FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

How can we get married in Connecticut?

In Connecticut either an opposite-sex or a same-sex couple can be joined in marriage. First, you must meet the age requirements. (Basically, you must both be 18, but there are exceptions.) Second, you should select alocation for the ceremony. Third, you must apply for a marriage license. Fourth, select a wedding officiant. There is a Suggested Criteria Page for selecting an officiant. (I'm hoping that you will choose me as yours!) Fifth, rest and relax before the big day! This step is crucial to your enjoyment. Sixth, have the ceremony. You must give the original license to your officiant. It is the officiant's responsibility to sign the license and get it to the proper Town Clerk to be recorded. Seventh, live happily ever after.

 

Where do we apply for our marriage license?

You apply for your license at the office of the Town Clerk or Town Hall in the town where you will be married. The Connecticut marriage law changed, effective on October 1, 2009. The exact wording is "No persons may be joined in marriage in this state until both have complied with the provisions of sections 46b-24, 46b-25 and 46b-29 to 46b-33, inclusive, and have been issued a license by the registrar for the town in which the marriage is to be celebrated, which license shall bear the certification of the registrar that the persons named therein have complied with the provisions of said sections." Everyone I've talked to at Town Clerks' Offices has been very pleasant and helpful. Connecticut has 169 cities and towns, divided into 8 counties. Some villages, such as Mystic, are in two towns. If you need help, please call me at (860) 274-4144.

 

 

What is the application process for our marriage license?

After you have selected your ceremony location, apply for a marriage license in that town. Both of you must sign the application in person. In Connecticut it is not possible to obtain a license through the use of a Power of Attorney. You do not both have to sign the application at the same time. The license expiration limit starts when the first person signs. You will need to supply the following data about the ceremony

 

The date on which you expect to hold your ceremony.

A telephone number where one of you can be reached.

 

Each of you will need to furnish the following information 

Your name.

Your Social Security Number.

Your age and date of birth.

Your sex.

Your state or foreign country of birth.

Your residence address, including county

.Your race.

Whether you are under the supervision or control of a guardian or conservator.

Your father's name and birthplace (state or foreign country).

Your mother's maiden name and birthplace (state or foreign country).

The number of this marriage for you (first, second, etc.).

If you were previously in a marriage, did it end by death, divorce, or annulment?

The number of years of education that you have completed.

 

Each of you will take an oath that the information that you have provided is true. You will pay the fee required. In a very few minutes you will be able to walk out with your license!

 

As silly as it sounds, be careful with your license! You must give the original document to your wedding officiant in order to be legally joined. No legally-authorized officiant will marry you without having your license before the ceremony is performed. Also, please do not fold your marriage license.

 

Are we legally married when we get the marriage license in Connecticut?

No! You must have a wedding ceremony, no matter how brief, in order to be legally married in Connecticut. Your Justice of the Peace must fill out parts of your license, sign it, and return it to Town Hall. Only after your marriage ceremony you are considered legally married in Connecticut.The person at the Town Clerk's Office who issues your license is by law not permitted to marry you. If you would like a simple wedding ceremony at Town Hall, please call me.

 

When are we legally married in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, when are you considered married?

Just as soon as I finish the sentence "I now pronounce you ....", you are legally married.As soon as I file your marriage license at Town Hall and the Clerk (or Assistant Clerk) signs it, there is a legal record that you are married. If you need proof that you are married before then (to go on a cruise as a married couple, for example), I will swear an affidavit.

 

Where can we get married in Connecticut?

You can have your ceremony anywhere in Connecticut as long as you apply for your marriage license in that Connecticut town. You must apply for your marriage license in the town where you're having your wedding ceremony. You are encouraged to choose your own location, as long as you can arrange for me to have access during the ceremony.

 

Would you like a private ceremony at our Pondview setting? Would you like to be married on a beach? . Do you want to get married in a flower garden?  On a boat? A picnic style ? On top of a hill? In a meadow? Connecticut has limitless possibilities! Some places on the suggested locations Page are very popular. Please plan ahead and get all the necessary permissions, permits, etc. I will be happy to assist you in finding a suitable location! You can reach me at (860) 274-4144 at your convenience.

 

What are the age requirements for marriage in Connecticut?

The legal age for marriage in Connecticut is 18. If you are under 18, parental consent is required. A person under the age of 16 may not marry unless the judge of probate for the district in which the minor resides gives written consent on the marriage license.

 

Does the Justice of the Peace get the marriage license in Connecticut?

No. Only you can get your marriage license. To get married in Connecticut you must get your marriage license from the town hall of the town in which you will have your ceremony. You both must go in person. Nobody else can get your marriage license for you.Your Justice of the Peace must have your marriage license in his or her possession before marrying you.

 

Do we have to have a Justice of the Peace from the same county?

Do we need a JP from the same town where we're getting married?

No. Any Connecticut Justice of the Peace can marry anyone in any Connecticut county or town.

 

 

Can we apply for a marriage license in two towns for the same date?

Yes! In some cases, it is a wise idea. A couple decided to have a Saturday wedding by a lake in a town where their friends live, and got their license in that town. Two days before the wedding, the forecast predicted heavy rain and high wind, making an outdoor wedding impractical. The couple got a new marriage license in the town where they were to have their reception, and I married them at their reception location.You will have to pay two marriage license fees, and you will not get a refund for the unused marriage license. You might consider the extra $30 to be weather insurance.

 

How much does a marriage license cost?

The fee for a marriage license in Connecticut is $30.00. Some couples split the cost of the license, signifying the beginning of their financial partnership.

 

Does our marriage license expire?

Yes! Your ceremony must be held within 65 calendar days after the date of your application. If you sign the application on different days, your license expires 65 calendar days after the first person signs.

 

If we get married after our license expires, are we legally married?

No officially-authorized officiant will marry you without a validmarriage license. The person who violated the law would be fined and you two would not be legally married. In addition, all three of you would be guilty of fraud. Your only option is to get a new marriage license.

 

Are witnesses to the marriage ceremony required in Connecticut?

No. Most people want to share their special day with people close to them, but no witnesses are required. Some people prefer to have only the couple and the officiant present. You may have as many witnesses as your location will safely hold, or none at all. I am ethically bound to protect your privacy. Unless I have your permission, I will not divulge any information not required by law.

 

 

Can my sister perform part of the ceremony?

Absolutely! You are encouraged to have your friends and family participate in any ways that you find meaningful.Many times I have co-officiated with a divinity school student, family friend, or other person who was not legally recognized as a Connecticut officiant.There are a few things that must, by Connecticut law, be done by the Justice of the Peace or other legally-authorized person. The Justice of the Peace must sign your license certifying that the ceremony took place, for example. It cannot be emphasized enough: It is your day!Your happiness is my goal.

 

Are there people who cannot be legally married in Connecticut?

According to Connecticut Statute: "No man may marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, stepmother or stepdaughter, and no woman may marry her father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, stepfather or stepson". For same-sex couples, the same laws that applied to civil unions apply to marriages: "[No woman may marry her] mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister or mother's sister. [No man may marry his] father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, brother's son, sister's son, father's brother or mother's brother."Please notice that there is nothing in those lists that says that you cannot marry your cousin in Connecticut.

 

Is there a specific format for a marriage ceremony?

No. Your wedding ceremony will be as unique as you are! Together we will create your ideal wedding celebration. You are welcome to design your own wedding ceremony and write your own vows. In addition to theVows Page, I will be happy to assist you. Neither party needs to say "obey"! Modern language typically includes the words "love", "honor", "cherish", and "respect". You can write your own alternative wedding vows, and I'd be happy to help you if you'd like help. Most couples choose to have some form of Unity Ceremony as part of their wedding ceremonies, but it certainly isn't required. There are some examples with pictures on my Unity Ceremony Page. Would you like to have friends and family take an active part? There are many ways to include them. 

 

How is a Justice of the Peace wedding different from a church wedding?

How is getting married by a JP different from being married by a rabbi?

In one word, flexibility. Religious leaders may require that you take classes, attend their house of worship for a specific period of time before they will marry you, promise to bring your children up in their particular religious tradition, or insist on certain wording for your ceremony.On the other hand, I honor all people's right to choose and follow their own religious traditions. Or no belief system at all. All people, agnostics, atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Pagans, Wiccans, and those who feel spiritual but not religious, are equally welcome.When we meet I will ask you whether you want a ceremony that is religious, spiritual, or a purely civil ceremony. I will also ask what traditions, if any, you would like to include in your ceremony. What I will not ask you is where you go to church, when you went to mass,  temple, or synagogue ... if you have been baptized, ....

 

Would you like to include reading from the Bible, a unity candle, rose ceremony, sand ceremony,pebble ceremony...All traditional ceremony elements are equally welcome! You can even start new traditions.

 

Do you marry gay couples?

Do you marry lesbian couples?

Yes. I am happy to marry any loving couple. Many same-sex couples elope to Connecticut because they cannot yet get married in their home states. You do not have to be a Connecticut resident to get married in Connecticut.

 

Do we need blood tests to get married in Connecticut?

No. The Connecticut premarital blood test requirement was repealed effective on October 1, 2003. No blood tests are required in Connecticut for marriage.

 

Do we need wedding rings?

No. Wedding rings are not a requirement for marriage in Connecticut. Some couples prefer to use one ring, others prefer two rings. Wedding rings, or the lack of them, have no effect on the validity of a marriage. Wedding rings are required by some religious institutions, but are not needed for a Justice of the Peace wedding.

 

We want to elope. Is there a waiting period after we get our license?

No. People who want to elope can get married on the same day they get their license. There is no waiting period after you get your license. From the start of the license application until you present it to a wedding officiant may be as little as twenty minutes. How long it takes to get your marriage license after you have filled out the marriage license application depends on how busy the office is. Some towns may ask you to return the following day;

Please call the specific Town Clerk's Office to be sure!

 

How many guests can you have at a Justice of the Peace wedding?

How many people should attend a Justice of the Peace wedding?

How many guests would you like to have?

There is no reason to limit your number of guests! And there is no reason to have any guests, if you don't want people at your wedding ceremony.The only limitation on the number of guests at your wedding should be the number of people who will fit into your wedding venue. If you choose our pondview setting you can have four guests. This is a very private and intimate setting.

 

Do we have to know who our wedding officiant will be before we get our marriage license?

No. The Town Clerk's Office may ask you if you have chosen the person who will be marrying you, but you do not have to supply an officiant's name in order to get your marriage license.One reason you might be asked for your officiant's name is that the Town Clerk would like to be able to contact your officiant in case there are questions when your completed license is returned to them for recording. The Town Clerk's Office may ask for your phone number if you do not give them your officiant's name.In most cases I return your filled-out marriage license in person and someone checks it before I leave the Town Hall. If I return the license by mail it always goes certified with a return receipt requested, and I enclose my business card so that I can be reached immediately with any questions.

 

What do you wear when performaing a ceremony?

Answer-I wear a very tasteful, simple black dress.

 

 

 

Do you come to the rehearsal?

Answer-I typically do not come to the rehearsal. I  provide you and the venue a copy of the ceremony which can be used during rehearsal if necessary.The rehearsal is more for practicing the procession and recession as well as seating. I do come to the wedding about 30 minutes before the ceremony start time which allows me to go over any last minute details or changes.All that being said, if there was a special reason that you felt it was important for me to be there, I would be happy to make accommodations for you.at an additional charge-

 

Do I really need a microphone & speaker for my outside wedding, or large indoor wedding? I don't want to be holding a microphone during my ceremony.

Answer ~ If you are having a ceremony of more than 10 guests it is a good idea. The microphone & speaker is to insure that all of your guests are able to hear your ceremony. Many of them have traveled near and far to hear those sacred vows that you are about to exchange! The bride and groom never hold the microphone, it is only for me, your officiant and your readers. There are so many distractions that can deter the ceremony from being heard by your guests ~ nearby traffic, birds chirping and flying overhead, the waves (while breathtaking) crashing on the rocks behind you, tourists if you are in a public venue, kids talking, babies crying, planes flying overhead, guests whispering, and (while warned) those who forgot to turn off their pagers and cell phones. Don't let these distractions or others prevent your special guests from hearing your "I Do's"

 

Question ~ My dog (cat, gerbil, pig...) is part of my family. Can he / she be in my wedding?

Answer ~ Yes, we love animals as much as you do! Of course,  but any and all other animals are certainly welcome to be a part of your wedding party. I can work with "flower dogs" and "ring dogs" but they must be leashed.

 

Weather or not you choose me to officiate at your wedding, I hope that this page of information has answered many of your questions.