Thought I was married. Now what

What is the name of your state? Connecticut
Here is my dilemma. When I married for the second time, twenty-six ago, it was a couple of months before my divorce was final. We got married in my wife’s home state. I won't try to go through a lengthy explanation trying to justify my stupidity here, but I have gone through the past twenty-six years without ever questioning the validity of this marriage. However, something I read recently led me to do some research, some on this site, and now I'm surprised and very concerned that it is not valid. I know I can't go back and fix the past twenty-six years, but I don't know how to fix it going forward either. My wife thinks that what is done, is done and there isn’t anything we can do about it now. I am really at a loss about what I should do. I could use some advice with the questions that I have and judging by some of the other posts, I think there are others that could benefit from the same advice.

Is there any way to make this marriage legal now, or do we have to get married now?
How do we get legally married now? My wife changed her last name to mine twenty-six years ago.
I don't think renewing vows will work.
I'm surprise that no one has discovered this during the past twenty-six years. Maybe no one ever will, but I am retiring is a couple of years and I don't want this hanging over my head.
If we do get married, maybe in another state, would the marriage information be sent to my state and raise a big red flag?

[Whyte Noise]

Originally posted by TimD
What is the name of your state? Connecticut
Here is my dilemma. When I married for the second time, twenty-six ago, it was a couple of months before my divorce was final. We got married in my wife’s home state. I won't try to go through a lengthy explanation trying to justify my stupidity here, but I have gone through the past twenty-six years without ever questioning the validity of this marriage. However, something I read recently led me to do some research, some on this site, and now I'm surprised and very concerned that it is not valid. I know I can't go back and fix the past twenty-six years, but I don't know how to fix it going forward either. My wife thinks that what is done, is done and there isn’t anything we can do about it now. I am really at a loss about what I should do. I could use some advice with the questions that I have and judging by some of the other posts, I think there are others that could benefit from the same advice.

Is there any way to make this marriage legal now, or do we have to get married now?

****Yes, there's a way. You just get married.

How do we get legally married now?

**** You go to the courthouse, get the marriage license, and have someone licensed in your state perform the ceremony.

My wife changed her last name to mine twenty-six years ago.
I don't think renewing vows will work.
I'm surprise that no one has discovered this during the past twenty-six years. Maybe no one ever will, but I am retiring is a couple of years and I don't want this hanging over my head.
If we do get married, maybe in another state, would the marriage information be sent to my state and raise a big red flag?

****You dont have to get married in another state. You were not divorced when you got married to this woman 26 years ago, therefore your marriage isn't valid. It's as if it never existed.