Vital Records
Dept of Public Health
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Recorded message: (860) 566-2334
Birth
Death
Divorce
Marriage
Fee for one copy:
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
New Statutes, recently enacted in Connecticut, requires that in order to obtain a birth certificate the requester MUST provide a copy of PICTURE IDENTIFICATION.
UPDATE: Each agency is required to maintain a registry in addition to the state registry Note that some people are receiving their OBC's, while others are not.
An adult adoptable person may receive a copy of his or
her original birth certificate from the Department of Health Services.
For information about the reunion registry, contact:
Department of Children and Youth Services
170 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Telephone: (203) 566-8742
Overview of Connecticut Adoption Information
Connecticut includes adoptees and "adult adoptable persons"
(individuals whose parents' parental rights were terminated, but who were
not adopted) in their legislation. Non-identifying genetic, social and
health history concerning birth parents is available to adult adoptees,
adult adoptable persons and adoptive parents.
Non-identifying information is
defined to include age of birth parent in years at time of surrender,
heritage, education, general physical appearance, talents, hobbies and
special interests, existence of siblings, reasons for placement, religion,
occupation, health history, manner in which plans for adoption were made,
relationship between birth parents, other. Similar information about other
blood relatives may also be revealed, if available.
Adult adoptees (age 18)
and adult adoptable persons may request identifying information, in writing
to the agency or department which has it.
The agency will conduct a search.
If consents from both parents are obtained, the information will be released
or the agency believes the information "would be seriously disruptive or
danger the physical or emotional health" of the adoptee. Then counselling is
required before the information is released. If the agency or Department
cannot locate the person sought, the adult adoptee or the adoptable person
may petition the court for release of identifying information, and must go
for an interview to explain the reasons why identifying information is
requested. At a hearing, the agency may speak as to the merits of the
adoptee's request. The Court then decides whether or not to grant the
petition. [It appears that lack of consent requires denial. If the Court
denies the request for information, the Court may request the agency to
contact the birth parent and give notice of the adoptee's request to the
birth parent (without revealing the identity of the adoptee) and the adoptee
shall be so notified.]
Conn. Gen. Stat. 45-68j.
The court shall maintain all papers connected with adoption and termination of parental rights in locked files.
The records may be disclosed upon the court's order for health or medical treatment of the adopted person.
To the extent it is available, certain nonidentifying information (e.g. health history, education, heritage) concerning the genetic parents of an adopted person shall be given to the adoptive parent upon finalization of the adoption proceedings. Any adult adopted person or any adoptive parent, with the permission of the adoptee or the adoptee's legal representative, may request additional nonidentifying information from the Department.
Any adult adoptee may request the release of information that would identify the biological parents. Any information that would identify the genetic parents will not be disclosed without the written consent of each parent. All agencies will maintain registries with the consent or refusal of all parties involved in or directly affected by the adoption agreements and/or termination of parental rights with regard to the release of identifying information. If the whereabouts of the biological parents are unknown, the agency is not required to spend more than 10 hours locating the parent. If the biological parents cannot be located or are incompetent, the court will appoint a guardian ad litem to decide whether to give consent on behalf of the parent.
