certificate
- U.S. or Foreign military identification card (must be presented with original birth certificate)
- Visa (current)
- ITIN card (must be accompanied by an ID with a photograph)
At least one identification card must have a photo under either category A or B.
ACCEPTABLE PROOF OF RESIDENCY DOCUMENTS
Two of the following must be presented
- Utility bill with name and address;
- Insurance bill, bank statement, check book;
- Employment pay stub;
- Local property tax statement;
- Proof of a minor enrolled in public or private school;
- Voter registration card
- Original documents from a health or social services organization attesting to the fact that the applicant is a New Haven resident
YOUR TWO PROOFS OF RESIDENCY MUST COME FROM TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.
RESIDENCY DOCUMENTS MUST SHOW THE NAME AND CURRENT ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT.
RESIDENCY DOCUMENTS IN THE NAME OF ONLY ONE SPOUSE WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR MARRIED COUPLES ONLY IF AN ORIGINAL MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED.
Documents Required To Obtain Marriage, Birth Or Death Certificates & Legal Name Changes
Marriage Licenses:
Download Application Form for Marriage License
Download Application Form for Marriage License (Spanish)
The fee for marriage licenses is $30.00 cash or money order. Both parties must be present in order to apply for the license. You must have either a valid passport, current motor vehicle ID issued by DMV or State ID issued by DMV, and your social security card. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply.
Applications are available Monday-Friday 9am-3.30pm. If you are having your ceremony in City Hall, the hours are 9:00am-3:30pm. We will provide you with a Justice of the Peace. The fee for the Justice of the Peace is $50.00. This also must be paid in cash.
Birth Certificates:
Download Application Form for copy of Birth Certificate here
Download Application Form for copy of Birth Certificate here (Spanish)
We only issue birth certificates for individuals who were born in the City of New Haven. The fee for a full size birth certificate as of October 1, 2009 is $20.00 per copy, cash or money order. The full size copy lists all of your information (parents names, weight etc.) A wallet size is also available that lists your name & date of birth for $15.
Birth certificates are confidential according to State Statute. The only person who may obtain a birth certificate is the individual making the request. They must be over the age of 16, and provide proper ID (see above).
Parents may also obtain their child’s birth certificate with proper ID. If your child was born in New Haven we will look up the certificate that will identify you as either the mother or the father.
If you are a biological grandparent, you may purchase your grandchild’s birth certificate, with proper ID, along with proof of relation (such as your child’s birth certificate). If your child was not born in New Haven you must provide an original birth certificate (containing the raised seal) for your child, in order to purchase your grandchild’s certificate.
If you are obtaining a certificate for your spouse, you must provide your marriage license. If you were married in New Haven, we will be able to verify this in our records.
Marriage & Death Certificates:
Download Application Form for copy of Marriage License Here
Download Application Form for copy of Marriage License Here (Spanish)
Download Application Form for copy of Death Certificate here
Download Application Form for copy of Death Certificate here (Spanish)
The fee is $20.00 per copy, cash or money order. These certificates are open to the public. When applying for copies of these certificates, you must show proper ID (see above).
Applying for a Certificate by Mail:
If you are applying for a certificate by mail, you must send a letter stating what type of certificate you are requesting as well as the required identification or download & print the proper application for what you are requesting. A daytime telephone number is also required, along with a return address. Include a money order for the amount of your request made out to Vital Statistics. We do not accept personal checks or cash for mail requests.
Our mail usually takes 4-6 weeks to process. If you need your document sooner, you may use the postal overnight service, which we receive & process the same day. If you want your correspondence returned overnight, you must provide a pre-paid envelope filled out with the correct return address.
Required Identification for Certificates by Mail: (copies of either:)
- Current State ID issued by the State of Connecticut DMV;
- Current motor vehicle ID issued by the State of Connecticut DMV (with the correct address);
- Current motor vehicle ID issued by the state where you currently reside;
- A valid passport. (copy of page with photo and expiration date listed)
If you do not have any of this information, you will need any two of the following documents:
- Two utility bills (gas, phone, cable) with your current address;
- One utility bill along with a pay stub, social security card or medical card.
Birth Certificate:
- We will need your full name at birth, your parent’s names (mother’s maiden name) and your date of birth.
Marriage Certificate:
- Names of the bride and groom;
- Bride’s maiden name;
- Date of Marriage
Death Certificate:
