Find Free Connecticut Marriage Records & Licenses

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Free Connecticut Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Connecticut, free of charge.

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Obtain free Connecticut marriage records efficiently with the help of state and local agencies.

The state’s Freedom of Information Act allows citizens to access vital records, including marriage certificates for unions in the state.

Whether searching historical marriage indexes to build their family tree or requesting a certificate to confirm a couple’s union, record seekers can secure this information conveniently. Discover how to search these state marriage records for free to learn more about people who said “I do” in Connecticut.

Are Marriage Records & Licenses Open Records in Connecticut?

Citizens may want to search for Connecticut marital records for many reasons. Couples recently married in the state might want to secure their marriage certificate so that they have proof of their union, which might be needed for insurance, immigration, adoption, tax, or financial purchases.

In other cases, individuals might just want to find out if someone is married in Connecticut. Or, they may be conducting genealogical research, and marriage records can help confirm unions in their family’s history to help complete their family tree. Regardless of their reason for searching for marriage licenses, citizens can find this information through Connecticut’s records custodians at the state and town levels.

Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act – which is Chapter 14 of the state’s General Statutes – gives the public access to a variety of records, including marriage certificates.¹ However, some guidelines are in place to preserve the privacy of the couple named on the marriage license. The Connecticut State Department of Public Health explains that anyone who is age 18 or older can purchase a certified or non-certified copy of a marriage certificate.

However, individuals not listed on the marriage license will receive a redacted version that omits the couple’s Social Security numbers. To obtain a certificate with those numbers included, requesters must provide a photo ID to confirm they’re the person named on the marriage license.

Genealogical research might require searching older marriage records, which are available through state archives. Additionally, third-party providers can assist people searching for marriage records for personal reasons or to satisfy their curiosity. However, unless Connecticut endorses these providers, such records can’t be used for official purposes.

Finally, another way to learn about marriages in Connecticut is by examining U.S. Census Bureau data. While this information won’t provide details on specific unions, it gives interesting insight into overall marriage trends in the state.

For example, the 2022 American Community Survey reported that 46.6% of Connecticut adults age 15 and older are married, 10.7% are divorced, 5.2% are widowed, and 1.1% are separated.² Another 36.4% of the state’s adults have never been married.

How To Search Connecticut Marriage Records & See Who the Spouses Are

Citizens on the hunt for Connecticut marriage details should start their search with the State Vital Records Office. This state office maintains all vital records, including marriage certificates, from July 1, 1897 to the present.

Before diving into a marriage information search, it’s important to understand the language that Connecticut uses to distinguish different types of marriage records.

An engaged couple applies for a marriage license prior to the nuptials. Once they have married and their license is returned to the state, a marriage certificate is issued and recorded. So, record seekers will want to obtain a copy of the marriage certificate to confirm the union.

Individuals can request a marriage certificate through the State Vital Records Office in a couple of ways. First, they can mail a Request for a Certified Copy of a Marriage License form to the address listed below.³

They’ll need to provide the couple’s name and marriage date and location on the form and submit the $20 fee. Note that the office only accepts money orders, not personal checks, for mailed requests.

Alternatively, citizens are welcome to visit the State Vital Records Office in Hartford to submit their form, linked above, in person and pay the fee.⁴ The office’s customer service hours are Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Finally, the office has also partnered with a third-party provider, VitalChek, for online marriage records requests. Individuals should select the county where the marriage occurred and input all required information to place their order. VitalChek also charges $20 for these marriage certificates, but additional shipping or expedited delivery fees may apply.

Connecticut Department of Health
State Vital Records Office
410 Capitol Avenue, 1st Floor
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone: (860)-509-7700

Mailing Address:

Vital Records Section
Customer Services MS #11 VRS
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308

More information on accessing Connecticut’s archived marriage indexes will be detailed below, which is especially helpful in genealogical research.

Checking Towns in Connecticut for Marriage Records or Licenses

While the State Vital Records Office maintains marriage data, the office recommends that citizens contact town offices for this information when possible. In Connecticut, towns are responsible for maintaining all vital records data, including marriage certificates.

All 169 towns in Connecticut have a vital records office that maintains town-level data, which can be helpful for people seeking marriage information. Check out a complete list of all town vital records offices to find the right office to contact for a marriage records request. Keep in mind that the town that holds the marriage certificate is the one where the couple married.

Bridgeport is the largest town in the state, and its vital records office issues marriage certificates by mail, in person, and online.⁵ To start, print and complete the Application for a Copy of a Marriage Certificate for a mailed or in-person request.⁶

When submitting the form, include a copy of a photo ID and the $20 fee.

Mailed requests require a money order. In-person requesters can pay the fee with cash, credit card, or money order.

The office accepts record requests during business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Note that the office closes every day between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Bridgeport’s vital records office also partners with VitalChek for online requests. Simply choose Connecticut, followed by Bridgeport, and then enter the marriage date.

Note that the $20 record fee applies, along with additional fees based on the specific request. VitalChek processes payments when the request is placed.

Bridgeport Vital Records Office
999 Broad Street, 1st Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Phone: (203)-576-7476

Like other Connecticut towns, New Haven’s vital statistics office allows people to request marriage certificates in person, by mail, or online.⁷ To initiate an in-person or mailed request, fill out an Application for Copy of Marriage Certificate form. On this form, list the couple’s name, marriage date and location.

Whether the request is made by mail or at the office, a valid form of photo ID is required, such as a driver’s license, passport, or military ID. The fee for each certificate is $20, payable by money order (by mail) or cash, credit, or money order (in person).

For in-person requests, stop by the office during business hours: Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

New Haven also partners with VitalChek for online records requests. To request a marriage certificate, visit the VitalChek website, select Connecticut, New Haven, and then enter the wedding date. Additional fees beyond the $20 certificate cost may apply depending on expedited shipping rates.

New Haven Vital Statistics Office
165 Church Street, Room 154
New Haven, CT 06510

Phone: (203)-946-7931

Stamford’s Registrar of Vital Statistics issues copies of marriage certificates to anyone over the age of 18 and accepts requests in person and by mail.⁸ Complete the Application for Copy of Marriage Certificate, providing information on both parties, including their full names, and the wedding date and location. Each copy costs $20.

Individuals can mail the form to the below address or visit the office Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. For an online request, visit VitalChek and choose marriage certificates, select Connecticut and Stamford, and enter the wedding date to begin the request.

Stamford Registrar of Vital Statistics
888 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901

Phone: (203)-977-4054

Town-level vital statistics agencies are a great resource in the search for marriage records in Connecticut. It’s important to note that record seekers who search for this information at the county level, such as through county-specific agencies, will be referred to the town’s vital statistics office.

More information about archived marriage records follows, which can help with genealogical research.

Locating Archived Marriage Records for Free & Tracking Ancestry Genealogy in Connecticut

Finding older marriage records in Connecticut is possible through a few helpful resources. Often, people are searching for historical marriage records to support their genealogical research. While every town maintains historical records of marriages, searching statewide archives is another way to find needed information.

The Connecticut State Library, which serves as the state’s official archives, is a go-to resource for historical vital records data, including information on unions in the state.⁹ Here, searchers can find information on marriages in Connecticut from colonial times and beyond. Additionally, a searchable marriage index from 1897 to 2001 is available online.¹⁰

While the information found in these indexes doesn’t include complete marriage certificates, individuals can confirm that a person is/was married, the wedding date, or the location by searching for their name in this index. Often, this information is sufficient to satisfy curiosity or assist with completing a family history.

People interested in exploring these archives more closely can also visit the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, which is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.¹¹ After obtaining a pass to enter the Archives Reading Area, individuals can complete request slips to have specific records pulled for their review. People can submit their request slips twice daily—at 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.—for on-site, same-day retrieval.

All records must stay on site, but citizens can take notes on what they find to aid their genealogical research. For people not located in Hartford, try the library’s Ask a Librarian online chat, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., to get genealogical questions answered promptly.

Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone: (860)-757-6500

While the state library is a great place to kick off a genealogical search, other resources can aid in a marriage records search in Connecticut, including the following:

• Newspaper archives that may include marriage announcements
• Church records that may list marriages that took place there
• Local library archives
• Local history or genealogical societies

How To Request a Marriage License in Connecticut

Couples who plan to marry in Connecticut need to obtain a marriage license before the big day. They should contact the vital records office in the town where they will marry to obtain a marriage license.

Both parties need to meet a few eligibility requirements to apply for their license, most notably that they need to be at least 18 years old and not a part of another union.

It’s important to note that Connecticut does not recognize common law marriage, so these guidelines apply only for legally recognized unions in the state.¹²

Soon-to-be-wed couples need to appear in their town’s vital records office together to apply for a marriage license. They will submit their application, show photo identification, and make a sworn statement that all information listed on their application is accurate.

Typically, these vital records offices accept applications during business hours, but it’s always smart to check the guidelines of a specific office before stopping by. Some offices have specific days of the week or times of day reserved for marriage license requests, and other towns require an appointment. Additionally, many towns, including Woodbury, post the marriage license application online so that couples may print and complete it before visiting the office.¹³

Other towns have an online form, such as Norwalk’s marriage license application, that couples can submit before they visit the office.¹⁴

So, it’s important to research town-specific application requirements before stopping by the vital records office. Marriage licenses in Connecticut cost $50, and couples pay the fee when they submit their application.

This streamlined resource explains the most effective ways to search Connecticut marriage records to answer questions about unions in the state.