Officiating a wedding in Connecticut
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: cga.ct.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
Connecticut sets no officiant registration. Judges, family support magistrates, state referees and Connecticut justices of the peace may solemnize, as may ordained or licensed clergy belonging to this state or any other state. One town clerk states that ordination through either a traditional religious organization or an online program is accepted, which is municipal guidance rather than statutory text. The couple gets the license from the clerk of the town where the ceremony will take place.
Who returns the license, and by when
Only the officiant may return the completed license; couples may not return it themselves. The deadline is a calendar rule rather than a day count: the certificate goes to the registrar of the town where the marriage took place before or during the first week of the month following the marriage. Confirm the date with that town clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to register to officiate in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut has no officiant registration, and its statute expressly covers ordained or licensed clergy belonging to this state or any other. Confirm any local expectations with the town clerk.
Can the couple return the license in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut puts the return on the officiant alone, and town clerks say couples may not return the completed license themselves.
When is a Connecticut marriage license due back?
It is a calendar rule, not a countdown. The officiant files with the registrar of the town where the marriage took place before or during the first week of the month following the marriage. Confirm the date with that town clerk.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:cga.ct.gov.