Marriage Licenses

How to Obtain a Marriage License
 

To obtain a marriage license, couples must appear together at the office of the Town Clerk and file the intention of marriage.

Requirements:

Persons seeking a marriage license must be at least eighteen years of age or have a court order providing for exemption. Pre-marital blood tests are no longer required in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Waiting Period:

After the completion of the marriage intention, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period before the marriage license can be issued.  A waiver of the waiting period may be granted by the local district court.  In that instance, the couple should bring the court waiver to the Town Clerk and a marriage license may be issued immediately.  The marriage license is valid for a sixty-day period from the filing date of the marriage intention.

Recording the Marriage:

Following the marriage ceremony, the official who performs the ceremony must mail back the marriage license to the Town Clerk’s office that processed the marriage intention.  Once the Town Clerk receives the license, it will be processed and recorded.  Marriage certificates are available after the recording.  Please call the Town Clerk’s office in advance to request a marriage certificate.