The Marriage License
How to Apply
- There is no residency requirement in Connecticut; both bride and groom may live elsewhere.
- The marriage license may be obtained in one of the couple's towns of residence or in the town where the marriage will take place.
- Both the prospective bride and groom must apply for the license in person, but not necessarily together. If the application is signed by the parties on different dates, then the earlier date is considered the official application date.
- If they go to the Town Clerk where one of them lives, that person must present documentation (a valid driver's license or a utility bill, for example) proving residency.
- The application asks for your name, age, race, birthplace, residence and marital status. You must swear that the information is true.
- The application fee is $30. Call the Town Clerk before going to verify hours open and whether cash or check is acceptable.
- The license will be issued immediately after all requirements have been met. It must be signed by the bride and groom and the Town Clerk who also stamps it with a raised seal. The license is valid for 65 days.
Blood Test No Longer Required
- Effective October 1, 2003, Connecticut no longer requires premarital syphilis and rubella screening. The state finally heeded the counsel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and repealed mandatory blood tests.
Getting Married
- If either bride or groom is under 18, a parent must consent to the marriage by signing the back of the license. If under 16, a Probate Judge must also endorse the consent.
- All Connecticut Justices of the Peace may perform marriages anywhere in the state.
- Connecticut does not require any witnesses to the marriage.
Filing the Completed License
- The Justices of the Peace (or whoever performs the marriage) is responsible for indicating (in black ink) the time and place of the marriage on the license and returning it to the Town Clerk where the marriage took place.. This must be done by the first week of the month following the marriage.
- You can request a copy of the completed marriage license from the Town Clerk's office. The cost is $5.
NOTE:
If you plan to use your married name at work,
be sure to have your name changed in Social Security
records. This way, you will get credit for all
your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free.
Contact any Social Security office. Look in the
telephone book for the address and phone number.
You will need documentary evidence showing both
your old name and your new name.
View
local wedding professional in Connecticut
**As with any other laws, marriage laws can change
so we advise you to check with the county, city,
or town clerk.**
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