As an elopement professional in New England, I get asked a lot by inquiring couples what they need to do in order to legalize their marriage. And since I work on elopements across New England, I know that it varies state to state. In some cases, I’ve had a couple who wanted to get married in one state, but ended up choosing another because the process to obtain and legalize their marriage license wouldn’t be as arduous due to time or money.
Because of that, I’ve decided to compile all of the necessary info together into one place to help couples who want to elope in New England know what the requirements are for the state(s) they are thinking about tying the knot in. As an elopement pro, my favorite states for elopements are New Hampshire and Vermont because they have the best scenery and are the easiest and most flexible for obtaining your license and getting married, especially for out-of-state couples who are not inviting any guests.
Marriage License Requirements in Connecticut
- Where to apply for your Connecticut marriage license: You both must appear in person at the city or town hall where the marriage will take place to apply for your license.
- Connecticut has no waiting period between when you receive the license and when you can get married, but you must have the marriage within 65 days of the license issuance.
- Connecticut does not require any witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is a $50 fee for the marriage license.
- Visit the Connecticut state website for for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
Marriage License Requirements in Maine
- Where to apply for your Maine marriage license: If one or both of you are Maine residents, you must both apply in person for your license at the clerk’s office for the town or city where one of you is a resident. If neither of you are residents of Maine, then you can apply in person in any town. The license will be valid for marriages in any Maine town or city.
- Maine has no waiting period between when you receive the marriage license and when you can get married, but you must have the marriage within 90 days of the license issuance.
- Maine requires that you have two witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is a $40 fee for the marriage license.
- Read this PDF from the state of Maine for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
Marriage License Requirements in Massachusetts
- Where to apply for your Massachusetts marriage license: You can apply for your marriage license in person in any Massachusetts town regardless of your residency status or where the marriage will take place.
- Massachusetts has a 3 day waiting period between when you receive the marriage license and when you can get married, and the marriage must be performed within 60 days of your application (not the day you get the license). You can also petition for a marriage without delay, which requires an appointment before a judge.
- Massachusetts does not require witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is a $50 fee for the marriage license.
- Visit the Massachusetts state website for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
Marriage License Requirements in New Hampshire
- Where to apply for your New Hampshire marriage license: You can apply for your marriage license in person in any New Hampshire town regardless of your residency status or where the marriage will take place.
- New Hampshire has no waiting period between when you receive the marriage license and can get married, but the marriage must be performed within 90 days of the license issuance.
- New Hampshire does not require any witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is a $50 fee for the marriage license.
- Visit the Concord NH website for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
Marriage License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Where to apply for your Rhode Island marriage license: If one or both of you are Rhode Island residents, then you must apply for your marriage license in person in the city or town where one of you is a resident. The license can then be used in any town or city in Rhode Island. If neither of you is a Rhode Island resident, then you must apply in person in the town or city where the marriage will take place.
- Rhode Island has no waiting period between when you receive the marriage license and when you can get married, but the marriage must be performed within 90 days of the license issuance.
- Rhode Island requires that you have two witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is a $24 fee for the marriage license.
- Read this PDF from the state of Rhode Island for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
Marriage License Requirements in Vermont
- Where to apply for your Vermont marriage license: You can apply for your marriage license in person in any Vermont town or city regardless of your residency status or where the marriage will take place.
- Vermont has no waiting period between when you receive the marriage license and when you can get married, but the marriage must be performed within 60 days of the license issuance.
- Vermont does not require any witnesses to sign the marriage license.
- There is an $80 fee for the marriage license.
- Read this PDF from the state of Vermont for more information about who is eligible and documents needed to apply for a marriage license.
