How to Get Married Online in Vermont

By Distant Vows | Updated 2026

If you are trying to figure out how to get married online in Vermont, you will find a system unlike any other state in the country. Vermont does not have county clerks. Instead, each of the state’s 251 individual towns operates its own town clerk’s office, and your license must come from the clerk in the town where either applicant lives, or from any town if neither of you is a Vermont resident.

Vermont has no waiting period, no blood test requirement, and no witnesses required by law. However, Vermont requires the names and birthplaces of both applicants’ parents, including mothers’ maiden names, on every application, a genealogical requirement unique in the series. The license is also only valid for 60 days. Couples who want to get married online in Vermont without dealing with these requirements use Utah’s system through Distant Vows instead.

By using Utah’s fully legal online marriage system through Distant Vows, Vermont couples can get married online in Vermont 100% virtually and receive a U.S. marriage certificate valid in Vermont and all 50 states. If you are comparing rules across the country, you can also review our full guide on how to get married online in all 50 states.

How Vermont Marriage Usually Works if You Don’t Get Married Online in Vermont

Vermont marriages are governed by Vermont Statutes Title 15, Chapter 5. Marriage licenses are issued by town clerks, not county clerks, because Vermont has no county government for administrative purposes. With 251 separate towns in the state, the first step for any couple is identifying the correct town clerk. Vermont residents must obtain their license from the town clerk of the town where either applicant resides. If only one partner is a Vermont resident, the license must be purchased from that person’s town clerk. If neither applicant lives in Vermont, the license may be obtained from any town clerk in the state.

Vermont has no waiting period. A couple can obtain their license and hold their ceremony on the same day. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance and may be used for a ceremony anywhere in Vermont, but only within Vermont. The fee is $80 at most town clerk offices, with a $10 certified copy available at the time of purchase or after the ceremony. Vermont law does not require government-issued photo identification to obtain a marriage license. The application is signed under oath, and providing false information constitutes perjury under Vermont law, but no ID is statutorily mandated.

Vermont’s application collects an unusual amount of genealogical information. In addition to the standard names, dates of birth, and places of birth for both applicants, Vermont requires the full names and birthplaces of both applicants’ parents, including the mother’s birth name (maiden name). Certified copies of birth certificates are the easiest way to supply this information accurately. The clerk will also ask for the number of previous marriages and civil unions for each applicant and how and when those ended, though this prior-marriage information is kept confidential and does not appear on the issued license or certificate.

One of Vermont’s most distinctive features is its flexibility about physical presence. Vermont law requires both applicants to sign the application certifying its accuracy, but only one person needs to be physically present at the town clerk’s office to submit the completed application and receive the license. The second applicant may sign the application elsewhere and have the first partner deliver it to the clerk. The clerk will issue the license once at least one applicant has signed the license itself in front of the clerk. This partial remote option still requires an in-person visit by at least one partner, and the ceremony itself must take place within Vermont with a physically present officiant.

After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the license with the date, time, and location of the marriage, sign it, and return it to the issuing town clerk within 10 days. Vermont law does not require witnesses at the ceremony. Vermont does not recognize common-law marriage, and proxy marriages are prohibited under state law. Vermont holds a historic place in marriage equality: in 2000, Vermont became the first state in the country to legally recognize same-sex civil unions, and in 2009, Vermont’s legislature became the first in the nation to pass marriage equality for same-sex couples by a legislative vote rather than a court ruling.

Vermont’s Temporary Officiant System and Why Couples Get Married Online in Vermont Through Utah

Vermont offers one of the more accessible officiant registration systems in the country. In addition to the standard categories of authorized officiants; Vermont judges, assistant judges, justices of the peace, and clergy residing in Vermont and any person over the age of 18 may register with the Vermont Secretary of State as a temporary officiant for a specific marriage. The registration fee is $100, and upon approval the registrant receives a certificate of authorization to solemnize one specific marriage.

The temporary officiant’s authority expires at the same time as the corresponding marriage license — meaning it is tied to the 60-day window of that license and cannot be used for any other ceremony. Out-of-state clergy who wish to officiate a Vermont wedding must either register as a temporary officiant through the Secretary of State or obtain permission from the Vermont Probate Court in the district where the ceremony will take place. Couples who get married online in Vermont through Utah do not face any of these officiant requirements, because the ceremony is performed by a Distant Vows officiant licensed under Utah law.

Documents, Waiting Period, and Age Requirements in Vermont

Vermont’s minimum marriage age is 16, with parental consent required for applicants who are 16 or 17. The consenting parent or legal guardian must appear in person at the town clerk’s office and sign an affidavit giving permission for the minor to marry. No person under 16 may obtain a marriage license in Vermont. Applicants 18 and older may apply without any additional authorization.

The standard items to bring to the town clerk’s office include the following:

Completed application form, which can typically be downloaded from the town clerk’s website and filled out in advance. Some town clerks email the form on request. The application must be signed by both applicants; only one needs to appear in person to deliver it.
Information about both applicants’ parents: full names, birthplaces, and mothers’ maiden names. Certified copies of birth certificates are the most reliable source for this information.
If either applicant was previously married or in a civil union, the dates on which those relationships ended, whether by divorce, annulment, dissolution, or death.
Payment of the $80 license fee. Most town clerk offices accept cash and check; credit card acceptance varies by town. A $10 prepayment for a certified copy mailed after the ceremony is available and recommended.

Vermont does not require blood tests, does not require government-issued photo ID by statute, and does not require witnesses at the ceremony. Vermont’s total absence of a waiting period means a couple can legally marry the same hour they receive their license, which is why some couples obtain the license, marry the same day, and return the signed certificate to the clerk’s office all in a single afternoon.

Are Online Weddings Allowed Directly if You Want to Get Married Online in Vermont?

Vermont’s partial-presence rule, allowing one partner to sign the application remotely while the other delivers it in person, is more flexible than many states, but it still requires at least one partner to physically visit a town clerk’s office. The ceremony itself must take place within Vermont’s borders, with a physically present officiant. Vermont does not have a mechanism for a ceremony to be conducted entirely by video under a Vermont license.

Couples sometimes note that Vermont’s temporary officiant system allows a friend or family member to register specifically for their ceremony, which is a meaningful personal option. However, the entire in-person structure, including the in-state ceremony requirement, means that couples who want to get married online in Vermont from across the country or around the world will find the Utah online route simpler. Utah’s system requires no in-person steps at any stage, no in-state ceremony, and no 60-day expiration countdown — which is why so many couples who want to get married online in Vermont choose Distant Vows.

4 Steps to Get Married Online in Vermont with Distant Vows (Through Utah)

With Distant Vows, the same four-step process applies whether you want to get married online in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, or Massachusetts. The legal engine is always Utah’s online marriage system, which allows couples to apply for a license and hold a ceremony entirely over video while still being recognized nationwide.

Step 1 – Verify Your Eligibility

First, you confirm that you and your partner meet basic Utah requirements and complete Distant Vows’ quick intake form. Typically, you both must be 18 or older, not currently married to anyone else, and able to join a live video call together. This foundation lets couples who want to get married online in Vermont do so fully under Utah law. Vermont recognizes marriages valid where they are performed, so choosing to get married online in Vermont through Utah is a legally sound path.

Confirm you are legally free to marry, whether single, divorced, or widowed.
Gather valid government-issued photo IDs, such as a Vermont driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a device with audio and video so you can comfortably get married online in Vermont.

Step 2 – Choose Your Package and Ceremony Date

Next, you choose a Distant Vows package and select a ceremony date and time that works for your schedule in Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, Brattleboro, Stowe, Barre, or anywhere else. You can keep the ceremony short and simple or personalize it with vows, readings, and guests watching online as you get married online in Vermont.

Select a basic legal-only ceremony or a more personalized experience.
Pick a time that works for your time zone and any guests joining from Vermont or overseas.
Tell us if you need witness support, custom vows, religious or civil wording, or language options.

Step 3 – Apply for Your Utah Online Marriage License

After you pick your date, you complete a Utah online marriage license application. Utah County’s system lets you submit everything digitally, including your information, ID uploads, and signatures. You never have to locate the correct Vermont town clerk, track down your parents’ maiden names for the application, or watch a 60-day expiration clock, because the license is issued by Utah even though your goal is to get married online in Vermont.

Fill out the secure Utah County application form online from your home in Vermont or anywhere in the world.
Upload clear images of your IDs and any requested documents, such as divorce decrees if applicable.
Respond to any brief follow-up from the Utah clerk if they need clarification before issuing the license.

A Utah online marriage license is valid for 32 days from the date it is issued, and Distant Vows schedules your ceremony within that 32-day window so your marriage is properly created under Utah law.

Step 4 – Attend Your Online Ceremony and Get Your Certificate

On your wedding day, you and your partner join a live video ceremony with a Utah-licensed officiant. Two adult witnesses are required and they can join from anywhere in the world. If you do not have friends or family available, you can invite them at no charge, or use our witness service for a small fee.

Join from your home in Vermont or from anywhere in the world, as long as you are both on the same live video call.
Participate in a real-time ceremony where you exchange vows and say your “I dos.” This is the moment you actually get married online in Vermont, even though the legal ceremony is taking place under Utah law.
After the ceremony, your officiant files the certificate in Utah and you receive your official Utah County marriage certificate digitally and, if requested, by mail.

Vermont Town Clerk System vs Online Utah Marriage

Before you decide how to get married online in Vermont, it helps to compare the two approaches side by side. The table below shows the key differences between the traditional Vermont town clerk process and using Distant Vows to get married online in Vermont through Utah.

Feature	Traditional Vermont Marriage	Get Married Online with Distant Vows (Utah)
Issuing office	Town clerk — one of 251 separate town offices across Vermont. Residents apply in the town where either applicant lives. Non-residents may apply at any town clerk in the state.	Utah County online application. No town or county office visit required in Vermont or anywhere else.
In-person requirement	Both applicants must sign the application, but only one must physically appear at the town clerk’s office. The ceremony must take place within Vermont with a physically present officiant.	No in-person visits required at any stage. Everything is completed online.
Waiting period	None. Vermont couples can marry the same day they receive their license — even the same hour.	No waiting period. Utah license is issued after online review and the ceremony is scheduled within the 32-day validity window.
License validity	60 days from issuance. May only be used for a ceremony within Vermont. If unused after 60 days, the license is void and reapplication is required.	Utah license valid for 32 days. Ceremony can be attended from Vermont or anywhere in the world.
Application data	Requires names and birthplaces of both applicants’ parents, including mothers’ maiden names — an unusual genealogical requirement not found in most states.	Utah’s application does not require parents’ names or birthplaces.
Officiant	Vermont judge, assistant judge, justice of the peace, Vermont-resident clergy, or a temporary officiant registered with the Secretary of State for $100 per ceremony. Out-of-state clergy must register or obtain probate court permission.	Distant Vows officiants are licensed under Utah law. No Vermont registration required.
Witnesses	No witnesses required by Vermont law.	Two adult witnesses required under Utah law. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.
Valid in Vermont	Yes.	Yes, and in all 50 states once properly issued and filed in Utah, because Vermont recognizes marriages valid where they were performed.
International use	May require apostille or legalization depending on the foreign country’s rules.	Utah certificates can receive an apostille for use in many countries, even if you get married online in Vermont. Learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Military Couples in Vermont

Like West Virginia, Vermont has no active-duty military installation. All of the state’s military presence is concentrated in the Vermont National Guard, centered on one of the most historically significant Air National Guard wings in the country.

For Guard members whose partners are stationed elsewhere or in another state, Vermont’s town clerk system and the in-state ceremony requirement can make coordinating a marriage difficult. Couples who want to get married online in Vermont through Utah can join a live video ceremony from wherever they are. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Immigration and Long-Distance Couples in Vermont

Vermont has approximately 29,000 foreign-born residents, representing about 4.5 percent of the state’s total population according to USAFacts, with the Burlington metro area at approximately 6.7 percent. Vermont’s foreign-born share is well below the national average of 14.8 percent, but the state has built a nationally recognized refugee resettlement infrastructure that punches significantly above its weight given its small overall population.

For binational couples who want to get married online in Vermont and where one partner remains abroad, Vermont’s in-person requirement, even the partial-presence option, can be a real barrier. When you get married online in Vermont through Utah, both partners join the ceremony by video from anywhere in the world. No town clerk visit is required and no parents’ maiden names are needed. The Utah County certificate is accepted by USCIS for spousal visa and green card applications, and Distant Vows can help obtain an apostille if international recognition is needed. You can learn more at Distant Vows apostille services.

Couples researching international marriage recognition may also want to read our guide on whether getting married online affects immigration cases.

Using Your Utah Certificate After You Get Married Online in Vermont

After you get married online in Vermont through Utah, your certified Utah County marriage certificate is your primary legal document for updating your records. Vermont agencies accept any valid U.S. marriage certificate and do not require it to be Vermont-issued.

Change your name with the Social Security Administration first. Vermont’s DMV checks SSA records when processing name changes on driver’s licenses, so updating SSA before visiting the DMV prevents delays.
Update your Vermont driver’s license or state ID through the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles.
Adjust your name and marital status with banks, employers, schools, and insurance providers.
Use your certificate for USCIS spousal visa and green card applications. The Utah County certificate is treated the same as any Vermont-issued license for immigration purposes.

Many couples who get married online in Vermont also use their Utah certificate to complete a legal name change after the ceremony. This process is the same whether you used a Vermont town clerk license or chose to get married online in Vermont through Utah. You can learn more in our guide on how to change your name after getting married online.

Related Online Marriage Guides

If you are researching how to get married online in Vermont or nearby New England states, you may also want to read:

FAQ: Getting Married Online in Vermont

Is it legal to get married online in Vermont?
Vermont recognizes marriages valid where they are performed. When you get married online in Vermont through Utah’s system, your marriage is valid under Utah law and Vermont must recognize it. Vermont’s own requirements about town clerk visits, parents’ maiden names, and in-state ceremonies apply only to Vermont licenses. When you get married online in Vermont through Utah, none of those requirements apply.

Does Vermont require both partners to appear at the town clerk?
No — Vermont is unusual in that only one partner must physically appear at the town clerk’s office, provided both have signed the application. However, the ceremony must still take place within Vermont with a physically present officiant. Couples who want to get married online in Vermont through Distant Vows skip every in-person step — no town clerk visit at any stage, and the ceremony takes place by video with no geographic restriction.

Why does Vermont require parents’ names and maiden names on the application?
Vermont’s marriage application has collected this genealogical information for historical administrative and vital records purposes. The parents’ full names, birthplaces, and mothers’ maiden names are required for all applicants. Certified copies of birth certificates are the easiest way to supply this accurately. Utah’s online application does not require parents’ names or birthplaces, which is one reason some couples find the Utah route more straightforward when they choose to get married online in Vermont.

What is Vermont’s temporary officiant system?
Any person over 18 can register with the Vermont Secretary of State for $100 to become a temporary officiant authorized to solemnize one specific marriage. The authority is tied to the 60-day window of the corresponding marriage license and expires when that license expires. Out-of-state clergy must either use this system or obtain permission from the Vermont Probate Court. Couples who get married online in Vermont through Distant Vows use Utah-licensed officiants and face no Vermont registration requirements.

Does Vermont require witnesses?
No. Vermont law does not require witnesses at a marriage ceremony. The officiant alone completes and endorses the license. However, two adult witnesses are required under Utah law, so couples who get married online in Vermont through Distant Vows do need witnesses. Distant Vows can provide them if needed.

Can Guard members at Burlington ANG Base get married online in Vermont this way?
Yes. Both partners join the ceremony by video from wherever they are. A Guard member on deployment or temporarily stationed elsewhere can participate from any location while the other partner remains in Vermont or anywhere else. You can read more at Distant Vows for Military Couples.

Can same-sex couples get married online this way?
Yes. Vermont was a national leader on marriage equality, becoming the first state to legally recognize same-sex civil unions in 2000 and the first state to pass marriage equality by legislative vote in 2009. Same-sex couples who want to get married online in Vermont can do so through Utah and receive the same legal certificate as any other couple.

How fast can we get married online from Vermont?
Many couples complete all four steps and receive their digital certificate within a few days. Rush options are available for couples who need to get married online in Vermont on a tighter timeline. Whether you are in Burlington, Montpelier, Brattleboro, Stowe, or a small Green Mountain town, the steps to get married online in Vermont through Distant Vows are the same for every couple.

For details on Vermont’s traditional marriage license requirements, the Vermont Department of Health Vital Records page and your local town clerk provide official guidance. For couples who want to get married online in Vermont without visiting a town clerk’s office, tracking down parents’ maiden names, or watching a 60-day expiration window, Distant Vows handles everything remotely.

Ready to Get Married Online in Vermont?

If you are ready to get married online in Vermont, Distant Vows makes the process simple. Couples who get married online in Vermont through Distant Vows receive the same legally valid U.S. certificate as any couple who uses a Vermont town clerk license. Our four-step system walks you from eligibility to your official U.S. marriage certificate, with licensed Utah officiants, witness support, and clear guidance at every stage.

Start today and let us handle the legal details so you can get married online in Vermont without leaving home or locating the right town clerk. Every week, couples from Burlington, Winooski, Montpelier, Rutland, and across the Green Mountain State choose Distant Vows to get married online in Vermont. No town clerk visit, no 60-day clock, and no parents’ maiden names required. You can begin by completing our intake form at get married online.

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