Connecticut Marriage Laws: Traditional and Same-Sex

What are the requirements for getting legally married in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not require a blood test before a marriage license will be issued. You can marry immediately after your marriage license is issued, and your license is good for 65 days after it's issued. After that time, you'll have to get a new one before you can marry.

In Connecticut, as in most states, you must be of the age of consent, not be too closely related to your intended spouse, not be married to anyone else, and have sufficient "mental capacity," meaning you understand what you are doing when you marry.

Does Connecticut have common-law marriage?

No. In Connecticut, you must obtain a marriage license and enter into a legal marriage in order to be considered married. Living together and taking the same name don't create a common-law marriage.

Does Connecticut have same-sex marriage?

Yes. Connecticut allows same-sex couples to marry under the same laws that apply to heterosexual couples. However, the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages entered into in Connecticut.

Learn about the proper legal steps to define and protect your relationship in the eyes of the law with Living Together: A Legal Guide, by Attorney Ralph Warner, Toni Ihara, J.D. and Attorney Frederick Hertz (Nolo), or Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples, by attorneys Denis Clifford, Frederick Hertz and Emily Doskow (Nolo).

Last updated 11/20/08.