All people who marry in Massachusetts must possess a marriage license issued from a city or town in Massachusetts.  You may obtain your license from any city or town, and get married in any other city or town in the Commonwealth.  However, the only place your license will be on file is in the city or town from which you obtained the license.

How to obtain a License?

You must be 18 or older.  You must both appear in person at a City or Town Clerk’s office and file your Intentions to Marry.

The only exception is if one party is in the military or incarcerated.  You may contact a City or Town Clerk’s office to ascertain what to do in those instances.

You will be asked your name, address, date and place of birth, occupation, parents’ names and places of birth, number of marriage(s) and whether you are widowed or divorced.  You do not need to show divorce papers.  You swear under the pains and penalties of perjury that the information you provide is true.

You may obtain a license from any city or town and get married in any other city or town within the Commonwealth.  The license is valid for sixty (60) days from the date you filed your Intentions.

How much does it cost to get a license?

Fees vary as each town or city may set their own fee to file Intentions.  Generally it is between $10 and $25.

Is there a Waiting Period?

Yes.  There is a 3 day waiting period, not counting the day you file your Intentions.   For example, if you file on Monday you may pick it up on Thursday, and so forth.

Can you obtain a Waiver of Waiting Period?

Yes.  You may obtain a waiver after you have filed your Intentions by appearing at a Probate or District Court of the Commonwealth to have the license issued without delay.  You must have a reasonably valid reason to do so.  You will need to pay court filing fees.

Do you need a Blood or AIDS Test or a Medical Certificate?

No.  It is required by a Department of Public Health regulation that city and town clerks distribute to applicants an AIDS educational pamphlet entitled “If You’re Getting Married…Know the Facts About HIV”.

Do you need witnesses to get married?

No.  Only the authorized officiant who will be performing your ceremony will sign the marriage license and return it to the City or Town Clerk’s office from which you obtained the license.

Do you need to be a resident of Massachusetts or a U.S. citizen to get married in Massachusetts?

No.  

What are the procedures for same sex couples to marry in Massachusetts?

They are the same as for opposite sex couples.

For more information contact:  www.glad.org/marriage/howtogetmarried.html

What if we are a same sex couple who want to marry and are residents of another state or citizens of another country?

Your marriage will only be considered to be legal in those states or countries where the full faith and credit of a marriage that occurred in Massachusetts is recognized, as with opposite sex couples.  As of 2011, in the U.S., only the states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, as well as Washington D.C., and the Coquille Indian Tribe in Oregon; foreign countries include Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Mexico City, Mexico; the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden fully recognize same-sex marriage.   Other states or countries may have civil unions, domestic partner registrations, or some other form of recognition or rights, but it is not marriage.

For more information contact:  www.glad.org/marriage/howtogetmarried.html

Do we get a marriage certificate or proof of marriage from you?

No.  You may purchase a certified copy of your marriage license from the city or town from which you obtained the license.  The original license stays with the City or Town Clerk.  The certified copy will have a raised seal of the city or town proving it is a true copy.  Fees for certified copies vary by town or city.

Where may I go for additional information or assistance?

You may contact any city or town Clerk’s office in the Commonwealth.  They will be more than willing to answer your questions.

You may also contact:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Department of Public Health
150 Mt. Vernon Street
Boston, MA 02125-3105
(617) 740-2600
www.state.ma.us