Among the many details of planning your wedding, obtaining your marriage license and the requirements thereof are very important–don’t get caught out unaware!!
IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:
–The legal age for marriage in Connecticut is 18. If you are under age 18, you need to obtain written consent from a parent, guardian, or in the absence of such parent or guardian, a probate court judge. If under age 16, you need to obtain written consent from a probate court judge.
–All that is required for you and your intended to obtain a marriage license from the City or Town Hall OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN WHICH YOU WANT TO BE MARRIED—not the one that you reside in, unless they are the same.
–A blood test is not required in the State of Connecticut
–Bring identification and money to the Office of Vital Records at City Hall.
- Picture identification with your current address (if you don’t have identification, bring two different utility bills for proof of address)
- Social Security cards
- Name, address and phone number of the person performing the ceremony
- Address where the ceremony will take place
- Date of marriage
- Cash or money order (fee for license)
Both persons must personally appear. Either party may start the application process; however, the other party must appear before the wedding to sign the application. If both parties cannot be present at the same time they are allowed to come in separately and fill it out on different dates. When this is done, the later of the two dates will be considered to be the official application date. Once issued, the license is good for 65 days.
–Contact the Office of Vital Record’s to ascertain their hours for marriage license applications. Sometimes they will stop processing these applications before the official close time.
–IT IS WORTH REPEATING THAT it is imperative that you apply at the office of the town in which the wedding ceremony will occur, NOT the town in which you reside.
Your marriage ceremonies must be performed within 65 days of the date of issue of the marriage license. Judges, retired judges, justices of the peace, family support magistrates, and state referees may join persons in marriage in any Connecticut town.
On the day of your ceremony, DO NOT FORGET to bring the license with you to hand over to your officiant prior to the start of the ceremony. Trust me when I tell you that there is NOTHING more nerve-wracking than to have send a friend or relative speeding back to where the license was left behind to retrieve it!! By law, the license must be in the possession of the officiant BEFORE the ceremony can begin!
If you think you may be to scattered or nervous to remember it, place it in the hands of a trusted member of the wedding party, or a very proud aunt or uncle who would be honored to have such a big responsibility bestowed upon them on your special day!☺️
Lastly, after your ceremony is performed, it is the responsibility of the OFFICIANT to return the signed license to the city or town hall from which it was obtained for official recording. Certified copies are normally available within a day, or two of official recording.
More questions, or concerns? Feel free to contact me!
JP, Bobi Gill-Brooks
The Ebony JP