Marriage Licenses
Applying for a Marriage License
You must be planning to get married in the State of Massachusetts to file in Massachusetts. You may apply for a Marriage License at any Town or City Clerk's Office in Massachusetts, however, the town or city that you apply is where your license will be kept on file and where you will return for certified (official) copies after you are married.
The Marriage License is valid for 60 days after the date of application.
Both parties must appear at the Clerk's Office to fill out the paperwork together, must be 18 years of age or older, and must bring valid proof of identification. There are only 3 exceptions to this: Military, Incarceration, and Doctor's verification of impending death - confirming documentation is required.
The intention takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
The fee for a Marriage License is $30.00.
Three Day Waiting Period
There is a mandatory three day waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued. Sundays and holidays are included in the three days, however, the day the application is made is not. The license cannot be picked up on Saturday or Sunday at the Clerk's Office because City Hall is closed on the weekends. It is possible to obtain a waiver through the probate or district court to waive the three day waiting period. After a hearing, the court may issue a certificate allowing the marriage license to be issued (which must be brought back to the City Clerk), who will then issue your marriage license. At that point, the marriage may then performed without delay.
After the Three Day Waiting Period Has Passed
After you have filled out the paperwork, we prepare Marriage Licenses in the order they are received and the order in which they are needed.
The marriage license will need to be picked up in person by either party on the license. Whomever picks up the license must verify that all of the information on the license is correct. At this time, we will also provide instructions for officiants and information on how to get a certified copy once you are married. We do not mail marriage certificates prior to the ceremony.
The license must be picked up before your marriage ceremony; the person performing the marriage may not legally marry you without this important document.
Once you are married, the license needs to be returned to our office to be registered. Once we register it, you may request certified copies.