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Summer 2003 |
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How Many Weddings are Performed in Connecticut? Is the Marriage Valid if the JP fails to return the License? Buy your Marriage Certificates here! |
Welcome to our First Issue --
especially for Connecticut JPs
Years ago, when I worked in a corporate office, there were three rules for improving productivity and morale. These were (1) communication (2) communication and (3) more communication. I am sure this is still true. And that is why we have initiated this newsletter. |
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How
many weddings in Connecticut?
We'd be happy to address these issues by surveying our
members and giving you the opportunity to comment --
anonymously or not. If you wish to participate, let
us know.
In June of 2002, the
legislature enacted Public Act No. 02-71, which reminds
officiants of their responsibility vis-a-vis the license
in part (a) and protects the couple in part (b):
(a) Each person who joins any person in marriage shall
certify upon the license certificate the fact, time and
place of the marriage, and return it to the registrar of the
town where it was issued, before or during the first week of
the month following the marriage. Any person who fails to do
so shall be fined not more than ten dollars.
(b) If any person fails to return the certificate to the registrar, as required under subsection (a) of this section, the persons joined in marriage may provide the registrar with a notarized affidavit attesting to the fact that they were joined in marriage and stating the date and place of the marriage. Upon the recording of such affidavit by the registrar, the marriage of the affiants shall be deemed to be valid as of the date of the marriage stated in the affidavit. Couples Warned: “E-Ministers” Not Authorized to Perform Weddings in Connecticut Marriages performed by “Ministers” of the Universal Life Church and others whose ordinations were obtained on the Internet are not legal, according to Suzanne Speers, Registrar of Vital Records for the State of Connecticut. The use of friends and family to perform weddings, as occasionally seen on such popular TV shows as “Friends” and “Felicity,” is also not legal. The issue was sparked by an article that appeared in the New York Times this year: “Need a Minister? How About Your Brother?” “In Connecticut,” says Westport Town Clerk Patricia Strauss, “only active clergy of recognized religious denominations are authorized. Quite often, the Town Clerk’s office that issues the Marriage License does not verify the credentials of the person signing it. This puts the onus on the couple to ensure that their officiant is authorized to perform weddings.” Connecticut statute Title 46b, chapter 815e, Marriage, section 46b-22 defines “Who may join persons in marriage.” Answer to: How many
weddings are performed in Connecticut? b) around
20,000
1998: 20,292 The average for the three years 1998 -
2000 was 20,393. In 2001, the number jumped about
4%. According to Charles Nathan of the Department
of Public Health, the Town Clerk in each of CT's 169 towns
reports on the number of marriages in its locale. This data is
collected in Hartford and reports are issued as
priorities and funding dictate. Data for 2002 is not yet
available. Marriage
Certificates and Other Useful Stuff for JPs who perform
weddings |
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Justice
of the Peace Associations