Connecticut · 8 counties
When someone dies in Connecticut
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Connecticut
Certified copies come from the The vital records office in the town where the death occurred, or the Connecticut State Vital Records Office (official site).
Go to the town, not the state. Each of Connecticut's 169 towns keeps the original certificate for deaths that happened there, and town requests are processed noticeably faster. Town issued copies are $20 each. If you do go through the state you must pay by money order payable to Treasurer, State of Connecticut, because credit cards and personal checks are not accepted. Worth knowing: Connecticut law lets the spouse, child, or parent of a deceased VETERAN get one free certified copy, with photo ID and proof of relationship.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Connecticut's exact rules and official forms.
Connecticut power of attorney rulesIf money is tight
Statewide burial assistance
Connecticut's Department of Social Services runs a statewide Funeral and Burial Allowance that helps pay for the burial, funeral, or cremation of a person who dies without enough money in their estate and without a relative able to cover the costs. The maximum payment is $1,800, reduced by any liquid assets, life insurance, prepaid funeral funds, or outside contributions over $3,400, and the money is paid directly to the funeral home, cemetery, or crematory rather than reimbursed to family members. Because DSS will not reimburse families who have already paid out of pocket, it is important to apply and confirm eligibility through DSS before finalizing arrangements or paying a funeral home.
Pick your county