Town Clerk FAQs
What are the hours for the Town Clerk’s Office?
The Town Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm). THERE ARE NO LAND RECORDINGS OR LICENSES PROCESSED AFTER 4:00 P.M.
What do I need to obtain a copy of a birth certificate?
Birth certificates in the State of Connecticut are confidential records, except for those records over 100 years old. Certified copies of births certificates are available in the Town Clerk’s office if the birth occurred in Easton or if the mother was a resident of Easton at the time of the birth. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a birth certificate, please visit birth certificate copies.
What do I need to obtain a copy of a death certificate?
Certified copies of death certificates are available in the Town Clerk’s office if the death occurred in Easton or if the individual was a resident of Easton at the time of the death. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a death certificate, please visit death certificate copies.
What do I need to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate?
The Town Clerk’s office issues certified copies of marriage certificates if the marriage occurred in Easton or if the bride and groom were residents of Easton at the time of the marriage. For additional information on how to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate, please visit marriage certificates copies.
How do I apply for a marriage license?
To obtain a marriage license in Connecticut, you must apply for a marriage license in the town where you are getting married and bring the following with you:
• Valid photo I.D. for both bride & groom
• Cash, check or money order for the license fee.
• The name of who is going to perform the ceremony, the date and place of ceremony.
• You must get married in the town indicated on the license, or it becomes invalid.
• You must appear in person.
• No blood tests are required as of 10/1/2003.
For additional information on the requirements, restrictions and how to apply for a marriage license in Easton, please visit marriage licenses.
What is the conveyance tax rate and land recording fees in Easton?
* Please see notice under News & Announcements for updated land record recording information.
The Easton municipal conveyance tax is one quarter percent (0.0025%). The residential conveyance tax rate for the State of Connecticut is three quarters percent (0.0075%). The fee to record a document on the land records is $60 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Property transfers reportable to the State require a $2 surcharge above $2,000. For additional land recording fees, please visit recording information.
What do I need to open a business or file a trade name in Easton?
If you are conducting business in the State of Connecticut under any designation, name or style, corporate or otherwise, or an assumed name other than your real name, you must file a Trade Name Certificate in the town where the business is being transacted. Check with the Land Use Department to see if there are any additional requirements. For additional information on how to file a trade name certificate in Easton, please visit trade name certificates.
There may be additional State of Connecticut business licensing and registration required for a new business. For information on state licensing and requirements visit the Secretary of State website or check CT's Business Response Center for any additional licensing requirements.
How do I become a Notary Public in Connecticut?
View information from the State of Connecticut regarding Notary Public Licensing. Please remember that all notary transactions -- including new applications and renewals -- can be completed online.
Where may I get a document notarized?
The Notary Public is a public official appointed by the Secretary of the State through the power vested in the Secretary by state law. The Town Clerk’s office has three (3) Notary Publics available to notarize documents. The Notary has the power to administer oaths, take acknowledgments and perform other duties as permitted by law.
Please DO NOT sign the document before having it notarized. The office does not notarize certain documents, such as wills, advanced directives, I-9 Forms or any documents that will be recorded on the Easton Land Records. To have a document notarized, the service is free to Easton residents and $5.00 per document for non-residents and photo I.D. is required. The office accepts cash or check only. Debit or credit cards are not accepted at this time. Notary Public Services are available in the Town Clerk's office during regular business hours.
There are certain statutory requirements necessary before we can notarize a document:
You Must:
1. Be personally known to us; or
2. Show absolute proof as to your identity with at least two valid forms of identification.
Identification must contain the individual’s signature, at least one of which also contains a photograph or a physical description of the signer. Social security cards and birth certificates do not qualify as identification. If an individual requesting notarial services does not have satisfactory forms of identification, identity can be established by the oath or affirmation of a credible witness.
What do I need to sell food, goods, or merchandise in Easton?
If you are selling food or carrying goods or merchandise for sale in Easton you must obtain a peddler’s license. Detailed information regarding the requirements and exceptions may be accessed in the Easton Ordinance section of the Town Website Chapter 379 Peddling and Soliciting.
How may I obtain an absentee ballot?
If you are a registered voter in Easton, absentee ballot application forms can be obtained in person at the Town Clerks Office or downloaded from the State's website. The absentee ballots are also available in the Town Clerk’s Office. For a permanent absentee ballot, please inquire with the Town Clerk’s office.
Who is eligible for an Absentee Ballot?
Absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots may be obtained by calling the Town Clerk's Office at (203)268-6291, or by completing an application (available online or in our office) during regular business hours. Applications must be completed and returned to the Easton Town Clerk's Office before an absentee ballot is issued to you. Absentee Ballots must be given in person or mailed.
Military personnel and persons temporarily living overseas may submit a Federal Post Card Application to register and apply for an absentee ballot.
An application for an absentee ballot may be downloaded from the Secretary of State website.
An elector may vote by absentee ballot for one of the following reasons:
• Absence from the town during all hours of voting
• Active service in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Illness
• Physical disability
• Religious tenets which forbid secular activity on election, primary, or referendum day
• Service as an election official at a polling place other than the official’s place of voting
Who may obtain a Permanent Absentee Ballot?
Voters with permanent disabilities may be eligible for permanent absentee ballot status. The voter must file an application and a doctor's certificate stating they have a permanent disability and are unable to appear at the polls. Contact the Town Clerk's office for further details.
What do I need to apply for a dog license?
If your dog is six months or older, state law requires that you obtain a license in the town where you reside. Newly obtained dogs must be licensed within thirty days of new ownership. When you obtain your license you must submit a current rabies vaccination certificate issued by your veterinarian. You will also need to submit proof of the dog being spayed or neutered.
To obtain a dog license, you need the following:
- Application with your name, address, phone number, email address, veterinarian, and dog’s name.
- Proof of current rabies vaccination.
- Proof of neutering/spaying certificate if applicable.
- $8.00 for a spayed/neutered dog or $19.00 for an unaltered dog.
Licensing month is June. Late licensing penalty of $1.00 per month for each month after June.
Dog license renewal is available online with the owner’s name, year of license and tag number though the online dog license renewal system.
New dog licenses must be obtained in-person at the Town Clerk's office or by mail by sending the above information and appropriate fees, including a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Town Clerk
Easton Town Hall
225 Center Road
Easton, CT 06612
Other Fees:
•Replacement tag - $0.50
•Transfer of ownership - $1.00
•Change of residence (town) - $0.50
How long is my hunting or fishing license valid?
Sporting licenses are issued on a calendar year, and expire on December 31st, except lifetime licenses issued to those who are 65 years of age or older. Hunting and Fishing licenses are required for anyone 16 years of age or older.
In order to obtain a fishing permit for the Aquarion Water Company property, you must present a current Department of Environmental Protection Conservation ID at the Town Clerk’s office for a daily, season or lifetime permit for senior citizens and the physically challenged. This permit is for fishing in the following reservoirs: West Pequonnock in Monroe, Far Mill in Shelton, and the Saugatuck in Redding/Weston.
Connecticut sport licenses and regulatory information are available online through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Hunting and fishing guides may be available at the Town Clerk’s office.
Where may I obtain information on an ordinance or local law?
Click here for the Easton Ordinances which are available electronically on the Town website. New amendments which have not been electronically incorporated into the existing code book are listed under the New Laws section by title.
How may I obtain a copy of my property deed or legal description?
You may obtain a copy of your property deed or the legal description at the Town Clerk’s Office (225 Center Road) or online by visiting online access to land records and maps. The cost is $1 per page. The land record indexes in the Town Clerk’s Office are maintained by the owner’s last name.
How do I change my name on my property deed or tax bill?
To change the owner’s name on a property, you should consult an attorney. Most likely, the attorney will prepare a certificate, deed or other legal document or the Probate Court will issue a document to distribute or transfer the property. The legal document prepared by the attorney or court will need to be recorded in the Town Clerk’s Office along with the appropriate recording fee. Once the document is recorded by the Town Clerk’s Office, the Assessor’s Office updates records to reflect the change on future tax bills.
State law does not allow the office to provide legal advice or to assist in preparing documents concerning real estate or land records.
Do you have a copy of my survey or plot plan?
This office does have maps on file of subdivisions, lot line revisions, site plans, and utility easements. The designation is reflected in the description in the transfer deed of title. However, the bank or closing attorney generally has the survey map of the property. Infrequently, the owner will record their own survey map on our records. Check with your attorney.
The Assessor’s office has Assessor’s maps showing the lot in the subdivision, but there is no house on the property map.
How do I add my spouse, child, nephew, family member, etc. to my deed of property?
You would need to call your attorney to prepare such a document.
Does the Town Clerk office prepare a Release of Mortgage or Lien?
This office is the recorder of original documents, preparing them for legal permanent record. We do not prepare any legal documents or forms. You would need to go to the original mortgage holder or bank for such a release. This must be recorded in the Town Clerk’s office to release your record.
How do I check for a lien on my property?
You may view the property indexes by owner’s last name in the Town Clerk’s office or online. The indexes are available online for no charge, and to access the images and documents you may subscribe by visiting our online access to land records and maps.
How may I change obtain a copy of my divorce papers?
Divorce decrees or court orders are available at the Court Clerk’s Office at the court where you were divorced. Please refer to the State of Connecticut Judicial website (link) on how and where to obtain a copy of your divorce decree or order.
How may I change apply for a passport?
You may apply for a passport through the U.S. Department of State or a local Post Office (please check your local area for the Post Offices designated for passport services. You may need a certified copy of your birth certificate to apply for the passport. For more information on the procedures and requirements for obtaining a passport access the U.S. Department of State website.
How do I file a mechanic’s lien?
You may file a mechanic’s lien with the Town Clerk’s Office. Forms and instructions may be available through an attorney, a local office supply store, or online. The fee to file the lien is $60 for the first page and $5 for each additional page. Remit cash or check payable to Town of Easton.
How do I file a foreclosure registration?
You must file a foreclosure registration with the Town Clerk’s Office. The form and instructions can be accessed online foreclosure registrant forms and information. The fee to file is payable to the Town of Easton by cash or check only.
How do I volunteer for an Easton Board or Commission?
To volunteer for a non-elected position on an Easton Board or Commission, please contact the First Selectmen’s office for consideration if there is an opening. Though not required, if you belong to a political party, you may wish to contact that town committee as the parties often interview candidates and make recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
What are the Boards and Commissions in Easton?
Reference the website for a list of Boards and Commissions in Easton.
When and where are the Board of Selectmen meetings held?
The regular Board of Selectmen meetings are held in the Easton Town Hall Conference Room on the first and third Thursday of the month, except when that date is a holiday or election. Special meetings are scheduled as necessary with at least 24 hour notice to the public, excluding weekends and holidays. Please reference the Board of Selectmen webpage or the town calendar for dates and times of all town board, commission and committee meetings.
Do you televise Board, Commission, and Committee meetings?
You may view the schedule for some of the local Town of Easton meetings on Government Channel 79. The Government Channel 79 schedule is a service we provide to the public to identify what programs are currently running. Due to budgetary constraints, we are not able to provide for all meetings to be televised. A new schedule is posted when new programs are recorded and put on the air — usually every 7 to 10 days.
Do you have a list of Justices of the Peace?
Yes, we have a list of Justices of the Peace currently available by mail, fax, you may pick one up or click Justices of the Peace to see a listing.
Where do I file my DD214 for Military Service?
Veterans who served in the military during a time of war, and own property or cars in the Town of Easton must file their military discharge forms (DD214) with the Town Clerk’s office in order to qualify for a tax exemption. The Assessor’s office will make the final determination of the veteran’s benefits available. For periods of entitlement, contact numbers and other information, Click on Military Discharges.