Birth Certificates: Filing Requirements and Access

1. (a) When a birth occurs outside an institution, as defined in subdivision (2) of Section 7-47a of the Connecticut General Statutes, the birth certificate shall be prepared by the physician or nurse midwife licensed pursuant to Chapter 377 of the Connecticut General Statutes in attendance at or immediately after the birth. For purposes of this subsection the words "immediately after" mean within thirty (30) minutes. If there is no physician or licensed nurse midwife in attendance at or immediately after the birth, the father or mother shall complete a draft birth certificate, also called a worksheet, which he or she may obtain from the town registrar of vital statistics. The completed certificate of live birth, or worksheet with the documentation described in this subsection, shall be filed with the registrar of vital statistics in the town in which the birth occurred or the town in which the newborn child is first removed from a moving conveyance in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 7-48 of the Connecticut General Statutes, not later than ten (10) days after the birth. Prior to preparation and filing of such certificate, the father or mother shall verify the fact and circumstances of that birth by providing to the town registrar of vital statistics documentation of:

   1. (1) proof of pregnancy to include either:

      1. (A) a signed and dated report from either the physician or clinic that provided prenatal care to the mother; or (B) notarized affidavits provided by two (2) adults, other than the father and mother, having firsthand knowledge of the pregnancy; or (C) a signed and dated report from either the physician or clinic that provided postpartum care to the mother within twenty-four (24) hours after the birth; and (2) proof of live birth to include:

         1. (A) a notarized affidavit by the mother attesting to the date, time, and place of such live birth and, if any other adult witnessed the birth, a notarized affidavit by one such adult; and (B) a signed and dated report from either the physician or clinic providing medical care to the newborn within twenty-four (24) hours after the birth.
2. (b) When the documents required in subsection (a) of this section are submitted to the town registrar of vital statistics, such registrar shall either file the certificate of live birth prepared by a physician or licensed nurse midwife, or prepare the certificate from the worksheet and file such certificate. It shall be signed by the person assisting in the delivery of the infant, or, in the absence of such person, the father or the mother.

(Adopted effective March 4, 1996)