Questions and Answers ...
   
This collection of frequently asked questions is to provide you with general information on the State of Connecticut procedures and processes.
   
Q: Do you marry gay couples? Do you marry lesbian couples?
A: 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.
   
Q: How can we get married in Connecticut?
A: There is a simple checklist that applies to all couples to be joined in marriage in Connecticut.
  • In Connecticut, both opposite-sex and same-sex couples can be joined in marriage.
  • Do the persons to be meet the age requirement? 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.
  • The couple must apply for a marriage license
  • The couple must select an officiant.
  • The couple is to then give the original license to the officiant, who will then file the license with the proper Town Clerk's office to be recorded.
   
Q: What is the application process for our marriage license?
A: You apply for your marriage license at the office of the Town Clerk in the town where you will be married. Both of you are required to sign the application in person. You do not both have to sign the application at the same time. In Connecticut, it is not possible to obtain a license through the use of a Power of Attorney. There is an expiration on the license, and you will have to supply the following:
  • 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.

Both persons will take an oath that the information provided is true. There is a fee required. In Connecticut, the fee is $30.00. The ORIGINAL license must then be presented to your officiant.
   
Q: How is a Justice of the Peace wedding different from a church wedding, or being married by a Rabbi?
A:

In one word, flexibility. Religious leaders may require that you take classes or attend their house of worship for a specific period of time before they will marry you. They may also have you promise to bring your children up in their particular religious tradition, or insist on certain wording for your ceremony. I honor all people's right to choose and follow their own religious traditions or no belief system at all. All people are equally welcome, including those who feel spiritual but not religious.

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. e.g. Would you like to include reading from the Bible or other text? All traditional ceremony elements are welcome! We can even start new traditions.
   
Q: Do we need blood tests to get married in Connecticut?
A: No. The Connecticut premarital blood test requirement was repealed effective on October 1, 2003.
   
Q: Can a Connecticut Justice of the Peace marry people from another state or another country?
A: Yes! It would be a pleasure to marry you, no matter what your place of origin.
   
Q: Are witnesses to the marriage ceremony required in Connecticut?
A: 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.
   
Q: As a Connecticut Justice of the Peace what are the privacy policies?
A: If you don't tell me your name when we first talk, I will ask for it. I need to know how you pronounce your name so that I can pronounce it properly.

I will not ask whether you were married previously, are pregnant, or what religious tradition (if any) you follow.

If I am required by law to reveal information about you, I will tell you in advance what I am going to say as long as the law allows me to do so.

I am ethically bound to protect your privacy however, I still must comply with all proper requests for information that come from law enforcement officers.

Other than the above:

  • After you decide that I am going to perform your ceremony, I will ask to see positive identification (required by law), such as your drivers' licenses or passports. (It may be possible to use other identification instead.)
  • You have the right to view all the notes that I have taken about your wishes and your ceremony.
  • If you tell me that I have provided you with outstanding service, I will ask you to write a brief testimonial for my use. You have every right to decline.
  • If you do write a testimonial, I will use only your first names unless you explicitly give me permission to do otherwise. (If you prefer, just your initials may be used instead.)
  • You will not be contacted by someone else on my behalf, unless I am physically unable to contact you myself.
   
Q: How much does a Connecticut Justice of the Peace wedding cost?
A: Connecticut law does not set the fees that Justices of the Peace may charge for their services. Because your wedding will be uniquely yours, together we will design a ceremony. Just as every couple is different, I don't have a one-size-fits-all ceremony with a fixed fee. Nor do I offer "packages" at different price levels. Many factors determine the fee: travel distance, whether we have a rehearsal, preparation time, etc. Most couples like to meet to discuss their ceremony. There is never a fee for the initial planning meeting!