FAQ’s about
APPLYING FOR A LICENSE TO MARRY / CIVIL UNION
Where do I get my license?
For Connecticut residents, Marriage License / Civil Union Licenses’ may be obtained in EITHER the town of residence of ONE of the parties, OR the town of occurrence.
For people who reside in places other than Connecticut, the license MUST be issued in the town of occurrence.
The Marriage / Civil Union MUST be performed in the town indicated on the license.
Do we both need to be there?
To obtain a Marriage / Civil Union License, both parties must appear in person, however they need not appear at the same time.
Do we need blood tests?
As of October 1, 2003, NO blood test is necessary.
What else do we need to bring?
You will need a photo ID. In cases of divorce prior to this union, NO divorce papers are necessary.
We must also have the exact date and town that the ceremony will take place, and the name, address, title and telephone number of the person performing the ceremony.
When may the license be used?
There is NO waiting period. The license may be used immediately after obtaining it. The license is valid for 65 days from the date of application.
What is the fee?
The fee for obtaining a Marriage / Civil Union License in the State of Connecticut is $30.00. Payment method is cash or check. NO credit/debit cards are accepted.
If you are obtaining your license in Madison, and the ceremony is to be held in Madison, an extra $10 fee will be charged and a certified copy of the license will automatically be sent to you once we have received it for record.
If you obtain your license in Madison, but the ceremony is held elsewhere, we will not charge the extra $10 fee, however it will be your responsibility to obtain certified copies if/when the need arises.
What happens to the certificate after the ceremony?
The person who performs the Marriage / Civil Union ceremony must complete the certificate AFTER performing the union, and return it to the REGISTRAR OF THE TOWN WHERE THE CEREMONY OCCURRED.
The town of occurrence maintains the original and sends certified copies to the State of Connecticut, along with the Town(s) of residence within Connecticut, listed on the certificate, for the parties involved. Once that occurs, you may purchase certified copies from either the town of occurrence OR the town(s) of residence listed on the certificate.
Can a friend / family member who has become ordained on the internet legally perform a marriage ceremony?
NO. Connecticut State Statutes, 46b-22, states that clergy must “continue in the work of the ministry”. This means that any ordained minister who does not regularly carry out ministerial work would NOT be authorized to perform marriage ceremonies in Connecticut.
