How to Get Married in Connecticut (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Connecticut · Last updated 2026-05-18
If you are getting married in Connecticut, the license process, the timing, and the recognized officiants are all set by Connecticut law. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: None. License validity in Connecticut: 65 days. Common-law-marriage status: Connecticut does not recognize common law marriage. The sections that follow cover the Connecticut steps from application through recorded marriage certificate.
Key Considerations
Two formation rules complete the Connecticut marriage picture. Connecticut does not recognize common law marriage. Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state. The first tells you whether Connecticut will recognize a marriage that never went through a ceremony at all; the second tells you which ceremonies the state will recognize.
A Connecticut marriage starts with a license, and a license starts with two threshold questions: cost and age eligibility. The cost question runs to the issuing clerk: 50. See the state agency website. The age question is set by the state marriage code: A person is eligible to marry if such person is at least eighteen years of age. Both are settled before any application is signed.
Two date-driven Connecticut rules surround the marriage license. None. 65 days. A ceremony performed inside the waiting period (where one applies) or after the validity window has lapsed is not lawful, and the parties would have to reapply.
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Relevant Documents
For a Connecticut marriage, the core documents are the marriage-license application filed with the issuing clerk and, where a premarital-course incentive applies, the certificate of completion from a state-approved provider. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The marriage-license fee in Connecticut is collected by the issuing clerk at the time of application.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-20 to 46b-38
These statutes outline Connecticut's marriage laws, including who may legally marry, age requirements (18 years or older without parental consent, 16-17 with parental/guardian consent), and the marriage license application process. Couples must obtain a marriage license from a town clerk and have it solemnized within 65 days by an authorized person.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-24
This law specifies that couples must apply for a marriage license in person at the town clerk's office in the town where the marriage will take place or where either applicant resides. The license becomes valid immediately upon issuance and remains valid for 65 days. Both parties must appear together to apply for the license.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-22
This statute defines who may legally perform marriage ceremonies in Connecticut, including ordained clergy, elected officials (judges, justices of the peace, family support magistrates), and certain appointed officials. The law also recognizes ceremonies performed according to the customs of religious societies.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-25
This law requires applicants to provide specific information when applying for a marriage license, including full names, addresses, dates and places of birth, parents' names and birthplaces, social security numbers, and whether either party has been previously married. This information is necessary for the town clerk to issue a valid marriage license.
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-28a
Connecticut recognizes marriages that are valid in the jurisdiction where they were performed (full faith and credit). This is important for couples who may have married elsewhere and are now residing in Connecticut, as their marriage will be legally recognized in the state.
Regional Variances
Marriage License Requirements in Connecticut
In Hartford, couples must apply for their marriage license at the Town Clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person. Hartford requires a 24-hour waiting period after obtaining the license before the ceremony can take place, and the license is valid for 65 days.
New Haven follows the standard Connecticut requirements but specifically requires proof of divorce or death certificate if previously married. The Town Clerk's office in New Haven is known for being particularly strict about documentation requirements.
Stamford requires appointments for marriage license applications, unlike some other Connecticut municipalities where walk-ins are accepted. The license fee in Stamford is $50, payable by cash or check only.
Bridgeport's Town Clerk offers extended hours on Thursdays for marriage license applications, making it more accessible for working couples. They also provide a notary service on-site if needed for any marriage-related documentation.
Marriage Ceremony Requirements
Greenwich has specific regulations for beach weddings, requiring a special permit from the Parks and Recreation Department at least 30 days in advance, with additional fees that can range from $250-$500 depending on residency status.
While not a separate jurisdiction but a village within Stonington, Mystic has become a popular wedding destination and has specific rules for ceremonies at the Mystic Seaport Museum and other historic venues, often requiring approval from the historical society.
Rural Litchfield County has unique considerations for barn and farm weddings, with many towns requiring special event permits and noise ordinance compliance that can vary significantly from town to town within the county.
Name Change Procedures
Fairfield County courts typically process name change applications faster than other counties, often within 2-3 weeks after marriage. They also provide a comprehensive checklist specific to their jurisdiction for all documents needed.
New London County requires additional documentation for name changes on driver's licenses, including proof of residence within the county, which differs from requirements in other Connecticut counties.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the Connecticut issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office.
Before the ceremony days after starting50. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been.
Before the ceremony days after startingThe clerk verifies these on the spot.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window
Before applying days after starting65 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after startingNone. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingPersons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the Connecticut issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office. | 50. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Bring the identification stack the clerk expects: current photo ID for each applicant and, for applicants who have been. | The clerk verifies these on the spot. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window | 65 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over. | - | Before applying |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | None. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
None. The waiting period (if any) starts running from the date the license is issued, not from the date the application is filed; the date that controls is the issuance date on the license itself.
Connecticut does not recognize common law marriage. Where a state does still recognize common-law marriage, the elements (present-tense agreement to be married, cohabitation in the state, holding out as married) vary in detail, and a couple relying on the doctrine should document each element.
50. Confirming the exact dollar amount with the specific Connecticut issuing office before the application appointment avoids surprises at the counter, especially in states where multiple clerks issue licenses at different fee levels.
Other Connecticut guides
How to File for Divorce in Connecticut (2026)
Asset Protection Planning in Connecticut (2026)
Tenant Rights in Connecticut: Renting a New Property (2026)
Selling a House with Renters in Connecticut (2026)
Small Business Loan Guide for Connecticut (2026)
How to File a Small Claims Lawsuit in Connecticut (2026)
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