Birth Certificate Information

Overview

Birth certificates are on file for anyone born in Manchester OR whose mother resided in Manchester at the time of the birth from 1823 until present. Birth records from 2003 to current can be requested through any town hall in CT.

If you are looking for the records of someone who was born out of town, but within the State of CT, you may call the State Customer Service Office at (860) 509-7700.

If you are looking for information on how to obtain Vital Records from other states, please refer to the link for the National Center for Health Statistics.

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

1. The person who is requesting the birth certificate must send a photocopy of their valid driver's license, valid state issued photo ID or valid passport.
2. If photo ID is expired less than a month, please submit with one other form from the other accepted forms of identification. If the photo ID is expired over a month, please submit two other forms from the other acted forms of identification.
3. If you do not have a valid driver's license or passport, submit two of the following options for identification purposes:  
   • Social security card
   • Current automobile registration
   • Recent copy of utility bill showing name and current address
   • Checking account deposit slip stating name and current address
   • Current pay stub with name and current address
   • Voter Registration Card

Birth certificate request

Newborn birth certificates are available to purchase 10 business days after the birth has occurred.

If legally adopted, provide your adoptive name and adoptive parent's information.

If you had your name legally changed but did not change it on your birth certificate, provide a copy of the court documents authorizing such name change. A notarized letter requesting the change to be made must also be submitted.

Frequently asked questions regarding birth information/certificates.(PDF, 561KB)

Long Form vs Wallet certificate:

1. Wallet size certificate: This gives only the name, sex, date of birth, and date of filing. It DOES NOT satisfy the proof of identification requirements needed for passport or a driver's license, and most schools are now requiring the full form to register a child.
2. Long Form certificate: Required to get a passport, driver’s license and to register a child for most schools. 

Corrections or Legal Name Change

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

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 dept at 860-646-1222 ext. 2204.
2. Other corrections: For all other types of corrections please e-mail twright@manchesterct.gov, or apeek@manchesterct.gov. The documentation required to make the change will be determined at that time.

3. Legal Name Change for my child

   Legal Name Change: 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. Copy of a government issued photo ID from the requestor
   3. A notarized affidavit. (original notarized documents must be sent in)

   • If individual is a minor, at least one parent must complete the affidavit
   • MY CHILD’S NAME CHANGE AFFIDAVIT(PDF, 175KB)

   4. The request can be submitted by mail or in person to the Town Clerks Office.

   • If the amended birth record is desired, please leave your number and the office will get back to you when the amendment has been completed.
   • If requested through the mail, please see the requirements for birth certificate request section.

    

   Legal Name Change for myself

   Legal Name Change: 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. Copy of a government issued photo ID from the requestor
   3. A notarized affidavit. (original notarized documents must be sent in)

   • If individual is an adult, only that person can complete the affidavit
   • MY NAME CHANGE AFFIDAVIT(PDF, 171KB)

   4. The request can be submitted by mail or in person to the Town Clerks Office.

   • If the amended birth record is desired, please leave your number and the office will get back to you when the amendment has been completed.
   • If requested through the mail, please see the requirements for birth certificate request by mail.

    

     

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(PDF, 444KB)
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 adopted person was born for information or complete and mail this form with payment to Town of Birth. You should contact the CT Department of Public Health if the town where person was born is unable to locate an original birth certificate. The $65 fee will be returned to the requester if 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

Puerto Rico's New Birth Certificate Law

The government of Puerto Rico has enacted a new law aimed at strengthening the issuance and usage of birth certificates to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico.

Under the new law, all Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 will be invalidated so that new, more secure certificates can be issued.

Please visit https://portal.ct.gov/malloy-archive/puerto-rico-new-birth-certificate-law for more information. 

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Purchasing Policy

Rev: 01/2017

1. No refunds or exchanges can be made for any item purchased in this office.
2. Any item purchased, once it leaves this office, is the sole property and responsibility of the customer.*
3. A $20.00 fee will be charged for bounced personal checks.

*Please be advised that any amount of heat, pressure or any type of humidity can cause damage to documents kept in or out of any type of protective coverings.