Connecticut Public Records

Public records in Connecticut are administered by a number of different divisions and departments. Some records are maintained at the state level and some at the county or city level. Generally, though, Connecticut's public records are easy to find and access; many of them are available online.

Vital Records

In Connecticut, vital records - including records of birth, death, marriage, and divorce - are administered via the Department of Public Health, through the State Vital Records Office. They are available for order from that office online or by mail.

Online - To request records online, visit the third party processor VitalChek here. There is an extra fee associated with this service, but it is often the most convenient option.

By Mail - To request records by mail, print and complete the appropriate form and follow the instructions for mailing.

Additionally, vital records are available from the local town Vital Records Office. It can often be easier and faster to obtain a record from the town office than from the state office. Indeed, state office wait times are estimated at six weeks as of this writing.

Criminal Records

There are at least two organizations in Connecticut that allow search of criminal records:

Connecticut State Department of Correction - To search records via the Department of Correction, visit the Offender Information search page. Search results can be viewed online.

Connecticut Judicial Branch - To search criminal records via the Judicial Branch, visit the following search page. This type of search is often more inclusive and comprehensive than a search through the Department of Corrections.

Court Records

The Connecticut Judicial Branch also maintains an online case look-up service for Connecticut court information. Records are available for cases from the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts, as well as civil, criminal, family and traffic records from the lower courts. Even housing and small claims records are available. The system is free and user-friendly, start here.

Business Records

The Connecticut Secretary of State maintains business records for corporations and limited liability companies, via its Commercial Recording Division. The business entity records typically include such information as the name and file number of the business, the names of any officers or agents, and the date of formation. The document search page is located here.

The Connecticut Secretary of State can be reached by phone at (860) 509-6200. Its main office is located at 30 Trinity Street in Hartford.

Property Records

Property records in Connecticut are maintained at the level of the town at the office of the Tax Assessor. Many of the local assessors' websites have searchable databases online.

Driving Records

Driving records are administered by the DMV in Connecticut. People can order a copy of their own driving records by mail or in person.

By Mail - To request driving records by mail, print the request form and send it in, along with the required fee and a copy of a photo ID, to:

Connecticut DMV
Copy Records Unit
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161

In Person - To obtain driving records in person, visit any DMV limited-service office or full-service hub. A list of locations is available at the DMV website.For more information, call the DMV at (860) 263-5700.