Town of North Canaan – Town Clerk's Office
Registering a Home Birth
Connecticut law requires all live births, including home births, to be registered with the Registrar of Vital Statistics in the town where the birth occurred.
Birth certificates must be filed within 10 days of the child's birth.
If your child was born at home in North Canaan, please contact the Town Clerk's Office as soon as possible to begin the registration process.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health requires specific documentation to establish proof of pregnancy, proof of live birth, residency, and identity before a home birth can be registered.
Home Birth Registration Packet
The Connecticut Department of Public Health provides a
Registration of a Home Birth – Parent's Guide, containing instructions, required worksheets, affidavits, and additional newborn registration information.
Home Birth Packet.pdf
Parents should carefully review the packet and complete all applicable forms before submitting documentation to the Town Clerk's Office. The following information describes the forms included in the packet in greater detail.
Required Documentation
1. Proof of Pregnancy
One of the following is required:
A signed and dated report from a physician, clinic, or Connecticut-licensed midwife who provided prenatal care, on official letterhead.
- Notarized affidavits from two adults, other than the child's parents, who have firsthand knowledge of the pregnancy.
- A signed and dated report from a practitioner or clinic that provided postpartum care to the birth parent within 24 hours after delivery, on official letterhead.
2. Proof of Live Birth
All of the following are required:
- A notarized affidavit from the birth parent confirming the date, time, and location of the live birth.
- Notarized affidavits from adult witnesses to the birth, if any.
- A signed and dated medical report confirming the newborn received medical care within 24 hours of birth, or documentation of the earliest date medical care was provided.
The necessary affidavit forms are included in the Home Birth Registration Packet.
Affidavits must be signed before a Notary Public.
3. Proof of Residency
One of the following may be provided:
- Mortgage statement or lease agreement
- Utility bill showing the birth parent's name and address
- Automobile registration
- Checking account deposit slip
- Voter registration card
- State-issued identification card showing residency
4. Proof of Identity
Government-issued photographic identification must be provided.
If photographic identification is unavailable, at least two alternative forms of identification may be accepted, as outlined in the state's registration packet.
Required Birth Registration Forms
The following forms are included in the registration packet and should be completed as applicable:
- Birth Parent's Worksheet for Child Birth Certificate (v2003) – Provides the information needed to prepare the child's birth certificate.
- Medical Data Worksheet for the Live Birth Certificate (v2003) – Records medical information regarding the pregnancy, birth, and newborn.
- Affidavit of Birth Parent to the Birth – Confirms the circumstances of the birth.
- Affidavit of Non-Birth Parent to the Birth – When applicable.
- Affidavit of Witness to the Birth – Required when adults witnessed the delivery.
- Affidavit of Witness to the Pregnancy – When used to establish proof of pregnancy.
- Acknowledgment of Parentage – When applicable.
- Social Security Number for Newborns Consent Form – For parents requesting a Social Security number through birth registration.
Additional Newborn Information and Online Resources
CT WiZ – Connecticut Immunization Information System
CT WiZ is Connecticut's confidential statewide immunization registry, which maintains vaccination records for children and adults.
Children born in Connecticut are automatically enrolled in CT WiZ through the state's birth registration process.
Parents have the right to opt their child out of CT WiZ.
A parent or legal guardian may request that their child's immunization information no longer be maintained in the registry by submitting a request directly to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Requests can be submitted using the state's secure online submission form or by mail or fax. Proof of identification is required.
Online Resources:
Connecticut Department of Public Health Immunization Program
Phone: 860-509-7929
Opting out of CT WiZ does not exempt a child from applicable immunization requirements.
CHET – Connecticut Higher Education Trust
CHET is Connecticut's 529 education savings program, designed to help families save for future educational expenses.
The CHET Baby Scholars Program provides eligible Connecticut newborns with a $100 contribution toward future educational expenses when a qualifying CHET account is opened.
Eligible children generally must be under one year of age and reside in Connecticut. No personal contribution is required to receive the initial $100 incentive.
Online Resources:
CHET Customer Service: 888-799-2438
Participation in CHET is voluntary and is not required for home birth registration.
Social Security Number for Your Newborn
Connecticut provides parents with the opportunity to request a Social Security number for their newborn during the birth registration process.
Parents who wish to request a Social Security number should complete the Social Security Numbers for Newborns Consent Form included in the Home Birth Registration Packet.
The information is transmitted through the state's birth registration process to the Social Security Administration.
Home Birth Registration Checklist
Before submitting documentation to the Town Clerk's Office, please review the following checklist:
- Proof of Pregnancy
- Proof of Live Birth
- Proof of Residency
- Proof of Identity
- Completed Birth Parent's Worksheet
- Completed Medical Data Worksheet
- Required Notarized Affidavits
- Acknowledgment of Parentage, if applicable
- Social Security Number for Newborns Form, if requesting this service
- Reviewed CT WiZ Information and Opt-Out Options
- Reviewed CHET Enrollment Information, if interested
Important Information
All documentation must be reviewed by the Registrar of Vital Statistics before a birth certificate can be prepared and registered.
The Registrar may request additional information or supporting documentation when necessary to verify the circumstances of the birth.
Parents planning a home birth are encouraged to contact the Town Clerk's Office in advance to become familiar with the registration process and required documentation.
Contact the Town Clerk's Office
Office Hours:
Monday–Wednesday: 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (Drop-off and vault access only)
Friday: Closed
Please contact the Town Clerk's Office before visiting to arrange for home birth registration and ensure all necessary documentation is available.
