To get married in Massachusetts, you and your partner go together to any city or town clerk’s office in the state, file a Notice of Intention of Marriage, wait three days, pick up the license, and then hold a ceremony with an authorized officiant within 60 days of the day you filed. Massachusetts does not recognize common-law marriage, so this is the only route to being legally married here.
Who Can Marry in Massachusetts
Both people must be at least 18. State law prohibits any magistrate or minister from solemnizing a marriage if either party is under 18, and there is no parental-consent exception.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207 Section 7 – Marriage of Minors Prohibited
Both people also have to be currently unmarried. Any prior marriage must have ended by divorce, annulment, or the death of the former spouse before a new license can be issued, and you’ll need paperwork to prove it.
Marriages between close relatives are barred. The statute lists parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, aunts or uncles with nieces or nephews, and certain in-law and step-relationships.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 1 – Marriage of Man to Certain Relatives Prohibited
Filing the Notice of Intention
The first official step is filing a Notice of Intention of Marriage at any city or town clerk’s office in Massachusetts. Both parties have to appear together, in person, at the same time.3Mass.gov. Getting Married in Massachusetts – Before the Wedding It doesn’t have to be the town you live in or the town where you plan to hold the ceremony. Any clerk in the state will do.
Bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID. You’ll be asked for your Social Security numbers, dates and places of birth, occupations, and your parents’ full names, including your mother’s maiden name.4Town of Hull. Marriage Intentions, Licenses, and Guidelines If either of you was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate.
The license fee varies by municipality. Boston charges $50, and smaller towns are often less.5City of Boston. How to Get Married in Boston Plan on somewhere in the $25 to $50 range. The license works anywhere in Massachusetts, but it is not valid for a ceremony in another state.6Town of South Hadley. Marriage License Information
The Three-Day Wait and the 60-Day Window
After you file the intention, state law requires a three-day waiting period before the clerk can issue the license. Sundays and holidays count toward the three days.7General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 19 – Notice of Intention of Marriage File on a Monday, and the clerk can issue the license on Thursday.
Once the three days pass, the clerk issues a certificate, and it stays valid for 60 days from the date you originally filed the intention. The ceremony has to happen inside that window. Let it expire and you start the whole process over.8General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 28 – Certificate; Delivery to Parties; Expiration
If You Cannot Wait Three Days
If the three-day wait would create a real hardship, you can petition a Probate and Family Court, District Court, or Boston Municipal Court for a Marriage Without Delay waiver. The total filing cost is $195, made up of a $180 filing fee and a $15 surcharge.9Mass.gov. Instructions – Marriage Without Delay Court Form Approval isn’t automatic. You’ll need to explain the hardship, which typically involves military deployment, serious illness, or travel that can’t be rescheduled.
Choosing an Officiant
Massachusetts is more specific than most states about who can perform a legal wedding. The statute authorizes ordained clergy in good standing with their denomination, rabbis, and authorized representatives of several recognized religious traditions, including Baha’i, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Ethical Culture, and Islamic faith leaders.10General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207 Section 38 – Solemnization of Marriage; Situs; Persons Authorized Justices of the peace can officiate, but only those who also serve as a clerk, assistant clerk, or registrar of a city, town, or court, or who have a special designation under Section 39.
Clergy From Another State
A clergy member from outside Massachusetts needs a Certificate of Solemnization from the Secretary of the Commonwealth before the ceremony. The application can be mailed or faxed in, and the certificate is mailed back once approved.11Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Procedure to Perform Marriages in Massachusetts by Nonresident Clergy Build in lead time; processing depends on the office’s workload.
Having a Friend or Family Member Officiate
Massachusetts allows a one-day designation that temporarily authorizes a specific person to perform your ceremony on a specific date. The application goes through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office and has to be approved by the Governor’s office before the certificate is issued.12Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One Day Designation Certificate Application The fee is $20 online plus a $3.50 expedited fee, or $25 by mail. Apply well ahead of the wedding, because these are popular and processing slows in peak wedding season.
The Ceremony and the Certificate
State law doesn’t dictate vows or a particular ceremony format. What matters legally is that an authorized officiant performs the ceremony and the marriage certificate is properly signed. The officiant should receive the license before the ceremony begins.8General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 28 – Certificate; Delivery to Parties; Expiration
The statutes don’t explicitly mandate witnesses at the ceremony, but having two adult witnesses present who sign the certificate is standard practice and almost always expected by the officiant and the clerk. Treat it as a practical requirement.
The officiant is legally responsible for returning the signed certificate to the clerk or registrar who issued it. The statutory deadline is the tenth day of the month following the month in which the marriage took place.13General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 40 – Records and Returns Marry on June 15, and the officiant has until July 10 to file. Most officiants return the paperwork within a few days, but confirm with yours so you aren’t left waiting.
Getting Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
Once the clerk processes the returned certificate, the marriage is officially on record and you can order certified copies. You’ll need those copies for name changes, insurance updates, immigration filings, and similar purposes. The state Registry of Vital Records issues them, and so does the city or town clerk where the marriage was recorded; local fees are often lower than the state’s.14Mass.gov. Vital Records Service Fees Order several at once. You’ll likely need more than you expect, and it’s cheaper than going back later.
What to Do in the First Weeks After the Wedding
Marriage is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day special enrollment period for health insurance. Inside that window, you can enroll in a new plan together, add each other to an existing employer plan, or switch marketplace coverage. Miss it, and you’ll generally have to wait for open enrollment. Put the deadline on the calendar the day you get married.
If either spouse is changing a last name, the marriage certificate is the document that makes everything else possible, and the order matters. Start with the Social Security Administration, because most other agencies want the SSA record to match the new name before they’ll update anything. Apply online through a my Social Security account or submit a paper Form SS-5 at a local office, along with your certified marriage certificate and a proof of identity such as a driver’s license or passport.15Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Card The SSA requires original documents or certified copies; photocopies are not accepted, and the replacement card is free.
Once Social Security is updated, book an appointment at an RMV Service Center to change your driver’s license. If you have or are applying for a REAL ID, bring the marriage certificate as proof of the legal name change. Standard licenses have less stringent documentation.16Mass.gov. Change Information on Your Driver’s License or ID Card From there, work through your passport, bank accounts, credit cards, employer records, voter registration, and any property or vehicle titles. Almost every institution asks for the updated Social Security card and the marriage certificate.
One more thing worth knowing: your marital status on December 31 fixes your filing status for the entire tax year. Marry on New Year’s Eve and you’ll file as married for that full year, either jointly or separately. If you’re getting married late in the year, run both scenarios in your tax software before filing; the difference can be significant depending on how your incomes compare.