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City of Burlington exact answer

How is a completed marriage license returned in City of Burlington?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In City of Burlington, both applicants must sign the license and deliver it to the officiant before the ceremony can be performed. After the ceremony the officiant completes the date, place and officiant sections and signs it, at which point the document becomes the marriage certificate. The officiant must return that certificate to the town clerk's office that issued the license within 10 days of the wedding. The certificate is not a complete legal document until the issuing clerk has recorded it. A license back-dated to a date earlier than the day it was purchased is void and is not recognized by state or federal government. If the officiant registered with the Secretary of State as a temporary officiant, a copy of the certificate of authority issued by the Secretary of State should be attached to the signed license and returned with it.

Published rule and conditions

Return and recording rule
Both applicants must sign the license and deliver it to the officiant before the ceremony can be performed. After the ceremony the officiant completes the date, place and officiant sections and signs it, at which point the document becomes the marriage certificate. The officiant must return that certificate to the town clerk's office that issued the license within 10 days of the wedding. The certificate is not a complete legal document until the issuing clerk has recorded it.

A license back-dated to a date earlier than the day it was purchased is void and is not recognized by state or federal government. If the officiant registered with the Secretary of State as a temporary officiant, a copy of the certificate of authority issued by the Secretary of State should be attached to the signed license and returned with it.

Official requirement

The officiant must return the certificate to the town clerk’s office where it was issued within 10 days after the wedding, so that your marriage can be officially registered.

Issuing office

City of Burlington Office of the City Clerk/Treasurer

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage LicensesCity of Burlington Office of the City Clerk/Treasurer - checked July 30, 2026

    Marriage licenses are issued by appointment only – appointments are available every half hour from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Walk-ins are welcome if there is not an appointment already scheduled at that time. Vermont law requires that at least one of you must be present to sign the license in front of a town clerk, and both parties MUST sign the application. You must bring a State or Federal ID with you to obtain the license (this includes a driver's license, non-driver's license, passport, etc.). The marriage license costs $80.00, and is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. During that time period, an authorized person must perform your wedding ceremony—otherwise, the license is void. We accept cash or check. Credit cards are also accepted with a 2.65% processing fee. If you are getting married in Vermont, you may get a marriage license from any town clerk in Vermont. The officiant must return the certificate to the town clerk's office where it was issued within 10 days after the wedding. By Vermont law, no one under the age of 18 may marry in Vermont. Please allow for up to twenty minutes for the license to be typed.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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