Dutch traders arrived in what is now Connecticut in 1614 and created its first European settlement in 1633. Connecticut's name comes from a Native American word meaning "beside the long tidal river". Famous people Benedict Arnold, Katharine Hepburn, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Mark Twain all hail from Connecticut. The state is steeped in rich history, with a vast coastline and fascinating maritime museums. Connecticut has a population of 3.626 million people, meaning a lot of property records.

Property records consist of many things that impact the state, local government, private companies, professionals, and homeowners. Many in the real estate industry consult property records daily to gather information and make sound decisions. Some documents provide a wealth of information.

Keep reading to learn more about Connecticut property records, what they are and how they are used, the different types, where to find them, and make changes when necessary.

Property records in Connecticut are official forms and documents that contain information about a property and its owners. They are created by government offices, the courts, private individuals, attorneys, realty professionals, and others.

Sources of Property Records in Connecticut

Public property records are not stored in one location in Connecticut. They are spread among a few government agencies, private companies, the courts, and realty resources. For instance, if you need to file a deed in Connecticut, you will visit the local town or county website and file it online, or you can visit the town clerk in person. Rocky Hill makes filing a deed easy in three easy ways. If you need to find a deed, you can check the county website for a search portal or use the state search tool.

Each local county tax assessor's office is responsible for setting property tax rates, conducting assessments, and collecting tax bills. Some counties call their tax professional a "Tax Collector". Bridgeport allows residents to pay taxes online through its website.

Towns and counties each have a building inspector who handles building permits and inspections. Contact your town offices to find out who to contact before building new, renovating, or demolishing any buildings.

Each town in Connecticut has a town clerk's office, which is the town's central administrative office. They perform many functions, including custodian of public records and vital statistics, communicator of public policy, organizer of public businesses, and recorder of the community's history. They also perform many other tasks to make the town government run smoothly. Town clerks play an important role in local elections.

How Property Records are Maintained in Connecticut

Connecticut towns and cities maintain records according to their own system. However, the state is unified in that all public records are computerized and shared, making them easy for the public to access. When a new document is filed, the town clerk stamps it with the date, time, and a unique identifier to make it easy to find later.

Accessing Records at the Town Clerk in Connecticut

Anyone can visit the town clerk's office to ask for certified or regular copies of public records. For some, you may have to pay a fee. You must visit during normal business hours. Many of the local town clerk's offices have websites. To get you started, here are a few:

Town Clerk Locations in Connecticut

Finding the right records is essential when performing a property history search. To do so, you need to know where to look. The state of Connecticut has made it easy to find what you are looking for by organizing this list of all town clerk locations within the state.

Various types of property records exist, each with its own purpose and specific information. The most common types of property records in Connecticut are listed below with further detail.

Property taxation is a state power granted to local governments by the Connecticut General Assembly. Local assessors must annually assess personal property in Connecticut for tax purposes. Statutes exempt clothes, furniture, and other property generally owned by individuals. On the other hand, towns must revalue real property such as land, homes, buildings, and other real property every ten years. Assessors are responsible for valuation but may hire certified private companies to conduct the assessment. The exact time of assessment differs according to the local area. Assessment processes vary depending on the town and its procedures. However, a standard process goes as follows:

Easements and Covenants

Easements and covenants are details that appear in deeds, mortgages, appraisals, and other records. Easements are rights-of-way that allow access to the property to someone other than the owner. An example would be a town road that crossed over private property. Any new owner would need to continue to allow the town access to the road.

Covenants are different; they are rules governing how a property can be used. You see these in condo developments and gated communities. Some areas have strict rules about paint colors, lawn decorations, and even holiday trimmings.

Plats and Surveys

Plats and surveys are both types of maps. They differ slightly in that surveys include coordinates but only the boundaries of the property, while plats include the boundaries of other neighboring properties.

Some of the common types of property surveys in Connecticut include:

The information on these types of surveys varies depending on the surveyor.

Historical Property Records

Property records can grow over time and become unmanageable. Many states, like Connecticut, archive older records into a historical repository. Connecticut has created an archive database system called ConnCRIS to make searching for and finding historical property records easy.

Building Permits and Regulations in Connecticut

Each town has a building inspector and permitting office. If you plan on renovating your property, you must obtain a building permit first. Contact your local building inspector (the town clerk will have that info) and ask to apply.

It's completely legal to perform a property history search to find public records. Thankfully, this age of technology affords you many different options for searching. Try each one to see what works for you.

Online Property Record Search

The first place to start is with a generic online property record search. Type the full property address into the search bar of Google or some other search engine and review the results. Chances are you won't find exactly what you need and will have to dig deeper.

In-Person Property Record Search

You can always visit the town clerk's office or building inspector to find what you need. Check their regular business hours. You should be able to walk in, but some offices, like the tax assessor, may require an appointment first. You may have to pay a small fee for copies.

Using Property Record Indexes

The internet is bursting with property record indexes through realty sites and related companies. You may find many different property records there, but keep in mind that these repositories are not always updated frequently, and the information could be outdated.

How to Search Property Records by Address

The best way to find what you need is to search using the property address. It will yield much better results. Type the full property address into the search bar of the portal.

How to Search Property Records by Name

You can also sometimes search by owner name. You may get current or historical owner's names.

Since property records are public, you can easily find owners. If, for some reason, you need to contact someone who owns a specific property, you can do so easily by checking the most recent deed. Remember that your name will also be on your deed and accessible by anyone.

Another essential aspect of property records is the legal property description. It includes coordinates, maps, and a written description that includes natural and manmade landmarks so anyone can easily find them. These descriptions show up on deeds, mortgages, appraisals, and other property records.

Surveys and Land Measurements

Surveys are land measurements and coordinates of a specific piece of real property. They are used before breaking ground on new construction, when installing utilities, and are used in boundary disputes.

Boundary Disputes and Resolutions

Property boundaries often get blurred, and one owner may believe that someone is encroaching on their land. When this happens, these disputes usually end up in court. The judge must decide the outcome, and often, he or she will use professional surveyors to determine the proper boundaries.

Encumbrances like liens can negatively affect the property and its owner's reputation. Regular liens like mortgage liens are fine, but when you see multiple liens on a property, the value can drop and be hard to sell. There are two types of liens: voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary Liens

Voluntary liens are those that you control. You choose to take out a loan and agree to let the lender place a lien on the property. Even still, if you default on the loan, you could lose your house.

Involuntary Liens

Involuntary liens are those over which you have no control. These occur when you fail to pay a debt, and the debtor has the right to put a lien on the property and then eventually foreclose on the home to get paid.

The Process of Property Liens in Connecticut

The process of placing a lien in Connecticut differs based on the type of lien. However, the basic process for getting a mechanics lien goes as follows:

Real estate deals are the most common way property records are used and created. Many players use them before the sale to collect information. Then, during the process, more are created (deeds, appraisals, liens, etc.), replacing older ones.

Buying Property: Due Diligence

Before buying property, you want to learn as much as possible about it. The best way to do that is through public property records. You can assess the value and taxes, find any liens or foreclosures, and determine if it is right for you.

Selling Property: Providing Disclosure

When selling property, you must disclose any material defects you are aware of. For example, if you know that the roof is leaking or the house has ever had asbestos or lead paint, you will need to disclose those things.

Title Searches and Insurance

If you borrow money to buy a house, your lender will require that you purchase title insurance. Your title company will perform a complete property title search prior to closing, looking for any title defects or things that could derail the sale.

Foreclosure and Property Records in Connecticut

Foreclosures show up in property records. They do not look good and can sully the financial reputation of the owner. Many buyers do not want to deal with the hassles of buying a property in foreclosure. It can create extra paperwork and complexities.

Pre-Foreclosures in Connecticut

The pre-foreclosure stage is when the house is in foreclosure but not yet final (sold at auction). During this window of opportunity, investors sometimes offer to buy these properties to help the owners get out of debt. They may not pay top dollar but will pay enough to pay off the debts. They can then turn around and sell the property for a profit.

When was the House Built?

It's nice to know when a certain house was built. You can find out easily by looking through property records. Examine all the building permits for the house and find the first one allowing the home to be built.

Property values are often recorded in property records. Some indicate the fair market value (FMV), which is the yardstick used by the realty industry to determine a property's current market value.

Assessments and Appraisals

Tax collectors and assessors use assessments to value property for tax purposes. They set tax rates, collect taxes, and impose liens on property for unpaid taxes. However, these assessments don't always match the fair market value.

Mortgage and realty professionals use appraisals to value the property for sale. The appraiser inspects the home and compares it with other comparable homes in the area. Appraisals attempt to determine the fair market value. Sometimes, private citizens use appraisals for estate planning.

As much as you may value privacy, you must understand that some of your information will show up in public records. Public records mean anyone can access your records at any time; they are not private. That includes your deeds, building permits,liens, foreclosures, mortgages, and other details.

Why are Property Records Public?

Property records are public to create a public chain of title so it's clear who owns what property. They are also public to prevent any one government entity from having too much power over the people.

How Do I Protect My Personal Information in Property Records?

With identity theft and fraud on everyone's minds these days, it is customary to worry about your information in public records. Although you cannot remove all your information, you can contact the agencies that hold them and ask them to remove anything beyond your name and address. You don't want your phone number, email address, or other information out there.

Another aspect of property records is maintaining them when things change. You must handle this yourself; no one will do it for you. The agency that holds your records will not know anything has changed for you.