How to Fill out a Connecticut Marriage License with Samples & FAQs

Asked to officiate a Connecticut wedding? Getting married in Connecticut? Whether you're a new wedding officiant or soon-to-be newlyweds, here’s everything you need to know about the marriage license process, including cost, waiting period, and – most importantly – how to fill out a CT marriage license correctly the first time!

 

Wedding bells are ringing, so let’s take a look! 

 

How to Fill Out a Connecticut Marriage License: Samples & FAQs

 

1. How to Fill Out a Connecticut Marriage License (for the Officiant / Officiator)

 

It’s the couple’s responsibility to purchase a marriage license before the wedding day, and the wedding officiant’s responsibility to complete and return the marriage license after the wedding ceremony. 

 

In Connecticut, couples must choose a wedding officiant before applying for their marriage license (as well as deciding the date and location of their wedding). These details must be entered on the “marriage license worksheet,” which the couple completes when purchasing their license. Depending on where the couple applies, they may need to know the officiant’s: full name, phone number, email address, and residential address. This information must match the officiant’s name and signature on the marriage license following the wedding ceremony.

 

Related: Officiant Training: Understanding the Wedding License Process

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Here are a few pointers from the Branford and Wallingford Town Clerk Offices to help you get started:

 

• Use permanent black ink only to complete the officiator’s portion of the marriage license. Please print legibly – print only, do not use cursive to fill in the license except when signing your name.

 

• Do not fill in the sections labeled “Registrar” or “Administrative” at the bottom of the form. These will be completed by the registrar when the license is returned and filed. Do not write in the social security numbers of the couple.

 

• If you are an ordained minister with American Marriage Ministries, please write “Minister” where it asks for your “Capacity” on the marriage license. 

 

More Info: AMM FAQs: What is My Title Once I Get Ordained Online?

 

• Please write “Religious” where it asks for “Type of ceremony.” Even if the ceremony is nonreligious in nature, you are performing it in your capacity as an AMM Minister, which is a “religious” official. 

 

More Info: Wedding Officiant Training: Ceremony Type on Marriage License

 

• As the wedding officiant, you must complete the officiator’s portion of the marriage license and return it to the Registrar / Town Clerk’s office where it was issued no later than the first week of the month following the marriage ceremony. 

 

• Do not give the couple the completed license to return to the clerk’s office. The officiant is responsible for delivering the completed form to the clerk’s office in the town where the wedding took place.

 

• If you are unable to return the marriage license in-person, sending it by registered mail to the Town Clerk’s designated address is strongly recommended. Registered mail is a special secure mail service offered by the US Post Office; registered mail will protect the document at each point of its journey and must be signed for upon delivery to the clerk’s office. Call your clerk for the correct mailing address. 

 

• After the marriage license has been filed with the clerk’s office, it becomes a vital record and is then referred to as a Marriage Certificate.

 

 

2.  Sample Connecticut Marriage License (Two Examples)

 

Below are two sample Connecticut marriage licenses (not to be confused with the marriage license worksheets completed by the couple). The officiant’s section is located near the bottom of the document, and may be labeled “Officiant” or “Officiator,” depending on where in the state it was issued. 

 

The officiant must fill in all the boxes in this designated section, including: the couple’s full names, the town and county name where the ceremony took place, the date of the ceremony, the officiant’s full name (printed) and signed, and the “capacity” in which they performed the marriage (write “minister”). In some locations, you may also be asked to indicate the “type of ceremony” (write “religious” for all ceremonies performed by an ordained AMM minister). 

 

As mentioned above, do not fill in the sections labeled “Registrar” or “Administrative.” These will be completed by the clerk when the license is returned and filed. 

 

Sample One: Marriage License from Wallingford, New Haven County, CT

 

Sample marriage license, Connecticut: This example is provided by Wallingford Town Clerk, in New Haven County. Your marriage license may look slightly different; it's important to read each label clearly and contact your local clerk / registrar with specific questions. (Officiator's portion highlighted with yellow)

 

 

 

Sample Two: Marriage License from Warren, Litchfield County, CT

 

Sample marriage license, CT: This example is provided by the Warren Town Clerk, in Litchfield County. Notice that this variation asks for the “type of ceremony,” which AMM ministers should mark as “religious.” (Officiator's portion highlighted with green)

 

 

 

3. What if You Make a Mistake on a CT Marriage License?

 

If you make a mistake while filling out the marriage license – such as a misspelled name or incorrect date – contact the clerk’s office directly to ask what steps should be taken to correct the error. Do not use white-out or corrective tape. Depending on the type / extent of the error, the couple may need to purchase a replacement license to fill out again with accurate information. 

 

Since different counties have different steps to take to correct various types of errors, we recommend you contact the clerk’s office directly with your questions. This will be the simplest way to handle any issues that come up.

 

How to correct or amend a Connecticut marriage license after it’s filed

 

To amend a Connecticut marriage certificate after it's filed, you must make a formal request with the registrar in the town where it was filed, including submitting a notarized affidavit that confirms the marriage record is incorrect or incomplete and provides the updated information. To start the process, contact the Vital Records office directly and ask about your next steps. 

 

 

4. Can I Officiate a Wedding in Connecticut?

 

Yes! Ministers who are ordained online through a reputable and recognized church, including American Marriage Ministries (AMM), can officiate weddings in Connecticut and sign the marriage license.

Minister registration is not required in Connecticut. This means that once you've been ordained by a reputable church like AMM, no additional legal paperwork is required. Click the link below to get ordained with AMM today! 

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However, not all online-ordained ministers are legally qualified to perform marriages in all states. If your officiant is ordained online with a church other than American Marriage Ministries, it’s important to verify their minister credentials before they perform your wedding ceremony: 

 

• How to Tell if Your Officiant Can Perform a Legal Wedding

 

 

5. Where to Apply for a Marriage License in Connecticut

 

Couples must apply for their marriage license in the specific town or city where the marriage will take place. Marriage license applications are handled by the local registrar/clerk at the Town Clerk’s Office (or Vital Records Office). Both parties to be married must appear in person to complete the application process (couples can appear separately, the date of the second signature is used to determine the license's issue date). An appointment is usually required and must be made at least one day in advance.  

 

As mentioned above, couples must choose a wedding officiant before applying for their marriage license (as well as deciding the date and location of their wedding). The officiant’s personal details will be entered on the “marriage license worksheet,” which the couple completes when purchasing their license. 

 

Need help choosing an officiant before you apply for your marriage license?

 

Check out these helpful AMM resources:

 

• How to Choose an Officiant & Why a Friend Might Be Best
• Choosing a Wedding Officiant: What (or Who) Are Your Options?
• When to Hire Your Wedding Officiant: Timing & Checklist

 

CT Marriage License Requirements

 

To qualify for a marriage license in Connecticut, you must provide the registrar with: a valid government-issued photo ID or approved alternatives; your social security number (if you have one); and be at least 18 years of age (no exceptions for minors). You may also be asked for the full names and birthplaces of each party’s parents; your level of completed education; the number of times you’ve been married; and other personal details. There is no residency requirement in Connecticut, which means that both parties may live out-of-state. 

 

Related: How to Get Married in Connecticut - Planning a Wedding in the Constitution State

 

 

6. How Much is a Marriage License in CT?

 

Marriage license prices may vary slightly by county, and sometimes increase to keep up with state budget costs. For the most current Connecticut marriage license cost, click the link below, or contact your local clerk’s office: 

 

• How Much Does a Marriage License Cost?

 

 

7. How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in CT? (Waiting Period)

 

In general, you must make an appointment to apply for your marriage license. Because most locations do not allow same-day appointments, it’s important to plan ahead. You can use your marriage license immediately once it’s been issued, as there is no waiting period to marry in Connecticut. (Same day weddings are allowed in Connecticut.) Learn more about marriage license waiting periods by clicking the link below: 

 

• Can You Get Married on the Same Day You Get a Marriage License?

 

 

8. How Long is a Marriage License Good For in CT?

 

The amount of time you have to use a marriage license called the “expiration period.” This is the number of days or months your license is valid after it’s issued – your ceremony must take place within this timeframe. To see the current Connecticut marriage license expiration period, click the link below: 

 

• Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return
• See all CT marriage license laws 

 

 

9. Where Do I Get a Copy of a Marriage Certificate in CT?

 

There are a few ways to order a certified copy of a marriage certificate in Connecticut:

 

• Order online through VitalChek,
• Order by mail by completing a state application form and mailing it to the State Vital Records Office (OVR), or
• Order in-person or by mail by completing a town application form and submitting your order with the town’s vital records office.

 

For more details on getting an official copy of your certificate, check out this helpful page from the CT Department of Public Health: Marriage and Civil Union Certificates

 

If you need a replacement copy of a marriage license before it’s been filed (to replace a lost or damaged marriage license, for example), contact the issuing office directly for next steps. 

 

Related: Can you get married without a marriage license? What if you lost it? Or forgot it?

 

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More Wedding Officiant Advice from AMM

 

• How to Officiate a Wedding For the First Time
   
• Wedding Officiant Do's & Don't's
   
• The Officiant Timeline
   
• What to Wear (and Not Wear) as a Wedding Officiant

 

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