How to Get a Marriage License in Middletown, CT

To get a marriage license in Middletown, CT, both partners must appear together at the city’s Vital Statistics office inside the Health Department at 245 deKoven Drive, present photo ID, and pay a $50 fee.¹² Connecticut has no waiting period, so the ceremony can happen the same day the license is issued, as long as it takes place within 65 days and inside Middletown’s town limits.³

Who Can Apply

Both applicants must be at least 18. Connecticut eliminated all exceptions for minors in 2023, so parental consent no longer opens any door for someone under 18.⁴ There is no residency requirement. Out-of-state and international couples are welcome, provided they apply through the local Vital Statistics office and marry within the town’s limits.⁵

If either of you was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended: a certified divorce decree, annulment, or the former spouse’s death certificate. Without that documentation, the registrar may decline to issue the license.

What to Bring

Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Connecticut no longer requires a blood test.⁵

Middletown offers an online marriage application you can complete before your visit.² It asks for full legal names, Social Security numbers, and birthplaces for both of you, plus the names and birthplaces of each set of parents, including birth-name surnames. Filling the form in advance saves time at the counter, but both of you still have to appear in person to finalize the license.

Applying in Person

One quirk catches people in Middletown: marriage licenses are not handled by the Town Clerk’s office.⁶ Vital Statistics sits inside the Health Department at 245 deKoven Drive.¹ Both partners need to appear together so the registrar can witness your signatures and confirm the marriage is voluntary. Scheduling an appointment in advance is recommended.

The fee is $50. Middletown’s office accepts cash, checks, or money orders only. Credit and debit cards are not accepted.²

Where the Ceremony Must Take Place

A Connecticut marriage license is tied to the municipality that issues it. A license from Middletown’s Vital Statistics office authorizes a ceremony only within Middletown. If your venue sits in another Connecticut town, apply in that town instead.⁵ This is the single most common planning mistake: booking a venue in one town and applying for a license in another.

Who Can Officiate

Connecticut law authorizes three broad categories of people to perform your ceremony:⁷

All active and retired judges, including federal judges and judges from other states who have marriage authority in their own jurisdictions.
Family support magistrates, family support referees, state referees, and justices of the peace appointed in Connecticut.
Any ordained or licensed member of the clergy, from Connecticut or any other state.

Marriages performed according to the customs of a religious denomination in Connecticut are also recognized, including ceremonies witnessed by a Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís. A ceremony performed by anyone outside these categories is void. One additional rule catches couples off guard: the registrar who issues your license cannot also officiate your ceremony.

The 65-Day Window

Connecticut has no mandatory waiting period. You can marry the same day you pick up the license, and the license stays valid for 65 days from the application date.³ If 65 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires. There is no extension or renewal process, so you’d have to apply again and pay the $50 fee again.

Connecticut does not require witnesses at the ceremony. The only legally required signature beyond yours is the officiant’s.

After the Ceremony

Once you’ve exchanged vows, your officiant completes and signs the license. State law requires the officiant to return it to the Middletown registrar before the end of the first week of the month following the marriage.⁸ Most couples hand the license back to the officiant right after the ceremony and follow up within a few days to confirm it was filed. Until the registrar records it, the state has no official record of your marriage.

Once the license is recorded, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate from Vital Statistics. Certified copies are what you’ll need for legal name changes, updating bank accounts, and changing beneficiary designations on insurance policies. Ordering a few extras at pickup is worth the small added cost.

Changing Your Name After Marriage

Marriage in Connecticut does not automatically change your legal name. If you plan to take a new surname, update your records with two agencies in order.

Start with the Social Security Administration. Complete an Application for a Social Security Card and bring your certified marriage certificate (not a photocopy) and a valid photo ID to a local SSA office. The new card keeps your existing Social Security number but shows your updated name. Processing takes roughly 10 business days.

After the SSA processes the change, wait at least 48 hours, then visit a Connecticut DMV hub or express office by appointment. Bring the completed Change of Name Request (Form E-78), your current driver’s license, and the original certified marriage certificate. The DMV charges $30 for the name update, and express locations may add a convenience fee of up to $8.⁹ You’ll surrender the old license and receive a temporary paper card until the new one arrives by mail.

1
City of Middletown. Vital Statistics
2
City of Middletown, CT. Online Marriage Application
3
Justia. Connecticut Code 46b-24 – License, Period of Validity, Penalty for Solemnization Without License, Validity of Marriage Ceremony
4
Justia. Connecticut Code 46b-20a – Eligibility to Marry
5
Connecticut Department of Public Health. License to Get Married
6
City of Middletown. Town Clerk
7
Justia. Connecticut Code 46b-22 – Who May Join Persons in Marriage, Penalty for Unauthorized Performance
8
Connecticut General Assembly. Connecticut Code Chapter 815e – Marriage – Section 46b-34
9
CT.gov. Update a Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, or Non-Driver ID