Are Vermont Marriage Records Available to the Public?
Marriage records are public records in Vermont, and records of marriages can be accessed, viewed, and copied by members of the public. However, certified copies of marriage records are not available to members of the public. Certified copies of marriage records are available to the following:
- Couple named on the record
- Immediate family members of the couple
- Legal representatives of the couple
Persons requesting certified copies of a marriage record will be required to indicate their relationships to a party named on the record and state the purpose of the request. A fee will also be charged for the record search and copies provided.
Family Court records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain personal information of those involved and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this both marriage and dissolution of marriage records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records, and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Vermont Marriage Records
Vermont marriage records are all the available documents that provide information about legally contracted marital unions in the state. In 2000, Vermont recognized the civil unions of same-sex couples. In 2009, Vermont passed legislation that validated same-sex marriages in the state. The State of Vermont provides records of these unions as well. The Vermont Department of Health issues certified and noncertified copies of marriage records to residents and uses such records to gather data for vital statistics. Vermont public marriage records search can be done online, by mail, or in person at the Department. Marriage records include marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Marriage records contain the couples' names, marriage dates, and locations. It excludes information about previous marriages. As such, record seekers interested in such information can request divorce certificates in Vermont from the Department.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Vermont
A record seeker can find out if someone is married in Vermont by requesting marriage certificates. Requests can be made online, by mail, or in person at the Health Statistics and Vital Records Office. Mail-in requests for certified copies of marriage certificates must include an Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution Certificate form to be submitted to the vital records office at:
Vermont Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
However, individuals can find uncertified copies of marriage certificates by sending written requests to the Office via email (vitalrecords@vermont.gov) or mail.
Alternatively, a person can find Vermont public marriage records at the State Archives and Records Administration and Town/City Clerks offices. A person can conduct a marriage record search in Vermont at the State Archives and Records Administration online or by mail. Online marriage certificates can be obtained for free through FamilySearch and Ancestry.com websites. A mail applicant must submit a Certified Copy Of A Marriage/Civil Union Or Divorce Record to the:
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration
1078 US RTE 2, Middlesex
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Phone: (802) 828-3700
Fax: (802) 828-3710
How to Check Marriage Status Online
Anyone seeking how to check marriage status online can do so at Town/City Clerks offices. For instance, a person seeking to check marriage status online at the City of Burlington can do so at the Clerk/Treasurer's Office. The Office has an online tool where individuals can find marriage records. Contact the Clerk's office in the city or town the marriage occurred for more information on how to check marriage status online.
How to Check Marriage Records for Free
Individuals seeking how to check marriage records free can do so at the Vermont Vital Records Office. The Office provides access to non-certified copies of marriage records at no cost. Record seekers can get non-certified copies of marriage records by sending written requests by email (vitalrecords@vermont.gov) or mail to the Office. The writing request should include information like the type of event (marriage), name of the record holders, and marriage date. Contact the Office for more information on how to check marriage records for free in Vermont.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Vermont?
A Vermont marriage record refers to all the documents which contain information approving and validating a marriage in the state. A Vermont marriage record essentially provides evidence that two individuals have entered a recognized and legally binding union in the state.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and dissolution of marriage records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Vermont
To perform a name change after marriage in Vermont, parties must have a copy of the marriage license or certificate. The party should contact or visit any State Security Administration (SSA) office near them for an official name change. They are to bring along a valid photo I.D. and a copy of their marriage record and receive a form-SS5 that should be filled out and returned. After two weeks, the SSA will issue a new state security card.
The next step is for the party to apply for a driver's license name change. Under Vermont law, interested parties must report to the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of changing their name after marriage. The party must complete a VL-040 form and come along with their social security card and a copy of their marriage certificate.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Vermont?
A Vermont marriage certificate is a public document that verifies the marital union between the two persons named on the certificate. To be considered valid, a Vermont marriage certificate must be signed by the married couple and the official who conducted the wedding ceremony. Upon validation, a Vermont marriage certificate asserts that the couple named on the certificate has satisfied all requirements and are in a legally recognized union.
How Do I Obtain a Vermont Marriage Certificate?
Obtain a certified copy of a Vermont marriage certificate from the Town Clerk who issued the marriage license. Similarly, a certified copy of a Vermont marriage certificate is also available from the Vermont Department of Health. Certified copies of marriage certificates are only available to the couple named on the certificate, their immediate family, and attorneys of record. Anyone requesting a certified copy of a marriage certificate is required to provide the following information:
- Names of the married couple
- Date of the marriage
- Relationship of the requester to the person named on the certificate
- Purpose for the request
Two weeks after the wedding ceremony, certified copies of a marriage certificate in Vermont become available from the Office of the Town Clerk where the marriage license was purchased. To obtain a certified copy of a Vermont marriage certificate, send a written request to the Town Clerk or visit the office in person. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10 for each copy.
It takes six weeks after the wedding ceremony for certified copies of a Vermont marriage certificate to become available at the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). Town Clerks are required by law to send certified copies of certificates of all marriages which are recorded in their jurisdiction to the VDH. The VDH retains certified copies of marriage certificates from 2014 to the present.
To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate from the VDH, print and complete an Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution Certificate. Enclose a copy of a valid photo ID and a check or money order for $10 (made payable to Vermont Department of Health) for each copy. Send all of the request by mail to:
Vital Records Office
Vermont Department of Health
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Requests can also be made in person by visiting the customer service center located at the:
Vital Records Office
108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402
Bring along a completed Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution Certificate, proper identification, and a check or money order for the complete fee. Customer service hours are between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays except on state holidays.
To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate from 2013 and earlier, contact the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. Available records date back to 1909.
Contact the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) for more information on how to find a marriage certificate in the state.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Vermont?
A Vermont marriage license is a formal document that permits two individuals to get married in the state. It establishes approval from the state for the two individuals named on the license to enter a legal and recognized marital union. A marriage license will be provided to any two individuals who satisfy all the requirements instituted by the State of Vermont and pay the license fee. A marriage license may be obtained from any City/Town Clerk in Vermont.
How Do I Obtain a Vermont Marriage License?
A Vermont marriage license is obtained from any City/Town Clerk in the state. The Office of the Town Clerk will issue a marriage license to any prospective couple in the state who submits an application and pays the license fee, provided the couple meets all eligibility requirements.
To be eligible to receive a marriage license in Vermont, both individuals must be 18 years or older. However, there are exceptions. Persons who are under 18 years must be older than 16 years and must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian must accompany the applicant to the Town Clerk’s Office to sign an affidavit signifying their consent to the proposed marriage. Persons under the age of 16 may not marry in Vermont.
The persons wishing to get married may download and complete the Application For Vermont License Of Civil Marriage form available online and bring it to the Town Clerk’s Office. Forms are also available at the Town Clerk’s Office. The current fee for a marriage license in Vermont is $60. When purchasing the marriage license, the couple can arrange to have the Town Clerk mail them certified copies of the marriage certificate once it has been registered. There will be a $10 fee for each certified copy.
To complete the marriage license application, both individuals must provide basic information about themselves and present valid government-issued photo IDs. Acceptable forms of identification in Vermont include:
- Driver’s License
- State issued ID card
- Military ID
- Passport
- Permanent Resident Card
Applicants who have been previously married or in a civil union will be required to indicate how and when the previous marriage or civil union ended. Persons still in a civil union may only marry their partner in that civil union. While both individuals must eventually sign the marriage license, at least one of the couple must sign it in the presence of the Town Clerk for the license to be issued. There is no waiting period to get married after the marriage license has been issued and there is no requirement to submit a blood test result. Vermont marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, after which it expires.
After the marriage solemnization ceremony, the official who performed the ceremony completes the appropriate sections of the marriage license and signs it. At this point it becomes a marriage certificate. The official must then return it to the Town Clerk who issued the license within 10 days so the certificate may be registered and the marriage be recorded in Vermont.
Vermont Civil Marriage License
A Vermont civil marriage license is the regular marriage license issued to any aspiring couple in the state. It is the required document a prospective couple must obtain before they can enter a legal and recognized marriage in Vermont. A marriage license obtained in Vermont can only be used to get married in the state.
Vermont Common-Law Marriage License
Common-law marriages are a type of union in which two individuals live together and present themselves to their community as a married couple in spite of never obtaining a marriage license or performing a solemnization ceremony.
The State of Vermont does not have common-law marriages and licenses are not issued for such unions. Common-law marriages that were entered in a state which recognizes such unions will be considered valid in Vermont.
How Do I Obtain a Vermont Civil Union Certificate?
Civil unions were established in the State of Vermont in 2000. The purpose was to provide same-sex couples with all the benefits, protections, and responsibilities under the law as was granted to spouses in marriages. On September 1, 2009, the Vermont legislature passed the marriage equality act which validated same-sex marriages in the state. This legislation discontinued the need for civil unions. Civil unions entered into before September 2009 are still recognized in Vermont and certified copies of certificates of these civil unions are available.
To obtain a certified copy of a certificate of civil union, submit a request to the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. Copies can be ordered online using the Vital Records Request Service or by mail. Mail orders should be made using the VSARA-09 form and sent to:
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration
1078 U.S. RTE 2
Middlesex
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Vermont Confidential Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses that have been restricted are referred to as confidential marriage licenses. This is a typical scenario where a couple requests that the city or town clerk keep the details of their marriage and marriage license private in accordance with state law. In Vermont, Title 18, Chapter 105, § 5132, specifies the circumstances in which a marriage license's confidentiality is applicable.
Are Prenups Public Record in Vermont?
Prenups are contracts that engaged couples make concerning their rights and obligations during their union. In the event of the sudden death of one party, the agreement details how property will be shared or owned by the surviving spouse and their family. Vermont laws do not specifically cover premarital agreements. However, there are rules governing marriage that address matters relating to marriage rights, obligations, and settlements within the domestic relations laws.
