New Haven County People Records

New Haven County people search gives you access to public records for about 860,000 residents across south-central Connecticut. This county includes the city of New Haven, home to Yale University, along with Waterbury and dozens of smaller towns. Connecticut abolished county government in 1960, so no county office holds records here. All people search data in New Haven County comes from town clerks, state courts, and state agencies that serve the whole region.

New Haven County Record Sources

There is no New Haven County government. That ended in 1960 when Connecticut became the first state to fully abolish county-level government. What remains is the geographic boundary and the 27 towns inside it. Each town in New Haven County runs its own government and keeps its own records. The town clerk in each place handles vital records, land records, and other public files.

Two regional councils of government serve New Haven County. The South Central Regional Council of Governments covers the southern half, including New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, and surrounding towns. The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments covers the northern part, including Waterbury and Naugatuck. These bodies handle planning and transportation, not individual records. But they can help you understand how the towns in New Haven County work together.

CT Gen Stat § 1-210 guarantees public access to records kept by any public agency in New Haven County. That means town clerks, boards, commissions, and school districts must let you see their records during business hours. The law applies to every one of the 27 towns.

The South Central Regional Council of Governments serves as the main planning body for southern New Haven County towns.

SCRCOG does not hold individual public records but coordinates regional projects across these towns.

Search New Haven County Court Records

Court records are a strong starting point for people search in New Haven County. The Connecticut court system is organized by judicial district. The New Haven Judicial District handles cases for New Haven and nearby towns. The Waterbury Judicial District covers Waterbury and the northern part of the county. The Ansonia-Milford district serves towns along the southern border.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch offers free search tools. Use the criminal case lookup to find convictions by name. It goes back 10 years and covers every court in New Haven County. You will see the charge, the court location, and the outcome. The civil case inquiry shows lawsuits, housing cases, and family matters. These searches are free and open to all. No registration is needed.

A court record from New Haven County can confirm that a person was involved in a case at a specific court. That alone tells you something about where they were living at the time. For certified copies of any document, contact the clerk at the court that handled the case.

Note: Youthful offender and juvenile cases are never shown in the online system.

Vital Records in New Haven County

Vital records for people search in New Haven County come from two levels. Town clerks keep the originals. The Connecticut Department of Public Health keeps state copies dating back to July 1897. You can request records from either source. The state office phone is (860) 509-7700.

Death records are public in New Haven County. Anyone 18 or older can request a copy. Marriage records are also open. Birth records are different. Under state law, birth certificates less than 100 years old are confidential. Only the person named, their parents, spouse, children over 18, or grandparents can access them. Town clerks in New Haven County charge $20 for a certified copy. The state charges $30. For genealogy, records over 100 years old are open to all researchers.

The city of New Haven has its own vital statistics office at 200 Orange Street, 2nd Floor. Their phone is 203-946-7931. They handle birth, death, and marriage records for events in New Haven. Marriage licenses cost $50 and both parties must appear in person. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with early closure on the first Wednesday of each month.

Find People in New Haven County

State databases help with people search across all of New Haven County. The eLicense portal covers over 850 professional license types. Search by name to see if someone holds a license in New Haven County. Results include address, license status, and the issuing agency. The data is live and considered a primary verification source. No fee or account is needed.

The MyVote CT site lets you look up voter registration. Enter a name and town to check if someone is registered in New Haven County. It can confirm a current address if the person is on the voter rolls. This is helpful when you know a name but not where in New Haven County someone lives.

New Haven County Property Lookup

Property records in New Haven County sit with each town clerk. There is no county recorder. The Connecticut Town Clerks Portal provides online access to indexed land records from many towns in New Haven County. Search by name to find deeds, mortgages, and liens. If someone owns property in New Haven County, these records will show their name and the property address.

For people search in New Haven County, property records can tie a name to a specific address and town. Many town records go back hundreds of years. Copies cost about $1 per page at the office. Online copies run $2 per page. Some New Haven County towns post assessor data and GIS maps on their own websites, which can be useful if you have an address but need the owner's name. These records are open to all under CT Gen Stat § 1-210.

Public Records Requests in New Haven County

No special form is needed to request records in New Haven County. Tell the town clerk or agency what you want. They must provide prompt access. Copy fees cannot exceed 50 cents per page for municipal records, per CT Gen Stat § 1-212. State agencies charge up to 25 cents per page.

If a town in New Haven County refuses your request, the Freedom of Information Commission can help. File a complaint within 30 days under CT Gen Stat § 1-206. The Commission holds hearings and can order release of records. Fines up to $1,000 apply for violations. Reach them at 1-866-374-3617. Some records are exempt, including personnel files, active law enforcement records, and adoption files. Most records useful for people search in New Haven County are not exempt.

Note: The FOI Commission does not hold records and cannot search for you.

Probate Records for New Haven County

Probate districts in Connecticut do not follow county lines exactly. Multiple probate districts serve towns in New Haven County. The Connecticut Probate Court website shows which district handles each town. Estate and trust records from January 2011 onward are in the online system. But you need to be an interested party to view full case files. Self-represented people must request access and will receive a code by mail.

Probate records can help with people search in New Haven County if someone has died or has an estate matter pending. The records may list heirs, their addresses, and the value of the estate. For records before 2011, contact the probate district directly or check the Connecticut State Library. These are not open browse databases, so you need specific case information to search effectively in New Haven County.

Cities in New Haven County

New Haven County includes 27 towns and cities. The ones below have populations over 25,000 and their own people search pages with local details. Every town in New Haven County keeps its own records through its town clerk.

Other towns in New Haven County include Bethany, Derby, Guilford, Madison, Middlebury, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Wolcott, and Woodbridge. Each keeps records through its own town clerk.

Nearby Counties

New Haven County shares borders with five other Connecticut counties. If you cannot find someone in New Haven County, check these surrounding areas. The same state tools work in every county.