To meet Massachusetts marriage license requirements, both partners must appear together at any city or town clerk’s office in the Commonwealth, file a Notice of Intention of Marriage under oath, wait three days, and then collect a certificate that remains valid for 60 days from the filing date. Neither partner has to be a Massachusetts resident, and you can file at whichever clerk’s office is most convenient. The process is set by Chapter 207 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Who Can Marry in Massachusetts
Both partners must be at least 18. Massachusetts updated its law in 2022 to prohibit marriage for anyone under 18, with no exceptions for parental consent or court approval.1General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207 Section 7 – Marriage of Minors Prohibited Judges previously had limited authority to authorize marriages involving minors; that path is closed.
The law also bars marriages between close relatives, including parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 2 – Marriage of Woman to Certain Relatives Prohibited First cousins are not on the prohibited list.
If either partner was previously married, that marriage must have ended through divorce, annulment, or the death of the former spouse before a new license can be issued. The clerk will ask about prior marriages during the application.
What to Bring and What You’ll Be Asked
Each partner needs proof of age. Massachusetts ranks acceptable documents in a strict hierarchy, and the clerk will not accept a lower-ranked document when a higher one is available. An original or certified birth record is the preferred document; a certified baptismal record, passport, life insurance policy, employment certificate, school record, immigration record, naturalization record, and court record follow in that order.3Mass.gov. Massachusetts General Laws c207 33A – Intention of Marriage Proof of Age The statute covers age verification, not general identity. In practice, most clerks also want a government-issued photo ID. Call ahead if you’re unsure what your office requires.
The Notice of Intention itself is available at every clerk’s office in the Commonwealth, and you can file at any of them regardless of where you live.4Mass.gov. Getting Married in Massachusetts Before the Wedding Each partner will provide:
- Full legal name and current address
- Social Security number, if you have one (the card itself isn’t required)
- Date and place of birth
- Full names of both parents, including surnames at birth
- Information about any prior marriages, including how they ended
Make sure what you provide matches your birth certificate and other legal documents. Correcting errors on a marriage record after the fact is slow and expensive.
Filing the Notice of Intention
Both partners must appear together, in person, to sign the Notice under oath. The clerk is confirming that both people are entering the marriage voluntarily and that the information is accurate, so Massachusetts does not allow one partner to file for the other.
Filing fees are set locally and generally run from $20 to $50. Boston charges $50.5City of Boston. How to Get Married in Boston Accepted payment methods vary by office. No blood test or medical exam is required.
The Three-Day Waiting Period
After you file, a mandatory three-day waiting period begins, and the clerk cannot release the certificate until at least the third day afterward.6General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Code Chapter 207 Section 28 – Certificate of Intention of Marriage Delivery Time For a Saturday wedding, that means filing by the preceding Tuesday at the latest.
The waiting period can be waived in limited situations. A couple can apply to a Massachusetts Probate or District Court justice for an order allowing immediate issuance; the certified court order must then be presented to the clerk. A minister, priest, rabbi, or attending physician can request immediate issuance if either partner is facing imminent death. The waiting period is also waived if either partner arrived in the country as an immigrant within the five days before the wedding.
The 60-Day Window
Once the waiting period ends, the clerk issues the certificate, which both partners (or a designated person) can pick up. The certificate expires 60 days from the date the Notice of Intention was filed, not from the date you collected it. If 60 days pass without a ceremony, the certificate goes back to the issuing office, and you start the entire process over, fee included. This is the most common timing mistake, especially for couples planning several months ahead. Don’t file too early.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Massachusetts authorizes a specific list of officiants: ordained ministers and rabbis in good standing with their religious organizations, commissioned cantors, Buddhist ministers, Unitarian Universalist ministers, leaders of Ethical Culture Societies recognized by the American Ethical Union, Imams of the Orthodox Islamic faith, and authorized Baha’i representatives.7General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207 Section 38 – Solemnization of Marriage Situs Persons Authorized Quaker meetings may solemnize marriages according to their own traditions. Justices of the peace can officiate only if they also hold a qualifying government role, such as a city or town clerk, court clerk, or registrar, or if they’ve received a special designation.
One-Day Designation for a Friend or Family Member
If you want someone outside that list, such as a friend or relative, to perform the ceremony, the Governor can grant a one-day designation authorizing that person to solemnize one specific marriage on one specific date in one specific city or town.8General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207 Section 39 – Designation of Justice of the Peace The application runs through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office and requires the Governor’s approval before the certificate is issued.9Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One Day Designation The fee is $25 by mail, fax, or in person, and $20 electronically. There’s no residency requirement for the designee or either partner. Apply well in advance; the designation expires once the ceremony is complete.
After the Ceremony
The officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the clerk’s office that issued the license. This return is what converts your license into an official marriage record. Until the signed certificate reaches the clerk, there is no public record of your marriage, so confirm your officiant understands this responsibility and follows through promptly.
After the certificate is recorded, you can order certified copies from the same clerk’s office. These are the documents you’ll use to update your name, add a spouse to insurance, and handle any other paperwork that requires proof of marriage. Fees for certified copies vary by town; some offices include one copy with the filing fee, and others charge separately.