Birth Certificate

 

Birth certificates are on file for anyone born in Meriden or whose mother resided in Meriden at the time of the birth.  Birth records from 2002 to current can be requested through any town hall in CT.

 

Who has access to birth records?

In accordance with C.G.S. 7-51 - Examination of Birth Records and an Opinion from the Office of the Attorney General, the following details accessibility to vital records in Connecticut:

 

1. Birth Records less than 100 years old - in addition to identification, verification of relationship is required if not requesting your own or your child's birth certificate.

·         You are the registrant, and you are 18 years of age or older

·         You are the Parent and requesting your child's birth certificate

·         You are the Grandparent requesting your Grandchild's birth certificate - you must provide your OWN & the child's PARENT'S long form birth certificate

·         You are the Grandchild requesting your Grandparent’s birth certificate – you must provide your OWN & your PARENT’S long form birth certificate

·         You are the Spouse requesting your Spouse's birth certificate -you must provide your marriage license

·         You are an Attorney representing a living client - must provide signed release from client and a letter on letterhead stating individual as client

·         You are a person authorized by Court Order as Legal Guardian or Conservator of person NOT estate - legal documentation required

·         You are a member of an incorporated Genealogical Society or a Society Authorized to Conduct Business in Connecticut

·         You are a chief executive officer or their agent of the Municipality where birth occurred

·         You are the local health director of the town where the birth occurred or where the mother was a resident at the time of the birth

·         You are a State or Federal Agency approved by the department; and have an authorized release from the registrant who is 18 years of age or older

2. Birth Records more than 100 years old

·         Any Person

 

Information contained in birth certificates WILL NOT be given out via telephone or the internet under any circumstances, neither can requests be faxed to our office. Requests with original signatures only will be accepted. Birth certificate requests without proper identification and full birth information will be rejected. For your own convenience please make sure that you have met ALL requirements specified above BEFORE sending out your requests. 

 

Identification Required per Connecticut State Regulation 19a-41-2 

(a) Anyone requesting a copy of, or permission to examine the original or copy of, a birth certificate or birth record in the custody of any registrar of vital statistics or the Department of Public Health shall provide proof, as specified in subsection (b) of this section, that the person is eligible to receive or examine such certificate or record under Section 7-51 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(b) The person whose birth is recorded, if over eighteen (18) years of age, or other requester as authorized by section 7-51 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall submit a valid, government issued photographic identification that includes the person's or requester's date of birth, signature, and an expiration date. Should such photographic identification be unavailable, originals or photocopies of the following documents shall be substituted for it. Unless otherwise indicated, such person or requester shall provide the documents listed in two (2) of the following subdivisions. If a registrar or the department has reason to doubt the authenticity of a document presented by such person or requester, such registrar or the department may request any additional document listed in subdivisions (1) to (15), inclusive, of this subsection:

(1) social security card;

(2) social security card supplemented with either an employment identification card, a paycheck stub or a W-2 form. Providing the documents in this subdivision fully satisfies the identification requirements of this section;

(3) automobile registration;

(4) copy of utility bill showing name and current address;

(5) checking account deposit slip or bank statement stating name and current address;

(6) voter registration card;

(7) valid government issued trade or professional license;

(8) valid government issued firearm permit;

(9) probation documents issued by a court or other government agency, pursuant to a criminal conviction;

(10) letter from a government agency verifying identity. The letter shall be dated within six months prior to the date of the request;

(11) release documentation from a correctional institution containing a photograph of the former inmate and a release date within 12 months prior to the date of the request;

(12) birth certificate of the requester;

(13) military discharge papers;

(14) current school or college photographic identification; or

(15) government issued photographic identification that has expired within 12 months prior to the date of the request.

 

Requests for Birth Certificates can be made In-person, by Mail or Online 

 

For In-person or Mail: see instructions on Birth Certificate Request Form

 

For Online Request click on the following link: Online Vitals Request Portal 

 

Corrections or Legal Name Change

The Meriden City Clerk’s Office can only amend births that occurred in Meriden. The individual requesting the amendment must be the subject of the birth record or the parent of a minor’s birth record.

           

Corrections    

1.    Hospital error: If the error is thought to be a hospital typographical error for a newer birth, please call the hospital’s birth registry department.

2.    Other corrections: For all other types of corrections please email cityclerk@meridenct.gov. The documentation required to make the change will be determined at that time.

 

Legal Name Changes

If a change is to be made on the first, middle or last name of the birth record, the following items must be submitted

1.     An original certified Probate Legal Name Change decree (original will be returned)

2.    Government issued photo ID from the requester

3.    A notarized affidavit. (original notarized documents must be sent in)

a.    If an individual is a minor, at least one parent must complete the affidavit

b.    My child’s name change affidavit (link to City Clerk Documents and Forms Page) 

4.     The request can be submitted by mail or in person to the City Clerk’s Office

                       

Requesting a Birth Certificate for a person who was adopted

 

How Do I Request an Uncertified Copy of an Original Birth Certificate of an Adopted Person?
If a new birth certificate is created at the time a person is adopted, the original birth certificate is sealed in a confidential file.
 
Certain persons are eligible to obtain an uncertified copy of an original birth certificate of an adopted person without a court order. To be eligible you must be the person named on the original birth certificate and at least 18 years old, or such person’s adult child or grandchild.
 
Uncertified copies of original birth certificates are for informational purposes only. It is a superseded certificate that has no legal purpose. It cannot be used for legal proof of identity or as a substitute for an official certified birth certificate.

1.    If you are eligible to request a copy of an original birth certificate without a court order, complete the Application for Copy of Original Birth Certificate for Adult Adoptees (link to form)

2. Submit the completed application to the local registrar of the town where the adopted person was born along with a photocopy of a government issued photographic identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government issued photo ID. Do not submit originals. Also, send the applicable fee ($65). If you are the adopted person’s adult child or grandchild, you must also send documentation (such as a birth certificate) verifying the relationship to the registrant.
3. Any person other than the adopted person, or the adopted person's adult child or grandchild must obtain a court order allowing the release of the original birth record. After receiving the court order, follow the directions on how to order an original certificate of an adopted person mentioned above. Be sure to include the original court order along with your application.

Requests for Original Birth Certificates of Adopted Persons are processed by the local registrar of the town where the person was born. Original records of adopted persons may be stored off-site and may not be immediately available for walk-in service at the local registrar office. Contact the Town where the adopted person was born for information or complete and mail this form with payment to the Town of Birth. You should contact the CT Department of Public Health if the town where the person was born is unable to locate an original birth certificate. The $65 fee will be returned to the requester if the record is not found.

Health History of Biological Family:
Health History information related to the adopted person’s birth family may be available at the Department of Children and Families. Also, there may be a form on file at the Department of Children and Families indicating whether a birth parent would like to have contact with the adopted person, or the adopted person’s child or grandchild. To find out whether this information is available and to obtain this information go to the Department of Children and Families website or contact them at:

DCF/Adoption Search Unit
505 Hudson Street, 10th Floor
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
(860) 550-6582