Sec. 7-36. Registrar of vital statistics defined. The term "registrar of vital statistics" or "registrar" as used in this chapter means the registrar of births, marriages and
deaths or any public official charged with the care of returns relating to vital statistics. Sec. 7-37. Town clerk, ex-officio registrar. Notice to Secretary of the State of
appointment of registrar, vacancy in appointed office of registrar. (a) The town
clerks of the several towns shall be, ex officio, the registrars of vital statistics in their
respective towns, except in towns where such registrars are elected or appointed under
special laws, and shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties as such. Sec. 7-38. Assistant registrars. Notice to Secretary of the State of appointment,
vacancy. The town clerk of any town who is, ex officio, registrar of vital statistics in
such town, and the registrar of vital statistics of any town who is elected under a special
law or otherwise appointed pursuant to law, may, unless otherwise provided by charter
or ordinance, with the approval of the selectmen, appoint in writing suitable persons,
not exceeding four in number, as assistant registrars of vital statistics, who, on being
sworn, shall have the powers and perform the duties of such registrar during the time
for which they are appointed, not extending beyond the term of office of such registrar.
Within ten days after a town clerk or registrar of vital statistics appoints an assistant
registrar of vital statistics, the town clerk or registrar of vital statistics shall file a notice
of such appointment with the Secretary of the State, indicating the name and address
of the person appointed, the date and method of such appointment and the law under
which the appointment was made. Within ten days after a vacancy occurs in the office
of assistant registrar of vital statistics, the town clerk or registrar of vital statistics shall
notify the Secretary of the State of such vacancy. Sec. 7-39. Oath of registrars. The moderator of any town election at which a
registrar of vital statistics elected under special law has been elected may administer to
such registrar the oath required by law. Sec. 7-39a. (Formerly Sec. 45-23). Record of name of registrar of vital statistics. Section 7-39a is repealed. Sec. 7-40. Seal. The registrar of vital statistics in each town shall have an official
seal, which shall be provided by the town, to be used in authenticating certificates and
copies of record. Sec. 7-41. Returns and records. All cards or blanks provided for returns to be
made by the registrar of vital statistics shall be exact copies of the forms for the returns
to such registrar. Each registrar shall, within sixty days after a return has been made to
him, record the same and at once place it in a temporary binder in chronological order.
When any registrar has accumulated a sufficient number of vital statistics returns to fill
a temporary binder, such returns, arranged chronologically with an alphabetical index
preceding the same, shall be at once permanently bound in book form and placed among
the records of his office. When birth, marriage and death certificates are bound in one
book, all such certificates for a given period of time shall be included, and they shall be
assembled in the order hereinbefore mentioned, each class of certificates being arranged
chronologically, and each class being immediately preceded by an alphabetical index
thereof. Each marriage certificate shall be indexed in the names of both bride and groom.
The registrar shall prepare the indexes required by this section and shall receive, from
the town, a fee of five cents for each name so indexed. The temporary binder required
to be used under the provisions of this section shall be contracted for by the Comptroller
and furnished to registrars of vital statistics at cost, the same to be paid for by the town
on a requisition by the Comptroller approved by the registrar. Any person who violates
any provision of this section shall be fined not more than seven dollars. Sec. 7-41a. Vital statistics records available for genealogical research. All records of vital statistics including births, marriages and deaths in the custody of any registrar of vital statistics or of the Department of Public Health shall be open for research
to any member of a genealogy society incorporated or authorized to do business or
conduct affairs in this state and such societies shall be permitted to incorporate statistics
derived therefrom in their publications. Sec. 7-42. Duties. Each registrar of vital statistics shall ascertain as accurately as
he can all marriages and deaths, and all births, upon the affidavit of the father or mother,
occurring in his town, and record the same in a book or books kept by him for that
purpose, in such form and with such particulars as are prescribed by the Department of
Public Health. He shall give licenses to marry, according to provisions of law; shall
make and perfect all records of the birth and death of the persons born or deceased in
his town, and, when any birth or death happens of which no certificate is returned to
him, shall obtain the information required by law respecting such birth or death. He
shall include the Social Security numbers of both persons on all marriage licenses. He
shall distribute to all persons in his town who, in his judgment, are likely to need them,
blank forms for the certificates and returns required by law to be made to him; shall
amend or correct such certificates and the records thereof whenever he discovers errors
upon the face thereof, and shall insert or supply therein omissions of facts existing at
the time of the recording of such certificates except that all errors or omissions concerned
with questions of parentage shall be within the sole jurisdiction of the Department of
Public Health as provided in section 19a-42. He shall keep the records of his office,
when a fire-proof safe is not provided for his use, in the vaults provided for the land
records of his town. He may, with the approval of the Department of Public Health,
store any records not in current use in a location other than his office or said vaults,
provided such location shall be approved by the Public Records Administrator, and
provided such location is within the limits of such town. He shall, on or before the
seventh day of each month, send to the Commissioner of Public Health an attested copy
of each certificate of death received by him for the calendar month next preceding or a
notification that no such certificate has been received and on or before the fifteenth day
of every month an attested copy of each certificate of birth and of each certificate of
marriage received by him for the month next preceding or a notification that no such
certificate has been received. Both such notifications shall be in a form prescribed by
the Department of Public Health. The registrar shall also transmit from time to time to
said commissioner an attested copy of all other certificates of births, marriages and
deaths which he acquires in amending or completing his records. The copy shall be
made in a form prescribed by the Department of Public Health and upon blanks provided
by said department. Copies of certificates of births, marriages and deaths, transmitted
to said commissioner as required in this section, shall be plain and legible transcripts
of the certificates. If a transcript is illegible, in the opinion of the commissioner, he shall
require of the registrar another copy legibly transcribed. When a registrar having custody
of an original of a certificate of birth, marriage or death corrects the certificate, he shall,
within ten days, forward an amended certificate to any registrar having a copy of the
certificate. Each registrar shall inscribe upon the back of each certificate of birth, marriage or death received for record the date of its reception. Each registrar of vital statistics
shall also transmit to the registrars of voters for his town a notice of the death of any
person seventeen years of age or older, at the same time the registrar transmits the
attested copy of the certificate of death for such person to the Commissioner of Public
Health under this section. Sec. 7-43. Municipal ordinances. Section 7-43 is repealed. Sec. 7-44. When copies of certificates to be filed in another town. When it appears from the certificate of a birth, marriage or death filed with any registrar of vital
statistics that the residence of the mother of the child or that of either of the parties to
the marriage or that of the deceased was in some other town in this state or a town in
any other state where town officials retain custody of such certificates, at the time of
such birth, marriage or death, such registrar shall at once make a certified copy of such
certificate of birth, marriage or death and transmit the same to the registrar of the town
in which the mother of such child or either of the contracting parties to such marriage
or such deceased resided at the time of such birth, marriage or death. Such copy shall
be in the form prescribed by the Department of Public Health and on blanks provided
by said department, and shall be attested by the official seal of the town or other municipal
body under which such registrar holds office. Any registrar of vital statistics of any town
or city in this state, receiving such certified copy of a birth, marriage or death from a
registrar of a town or city in this or any other state, shall record the same, but shall not
transmit a copy thereof to the Commissioner of Public Health. Sec. 7-45. Filling out and signing of certificates. Each person making any certificate of birth, marriage or death or any copy of such certificate for the Commissioner of
Public Health or any sexton's report required by law shall cause the same to be typewritten or printed in a legible manner as to all material information or facts required by
the provisions of sections 7-48, 7-62b, 46b-25 to 46b-27, inclusive, 46b-29 to 46b-30,
inclusive, and contained in such certificate and sign the same in black ink, and the person
signing such certificate shall state therein in what capacity he so signs, and shall type
or print in a legible manner the name of each person signing such certificate, under such
person's signature. Any certificate not complying with the requirements of this section
shall be returned by the registrar with whom it is filed to the person making the same
for the proper correction. Sec. 7-46. To complete records. False entry. The registrars shall complete the
records of their respective towns by adding thereto a record of all the births, marriages
and deaths that have occurred in such towns since the date of their incorporation, of
which no certificate has been returned to their office; provided the facts upon which
such record is made have been obtained from the record of a public official, a church
society or under section 7-42, 7-48 or 7-62b, and such record shall indicate the source
from which such facts were obtained. Any registrar who knowingly makes any false
entry of the record of any birth, marriage or death shall be fined not more than fifty
dollars or imprisoned not more than three months or both. Sec. 7-47. Indexes. Each registrar of vital statistics shall keep alphabetically arranged indexes and shall enter therein the name of each person whose birth, marriage
or death is recorded by him. Sec. 7-47a. Definitions. As used in this chapter and sections 19a-41 to 19a-45,
inclusive: Sec. 7-47b. Record keeping of personal data by institutions. Release or disposal of dead body or dead fetus. (a) Any person in charge of an institution shall keep
a record of personal data concerning each person admitted or confined to such institution.
This record shall include information necessary to complete a death certificate, or a
birth certificate if applicable. The record shall be made at the time of admission from
information provided by the person being admitted or confined, but when it cannot be
so obtained, the information shall be obtained from relatives or other persons acquainted
with the facts. The name and address of the person providing the information shall be
a part of the record. Sec. 7-48. Birth certificates: Filing requirements. (a) Not later than ten days
after each live birth which occurs in this state, a birth certificate shall be filed with the
registrar of vital statistics in the town in which the birth occurred and the certificate
shall be registered if properly filed. On and after January 1, 1994, each hospital with
two hundred or more live births in calendar year 1990, or any subsequent calendar year,
shall electronically transmit birth information data to the Department of Public Health
in a computer format approved by said department. Each birth certificate shall contain
such information as the Department of Public Health may require. Medical and health
information which is required by the department, including information regarding voluntary acknowledgments of paternity and whether the child was born out of wedlock,
shall be recorded on a confidential portion of the certificate to be sent directly to the
department for statistical and health purposes. This confidential portion shall be destroyed at the end of three years. The department shall give due consideration to national
uniformity in vital statistics in prescribing the form and content of such certificate. Sec. 7-49. Failure to file birth certificate. The secretary of any examining board
of the healing arts mentioned under section 20-1 or the Department of Public Health,
as the case may be, on ascertaining the fact that a person licensed to practice any of the
healing arts or midwifery has failed to file a birth certificate as provided under section
7-48, shall immediately request the Commissioner of Public Health to suspend the license of such person, which suspension shall be in effect until such certificate has been
filed. Any such person licensed to practice the healing arts or midwifery who engages in
practice during the period of such suspension shall be subject to the penalties respectively
provided for the practice of his or her profession without a license or certificate of
registration. Sec. 7-50. Restrictions on content of birth certificates. Exceptions. No certificate of birth shall contain any specific statement that the child was born in or out of
wedlock or reference to illegitimacy of the child or to the marital status of the mother,
except that information on whether the child was born in or out of wedlock and the
marital status of the mother shall be recorded on a confidential portion of the certificate
pursuant to section 7-48. Upon the filing of a voluntary acknowledgment or adjudication
of paternity in the paternity registry maintained by the Department of Public Health, as
required by section 19a-42a, the name of the father of a child born out of wedlock shall
be entered in or upon the birth certificate or birth record of such child. Thereafter, the
name of the father on such certificate or record shall be removed or changed only upon
the filing of a rescission in such registry, as provided in section 19a-42a, or upon the
order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Social Security number of the father of
a child born out of wedlock may be entered in or upon the birth certificate or birth record
of such child if such disclosure is done in accordance with 5 USC 552a note. Sec. 7-51. Examination of birth certificates and records restricted. With the
exception of the chief executive officer of the municipality or his authorized agent, the
local director of health or his authorized agent, attorneys at law, title examiners and
members of genealogical societies incorporated or authorized to do business or conduct
affairs in this state, no person, except the person whose birth is recorded, if over eighteen
years of age, his children or spouse or his parent, guardian or grandparent if a minor,
shall have any access to or be permitted to examine the original or any copy of the birth
certificate or birth record, of any person, nor shall he disclose any matters contained
therein or any information concerning such birth, which original, copy or information
is in the custody of any registrar of vital statistics or of the Department of Public Health,
nor shall he be entitled to any copy of any such certificate, record or information, except
upon written order of a court of record or upon written request of a state department or
the federal government when approved by the Department of Public Health. Sec. 7-51a. Copies of vital records. Access to vital records by members of genealogical societies. Any person eighteen years of age or older may purchase certified
copies of marriage and death records, and copies of records of births which are at least
one hundred years old, in the custody of any registrar of vital statistics. During all normal
business hours, members of genealogical societies incorporated or authorized to do
business or conduct affairs in this state shall (1) have full access to all vital records in
the custody of any registrar of vital statistics, including certificates, ledgers, record
books, card files, indexes and database printouts, except confidential files on adoptions,
(2) be permitted to make notes from such records and (3) be permitted to purchase
certified copies of such records. Sec. 7-52. Certification of birth registration. (1) The registrar of vital statistics
of the town in which the birth occurred, (2) the registrar of vital statistics of the town
in which the mother resided at the time of the birth or (3) the Department of Public
Health shall issue, upon the request of the person to whom the record of birth relates,
if over sixteen years of age, or of a parent, spouse or legal representative of such person,
a certification of birth registration, which shall contain only the name, sex, date of birth,
place of birth and date of filing of the certificate of birth of the person to whom it relates. Sec. 7-53. Birth certificates of adopted persons born in this state. Upon receipt
of the record of adoption referred to in subsection (e) of section 45a-745 or of other
evidence satisfactory to the Department of Public Health that a person born in this state
has been adopted, said department shall prepare a new birth certificate of such adopted
person. Such new birth certificate shall include all the information required to be set
forth in a certificate of birth of this state as of the date of birth, except that the adopting
parents shall be named as the parents instead of the genetic parents and, when a certified
copy of the birth of such person is requested by an authorized person, a copy of the new
certificate of birth as prepared by the department shall be provided, except that the
registrar of vital statistics of any town in which the birth of such person was recorded
or the Department of Public Health may issue a certified copy of the original certificate
of birth on file, marked with a notation by the issuer that such original certificate of
birth has been superseded by a new certificate of birth as on file, or may permit the
examination of such record upon a written order, in accordance with the provisions of
section 45a-751, signed by the judge of the probate court for the district in which the
adopted person was adopted or born or upon written order of the Probate Court in accordance with the provisions of section 45a-752, stating that the court is of the opinion that
the examination of the birth record of the adopted person by the adopting parents or the
adopted person, if over eighteen years of age, or by the person wishing to examine the
same or that the issuance of a copy of such birth certificate to the adopting parents,
adopted person, if over eighteen years of age or to the person applying therefor will not
be detrimental to the public interest or to the welfare of the adopted person or to the
welfare of the genetic or adoptive parent or parents. Immediately after a new certificate
of birth has been prepared, an exact copy of such certificate, together with a written
notice of the evidence of adoption, shall be transmitted by the department to the registrar
of vital statistics of each town in this state in which the birth of the adopted person is
recorded. The new birth certificate, the original certificate of birth on file and the evidence of adoption shall be filed and indexed, under such regulations as the Department
of Public Health makes to carry out the provisions of this section and to prevent access
to the records of birth and adoption and the information therein contained without due
cause, except as herein provided. Any person, except such parents or adopted person,
who discloses any information contained in such records, except as herein provided,
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months
or both. Whenever a certified copy of an adoption decree from a court of a foreign
country, having jurisdiction of the adopted person, is filed with the Department of Public
Health under the provisions of this section, such decree, when written in a language
other than English, shall be accompanied by an English translation, which shall be
subscribed and sworn to as a true translation by an American consulate officer stationed
in such foreign country. Sec. 7-54. Certification of birth registration of persons born outside the state
or country and adopted by state residents. The Department of Public Health shall
prepare a certification of birth registration for any person born outside of the state or
country and adopted by residents of this state, provided an authenticated and exemplified
copy of the order of adoption of the court of the district in which the adoption proceedings
were had or such other evidence as is considered satisfactory by the probate court of
the district in which such person resides shall be filed with such probate court, and such
probate court notifies the department that such copy or satisfactory evidence has been
so filed. Such certification of birth registration shall contain only the adopted name,
sex, date of birth, place of birth and date of preparation of such certification of birth
registration by the Department of Public Health, but no certification of birth registration
shall be prepared by the Department of Public Health unless upon specific written request
of the person to whom the certification of birth registration relates, if over eighteen years
of age, or of the adopting parents or the court of probate of the district in which the
adoption proceedings were had. When the Department of Public Health has prepared
such certificate of birth registration, copies thereof shall be issued in accordance with
the provisions of section 7-52. Sec. 7-55. Certification of birth to have force and effect of original. Any certification of birth, when properly certified by the registrar of the town in which the birth
occurred or of the town in which the mother resided at the time of the birth or the
Department of Public Health, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated
in all courts and places and in all actions, proceedings or applications, judicial, administrative or otherwise, and such certification of birth shall have the same force and effect,
wherever offered, with respect to the facts therein stated as an original certificate of birth. Sec. 7-56. Issuance of certified copies of birth certificates. The registrar of the
town in which the birth occurred or of the town in which the mother resided at the time
of the birth or the Department of Public Health may issue a certified copy of the certificate
of birth of any person born in this state (1) upon the specific written request of the person
to whom the record of birth relates, if over eighteen years of age, or of a parent or legal
representative of such person, or (2) when approved by the Department of Public Health,
upon the specific written request of any state or federal agency. Sec. 7-57. Belated registration of births. Any adult or the guardian of the person
of any minor, for whose birth no certificate is on file, may, with two other persons having
knowledge of the facts, make, under oath, an affidavit as to the matters required to be
set forth in a birth certificate under the provisions of section 7-48 and file the same in
the office of the registrar of vital statistics of the town in which such birth occurred.
Such registrar shall thereupon prepare a birth certificate based upon the information
contained in such affidavit and file the same with such affidavit in the same manner as
any other birth certificate. If unable to furnish an affidavit satisfactory to the registrar
of such town, such adult or guardian may apply to the court of probate for the district
where such birth occurred for an order requiring such registrar to prepare a certificate
of birth of such adult or such minor containing the matters so required to be set forth.
Such court shall, with or without notice and hearing, ascertain the facts as to the matters
so required and issue an order directing such registrar to issue such a certificate based
upon the facts set forth in such order. After issuing any such certificate, such registrar
shall make a record of such birth, including in such record reference to such certificate
and the affidavit or order of the court. Birth certificates registered one year or more
after the date of birth shall be marked "delayed" and indicate the date of the delayed
registration. The provisions of sections 7-42 and 7-73 shall apply to the acts of the
registrar under this section. Sec. 7-58. Record of birth of child born outside United States. Any American
citizen who, while serving with the armed forces or in the employ of the United States
government, becomes the parent of a child or children born outside the United States,
and who was a resident of this state at the time of entering the armed forces or government
service, may file, with the town clerk of the town in which the parents reside, a certified
copy of the record of birth of such child or children issued to the parents by an official
authorized to issue such records of birth at the place of birth. When such certified copy
has been filed, copies of such record of birth may be issued by such town clerk in the
manner prescribed by law. Sec. 7-59. Report of foundling children. The executive authority of any agency
or institution, upon accepting the temporary custody of any foundling child, shall, within
ten days from such acceptance, report to the registrar of vital statistics of the town or
city where such child was found, on forms supplied by the Department of Public Health,
as follows: The date and place of finding, the sex, the color, the approximate age, the
name and address of such agency or institution and the name given to the foundling
child. If a child for whom such a report has been registered is later identified and a
certificate of birth is found or obtained, it shall be substituted and the previous report
shall be sealed and filed in a confidential file, and such seal may be broken and the
record inspected only upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction. The certificate
prescribed by this section shall include such additional information as the Department
of Public Health requires. Sec. 7-60. Fetal death certificates. (a) Each case of fetal death shall be registered
and a fetal death certificate shall be filed with the registrar of vital statistics in the manner
required by section 7-48 for filing a birth certificate. A fetus born after a period of
gestation of not less than twenty weeks in which there is no attempt at respiration, no
action of heart and no movement of voluntary muscle, shall be recorded as a fetal death.
A fetal death certificate shall be signed by a physician or, when no physician was in
attendance, by the Chief Medical Examiner, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, an associate medical examiner, or an authorized assistant medical examiner. Sec. 7-61. Birth and fetal death certificates to state whether blood test has been
made. In reporting each birth and fetal death, physicians and others permitted to attend
pregnancy cases and required to report births and fetal deaths shall state on the birth
certificate or fetal death certificate, as the case may be, whether a blood test for syphilis
has been made during such pregnancy upon a specimen of blood taken from the woman
who bore the child for which a birth or fetal death certificate is filed and, if made, the
date when such test was made, and, if not made, the reason why such test was not made.
In no event shall the birth certificate state the result of the test. Sec. 7-62. Death certificates. Section 7-62 is repealed. Sec. 7-62a. Illegal issuance of certificates. No person other than a registrar of
vital statistics or the Commissioner of Public Health shall issue or cause to be issued
any certificate or document which is, or purports to be, an original or certified copy of
a certificate of birth, death, fetal death or marriage. No person other than such registrar
or said commissioner shall certify or purport to certify as a true copy any certificate of
birth, death, fetal death or marriage. Any person who violates this section shall be fined
not more than one hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both. Sec. 7-62b. Death certificates; filing and registration; responsibilities of funeral directors and licensed embalmers; medical certification; burial of person
who died from communicable disease; "presumptive" death certificates; regulations. (a) A death certificate for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with
the registrar of vital statistics in the town in which the death occurred in order to obtain
a burial permit prior to final disposition. The death certificate shall be registered if
properly filed. If the place of death is unknown but the body is found in this state, the
death certificate shall be completed and filed in accordance with this section, provided
the place where the body is found shall be shown as the place of death. Sec. 7-62c. Filing and registration of death certificate when death not recorded
in accordance with Sec. 7-62b; "delayed" death certificates. (a) When a death occurring in this state has not been recorded in accordance with section 7-62b, a death
certificate may be filed in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 54
by the Commissioner of Public Health. Such death certificate shall be registered subject
to the evidentiary requirements prescribed by such regulations to substantiate the alleged
facts of death. Sec. 7-63. *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Deaths
in reformatory institutions. When any boy committed to the Connecticut School for
Boys or any girl committed to Long Lane School dies, the superintendent shall cause
immediate notice thereof to be sent by mail to the registrar of vital statistics of the town
from which such boy or girl was so committed. Sec. 7-64. Disposal of bodies. The body of each person who dies in this state shall
be buried, removed or cremated within a reasonable time after death. The person to
whom the custody and control of the remains of any deceased person are granted by
law shall see that the certificate of death required by law has been completed and filed
in accordance with section 7-62b prior to final disposition of the body. An authorization
for final disposition issued under the law of another state which accompanies a dead
body or fetus brought into this state shall be authority for final disposition of the body
or fetus in this state. The provisions of this section shall not in any way impair the
authority of directors of health in cases of death resulting from communicable diseases,
nor conflict with any statutes regulating the delivery of bodies to any medical school,
nor prevent the placing of any body temporarily in the receiving vault of any cemetery.
The placing of any body in a family vault or tomb within any cemetery shall be deemed
a burial under the provisions of this section. Any person who violates any provision of
this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more
than five years.
(1949 Rev., S. 560, 3813; 1953, S. 227d.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) If a registrar of vital statistics is appointed under a special law or a town charter,
the appointing authority or, if none, the chief executive official of the town, shall, within
ten days after such an appointment is made, file a notice of such appointment with the
Secretary of the State, indicating the name and address of the person appointed, the date
and method of such appointment and the law under which the appointment was made.
Within ten days after a vacancy occurs in the appointed office of registrar of vital statistics, the first selectman or chief executive official of the town shall notify the Secretary
of the State of such vacancy.
(1949 Rev., S. 561; 1953, S. 228d; P.A. 87-387, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 87-387 added Subsec. (b) re notice to secretary of the state of appointment of registrar of vital statistics
or vacancy in appointed office of registrar of vital statistics.
See Sec. 19a-204 re certification of appointment of registrar of vital statistics.
Vote for should be as "town clerk" only. 60 C. 549.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 562; 1953, S. 229d; P.A. 82-327, S. 2; P.A. 87-387, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 82-327 specified that towns may appoint assistants in another manner if charter or ordinance so provides;
P.A. 87-387 added provisions re notice to secretary of the state of appointment of assistant registrar of vital statistics or
vacancy in office of assistant registrar of vital statistics.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 518; 1953, S. 252d.)
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1967, P.A. 59, S. 2; P.A. 82-327, S. 12.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 563.)
See Sec. 51-58 re court seals.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 3814−3817.)
See Sec. 7-148 re municipal powers.
See Sec. 19a-41 re regulations specifying methods of recording, preserving, indexing and amending vital statistics.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1971, P.A. 228, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-258, S. 1, 5.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-258 deleted "legally incorporated" and added "incorporated or authorized to do business or conduct affairs in this state".
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 564; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 4; February, 1965, P.A. 529; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 319, S. 1; 1971,
P.A. 580; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-434, S. 17; P.A. 80-483, S. 16, 186; P.A. 87-252; P.A. 90-67, S. 1; P.A. 93-
381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7, S. 2, 38; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 43; June 18
Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10, S. 2.)
History: 1965 act authorized the storage of records in locations other than the registrar's office or the town vaults; 1967
act made technical correction, authorizing registrars to "correct" rather than "collect" certificates and records; 1969 act
placed errors and omissions concerning parentage within health department's jurisdiction; 1971 act deleted provision that
registrar records births, marriages and deaths in books furnished by health department; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner and department of health services for commissioner and department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-
434 replaced reference to Sec. 19-16 with Sec. 19-15a; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 87-252 added provision
re transmission of death notice by registrar of vital statistics to registrars of voters; P.A. 90-67 rephrased first sentence re
requirement that registrar ascertain only births occurring in his town and added provision requiring registrar having original
of birth, marriage or death certificate to forward any corrected certificate to any registrar having a copy; P.A. 93-381
replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 required
registrar to include Social Security numbers of both persons on marriage licenses, effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-8 added gender errors or omissions to department jurisdiction; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-10 deleted gender errors
or omissions from department jurisdiction.
See Sec. 7-148 re municipal powers.
See Sec. 11-8(b) re appointment of Public Records Administrator.
See Sec. 46b-28 re validity of marriages celebrated in foreign country.
History of office; copies of records admissible. 74 C. 717; 98 C. 543.
Registrar may not make a new recording but merely correct an old one. 9 CS 297.
Cited. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 487.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 597; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 5; P.A. 82-327, S. 12.)
See Sec. 7-148.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 566; 1949, S. 230d; 1959, P.A. 282; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 90-67, S. 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39;
P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act added exception re child born out of wedlock; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner and department
of health services for commissioner and department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 90-67 substituted "mother"
for "parents" and deleted exception in first sentence for child born out of wedlock; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and
commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 567; 1953, S. 231d; 1967, P.A. 313, S. 11; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-434, S. 18; P.A. 93-381,
S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1967 act replaced reference to Sec. 46-5 with reference to Secs. 46-5b to 46-5h (later transferred to Secs. 46b-
25 to 46b-27 and 46b-29 to 46b-31); P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of health services for commissioner of health,
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-434 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 7-62 and added reference to Sec. 7-62b; in
1993 obsolete reference to repealed Sec. 46b-31 replaced editorially by reference to Sec. 46b-30; P.A. 93-381 replaced
commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A.
95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 568; P.A. 79-434, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 79-434 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 7-62 and added reference to Sec. 7-62b.
Registrars may make determination whether or not to record an alleged marriage. 9 CS 297.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 569.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1) "Registration" means acceptance of a vital record by the Department of Public
Health for the issuance by said department of a unique filing number and for incorporation of such certificate in the official records of said department;
(2) "Institution" means any public or private facility, which provides inpatient medical, surgical or diagnostic care or treatment, or nursing, custodial or domiciliary care,
or to which persons are committed by law; and
(3) "Vital record" means a certificate of birth, death, fetal death or marriage.
(P.A. 79-434, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) When a dead body or dead fetus is released or disposed of by an institution, the
person in charge of the institution shall keep a record showing the name of the decedent,
date of death, name and address of the person to whom the body or fetus is released,
and the date of removal from the institution. If final disposition is made by the institution,
the date, place, and manner of disposition shall also be recorded.
(c) Any record required to be kept under this section may be destroyed when the
person to whom the record relates is released by the institution, except that if the filing
of a birth, death or fetal death certificate is required concerning such person, the record
shall not be destroyed until the appropriate certificate is properly filed and registered.
(P.A. 79-434, S. 14.)
See Sec. 7-47a for definition of "institution."
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) When a birth occurs in an institution or en route thereto, the person in charge
of the institution or his designated representative shall complete the certificate, secure
the signatures required and file the certificate with the registrar of vital statistics in the
town in which the birth occurred, not later than ten days after such birth. The physician
in attendance shall provide the medical information required by the certificate and certify
to the fact of birth not later than seventy-two hours after the birth. If the physician
does not certify to the fact of birth within such time period, the person in charge of the
institution shall complete and sign the certificate.
(c) When a birth occurs outside an institution, the certificate shall be prepared and
filed by the physician or midwife in attendance at or immediately after the birth or, in
the absence of such a person, by the father or mother.
(d) When a birth occurs in a moving conveyance and the child is first removed from
the conveyance in this state, the birth shall be registered in this state and the place where
the child is first removed shall be considered the place of birth.
(1949 Rev., S. 570; 1967, P.A. 146; 1971, P.A. 323, S. 1; P.A. 73-45; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-434, S. 2; P.A.
84-8; P.A. 93-105; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7, S. 3, 38.)
History: 1967 act deleted specific reference to sex of child and parents names, age, color, residence, birthplace, occupation etc. and required consideration be given to national uniformity; 1971 act added provisions regarding use and disposition
of confidential information, effective January 1, 1972; P.A. 73-45 required parents' social security numbers on birth
certificates except as provided in Sec. 7-50; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health,
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-434 deleted provisions regarding filing of certificate by doctor, midwife or parents and
provisions enumerating contents of certificate, replacing them with general statements and added Subsecs. (b) to (d),
inclusive; P.A. 84-8 amended Subsec. (a) to require the department of health services to destroy the confidential portion
of a birth certificate at the end of three years, rather than one year; P.A. 93-105 amended Subsec. (a) to require electronic
transfer of birth information after January 1, 1994, for hospitals with two hundred or more live births in calendar year
1990; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 amended Subsec. (a) by
requiring birth certificate to contain information re voluntary acknowledgments of paternity and whether child was born
out of wedlock, effective July 1, 1997.
Admissible to corroborate accusations of paternity in bastardy action. 93 C. 321. Cited. 98 C. 543.
Cited. 9 CS 297.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 582; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner and department of health services for commissioner and department of
health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department
and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and
Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July
1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 571; P.A. 79-434, S. 3; P.A. 80-483, S. 17, 186; P.A. 85-323; P.A. 94-51, S. 2, 3; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A.
94-1, S. 44, 130; P.A. 96-180, S. 3, 166; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7, S. 4, 38.)
History: P.A. 79-434 deleted provision concerning filing putative father's name on certificate and added provision
requiring that in cases of court- determined paternity, father's name and child's surname be recorded; P.A. 80-483 made
technical changes; P.A. 85-323 permitted the name of the father of a child born out of wedlock to be entered on the birth
certificate or record of the child with the written consent of the father and mother; P.A. 94-51 added provision to permit
the social security number of the father to be entered on the birth certificate or birth record; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1
made a technical change, effective June 21, 1994; P.A. 96-180 made a technical change, effective June 3, 1996; June 18
Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 provided exception that information on whether child was born in or out of wedlock and marital status
of mother be recorded on confidential portion of certificate, required name of father to be entered on birth certificate
upon filing voluntary acknowledgment or adjudication of paternity in registry of Department of Public Health, eliminated
provision re consent of mother and father and provided that name of father on certificate may be removed or changed only
upon filing of rescission in registry or upon order of court, effective July 1, 1997.
Cited. 34 CS 187, 189.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 572; 1971, P.A. 228, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 89-217, S. 5, 6; P.A. 93-
381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-258, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 37, 88.)
History: 1971 act provided that members of legally incorporated genealogical societies may have access to records;
1972 act changed age of majority from twenty-one to eighteen; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for
department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 89-217 added the local director of health to the list of persons who
may be permitted to examine the birth certificate or birth record of any person; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health
services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner
and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-258 deleted "legally incorporated" and added "incorporated or authorized to do business or conduct
affairs in this state, and allowed children, spouse and grandparent access to original birth certificate; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-8 added phrase "or his authorized agent" after director of health, effective July 1, 1997.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 80-280; P.A. 96-258, S. 3; P.A. 00-92, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 96-258 revised section to provide any person eighteen or older may purchase copies of marriage and
death records and birth records at least one hundred years old and permit full access to all vital records by members of
genealogical society; and permit such members to take notes and purchase copies of such records, entirely replacing prior
provisions; P.A. 00-92 authorized the purchase of certified copies.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 573; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 81-138; P.A. 90-67, S. 3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12,
21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
81-138 specified persons who are allowed access to birth registration records upon request, replacing "any person"; P.A.
90-67 added provision authorizing registrar of town in which mother resided at time of birth to issue certification of birth
registration and inserted Subdiv. indicators; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 7-74 re fee for certification of birth registration.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 580; 1957, P.A. 298, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 319; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 5; P.A. 75-170, S. 1; P.A. 77-246, S. 17;
77-604, S. 63, 84; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 88-364, S. 73, 123; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-26; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21,
58; P.A. 96-202, S. 3.)
History: 1961 act authorized department to accept evidence satisfactory to it of fact of adoption, provided for adopted
person or adopting parents to give written authorization for certification or examination of original record, provided for
sending a copy of the new certificate rather than notice to other municipalities and required that copy of adoption decree
in foreign language be accompanied by English translation; 1972 act changed age of majority from twenty-one to eighteen;
P.A. 75-170 deleted provision which allowed adopted person or adopting parents access to birth certificate upon written
request; P.A. 77-246 substituted "genetic parents" for "natural parents" and "adoptive" for "adopting" and allowed release
of certificate on order of adoption records review board or of any court; P.A. 77-604 replaced release upon order of any
court with release in accordance with Sec. 8 of P.A 77-246 (Sec. 45-68k); P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health
services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 88-364 substituted order of the probate court for order
of the adoption records review board; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health
and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-26 added provision requiring that copy of original birth certificate
be noted that it has been superseded by a new certificate; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public
Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-202
made technical change.
See Sec. 19a-41 re regulations specifying methods of recording, preserving, indexing and amending vital statistics.
Cited. 138 C. 599. The enactment of public act 77-246 while appeal was pending effected a "substantial change in the
law" concerning the disclosure of adopted persons' birth records and, thus, was not applied retroactively. 177 C. 93, 94.
Cited. Id. 93 et seq.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 574; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 6; P.A. 75-170, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 81-190; P.A. 85-326; P.A.
87-148, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-98; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1972 act changed age of majority from twenty-one to eighteen years; P.A. 75-170 required certification upon
request of court of probate in district where adoption proceedings took place; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health
services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 81-190 allowed the department of health services to
prepare a certification of birth registration for any person born outside the country and adopted in this state for whom the
country of birth will not furnish a substituted birth certificate; P.A. 85-326 made issuance of certification of birth registration
mandatory rather than optional and deleted provision re substituted birth certificate from state or country of birth; P.A.
87-148 added provisions re adoptions in other states, substituted "authenticated and exemplified" for "certified" and
substituted "probate court" for "department of health services" re repository for evidence; P.A. 89-98 removed language
which limited the requirement for preparation of birth certificates to persons who were adopted in Connecticut or in another
state by residents of Connecticut; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health
and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and
Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 575; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 90-67, S. 4; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
90-67 applied provisions of section to certification of birth certified by registrar of town in which birth occurred or town
in which mother resided at time of birth; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public
health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health
and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Naked assertion of principal witness as to his age held of insufficient probative value, without corroboration from
available dependable source of proof, to convict defendant of crime of selling alcoholic liquor to minor. 22 CS 353.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 576; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 7; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 90-67, S. 5; P.A. 91-24, S. 2, 8; P.A. 93-381,
S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1972 act changed age of majority from twenty-one to eighteen years; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of
health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 90-67 clarified term "registrar" to include registrar
of town in which birth occurred or town in which mother resided at time of birth; P.A. 91-24 deleted provision authorizing
issuance of certified copy of birth certificate "upon the order of a court of record"; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of
health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public
Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 7-74 re fee for issuance of certified copy of birth certificate.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 578; P.A. 79-434, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-14, S. 2, 30.)
History: P.A. 79-434 added provision concerning delayed registration of births; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-14 deleted
internal reference to Sec. 7-75 to reflect repeal of section by said public act.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1953, S. 233d.)
See Sec. 27-103 re definition of "armed forces".
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 579; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A.
93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Such certificate shall include any additional information required by the Department of Public Health provided the information obtained under this section shall be
used only for medical and health purposes and shall not be incorporated into the permanent official records of the department.
(1949 Rev., S. 581; 1951, 1953, S. 232d; 1969, P.A. 699, S. 19; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-47, S. 1; 79-434, S.
5; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1969 act specified chief, deputy and authorized assistant medical examiners as signers of certificate replacing
former reference simply to "medical examiner"; P.A. 77-614 substituted department of health services for department of
health, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-47 replaced deputy medical examiner with deputy chief medical examiner and
included associate medical examiner as authorized signer; P.A. 79-434 divided section into Subsecs. and added requirement
that additional information be used only for medical and health purposes and is not to be placed in permanent official
records; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with
Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 3837; 1953, S. 2049d.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 583−585; 1949, S. 234d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 10; 1963, P.A. 107; 1967, P.A. 54; 1969, P.A. 442, S. 1;
699, S. 20; P.A. 73-178; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-47, S. 2; 79-434, S. 20.)
See Sec. 7-62b et seq. re death certificates.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1963, P.A. 285; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of health services for commissioner of health, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective
July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995 (Note: The Revisors editorially changed the reference to
"one hundred and fifty dollars" to "one hundred fifty dollars" for consistency with customary usage).
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) The licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer in charge of the burial of
the deceased person shall complete the death certificate on a form provided by the
Department of Public Health and shall file it in accordance with the provisions of this
section, except when inquiry is required by the Chief Medical Examiner's Office, in
which case the death certificate shall be filed in accordance with section 19a-409. The
Social Security number of the deceased person shall be recorded on such certificate.
Such licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer shall obtain the personal data from
the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available and shall obtain a medical
certification from the person responsible therefor, in accordance with the provisions of
this section. Only a licensed embalmer may assume charge of the burial of a deceased
person who died from a communicable disease, as designated in the Public Health Code,
and such licensed embalmer shall file the death certificate and a certificate signed and
sworn to by himself or another licensed embalmer stating that the body has been disinfected in accordance with the Public Health Code.
(c) The medical certification portion of the death certificate shall be completed,
signed and returned to the licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer within twenty-
four hours after death by the physician in charge of the patient's care for the illness or
condition which resulted in death. In the absence of such physician, or with his approval,
the medical certification may be completed and signed by a designated associate physician, the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred, or by the
pathologist who performed an autopsy upon the decedent. No physician shall sign and
return the medical certification unless he has personally viewed and examined the body
of the person to whom the medical certification relates and has satisfied himself that at
the time of the examination such person was in fact dead, except that in the event a
determination and pronouncement of death has been made by a registered nurse pursuant
to section 20-101a, such viewing and examination of the body shall not be required. If
a physician refuses or otherwise fails to complete, sign and return the medical portion
of the death certificate to the licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer within
twenty-four hours after death, such licensed funeral director or embalmer may notify
the Commissioner of Public Health of such refusal. The commissioner may, upon receipt
of notification and investigation, assess a civil penalty against such physician not to
exceed two hundred fifty dollars. The medical certification shall state the cause of death,
defined so that such death may be classified under the international list of causes of death,
the duration of disease if known and such additional information as the Department of
Public Health requires. The department shall give due consideration to national uniformity in vital statistics in prescribing the form and content of such information.
(d) If the cause of death cannot be determined within twenty-four hours after death
and inquiry is not required by the Chief Medical Examiner, the medical certification
may be completed in such manner as may be provided by regulation, adopted by the
Commissioner of Public Health in accordance with chapter 54. The attending physician
shall give the licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer notice of the reason for
the delay and final disposition of the body shall not be made until a signed medical
certification is obtained from the attending physician.
(e) When a death is presumed to have occurred within this state but the body cannot
be located, a death certificate may be prepared by the Chief Medical Examiner upon
receipt of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, which shall include the finding
of facts required to complete the death certificate. Such death certificate shall be filed
with the Department of Public Health and marked "presumptive" and shall show on its
face the date of filing and shall identify the court and the date of decree.
(f) The Commissioner of Public Health may by regulation, adopted in accordance
with chapter 54, provide for the extension of time periods prescribed for the filing of
death certificates in cases where compliance therewith would result in undue hardship.
(P.A. 79-434, S. 6; P.A. 83-299, S. 1, 2; P.A. 92-10; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess.
P.A. 97-7, S. 5, 38.)
History: P.A. 83-299 amended Subsec. (c) to allow the commissioner of health services, upon notification from a funeral
director or embalmer, to assess a civil penalty against a physician who fails to complete the medical portion of the death
certificate within twenty-four hours after death; P.A. 92-10 amended Subsec. (c) by adding an exception for pronouncement
of death by a registered nurse; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and
commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and
Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July
1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring Social Security number of deceased person to be
recorded on death certificate, effective July 1, 1997.
See Sec. 20-101a re pronouncement of death by a registered nurse.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Death certificates registered one year or more after the date of death shall be
marked "Delayed" and shall show on their face the date of the delayed registration.
(P.A. 79-434, S. 7; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction
services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction
Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 586.)
Note: Upon the filing with the Governor and the General Assembly of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new Connecticut Juvenile
Training School is operational, this section, as amended by section 15 of public act 99-
26, is to read as follows:
"Sec. 7-63. Notice of deaths at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. When
any boy or girl committed to the Connecticut Juvenile Training School dies, the superintendent shall cause immediate notice thereof to be sent by mail to the registrar of vital
statistics of the town from which such boy or girl was so committed."
(1949 Rev., S. 586; P.A. 99-26, S. 15, 39.)
History: P.A. 99-26 deleted obsolete reference to the Connecticut School for Boys and replaced "Long Lane School"
with "the Connecticut Juvenile Training School", effective upon the filing with the Governor and the General Assembly
of written certification by the Commissioner of Children and Families that the new Connecticut Juvenile Training School
is operational.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 590; P.A. 79-434, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 79-434 made it clear that death certificate must be filed before disposition of body and added provision
concerning dispositions of bodies brought in from other states.
See chapter 368i re anatomical donations.
See chapter 368j re cemeteries.
See chapter 368k re crematories.
See chapter 385 re embalmers and funeral directors.
See Sec. 19a-41 re regulations specifying methods of recording, preserving, indexing and amending vital statistics.
See Sec. 19a-504 re removal of bodies from presence of patients in hospitals, rest homes, etc.
See Secs. 53-331 to 53-334, inclusive, re penalties for unlawful embalming, burial and disinterment practices.
Affords no basis for civil liability for funeral expenses. 137 C. 450.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)