Guide to Massachusetts Marriage Records

Massachusetts marriage records are split across three offices depending on the year. City and town clerks hold local records, including everything before 1841. The Massachusetts Archives holds statewide records from 1841 to 1935. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) holds records from 1936 to the present.

This guide shows where to search Massachusetts marriage records, how to order certified marriage certificates, how the marriage license (called a Notice of Intention of Marriage) works, and which records have access limits.

Where Massachusetts Marriage Records Are Kept

Massachusetts does not keep records of marriages that took place in other states. Those records come from the state where the wedding happened.

Types of Massachusetts Marriage Records

Notice of Intention of Marriage

Massachusetts does not use the term "marriage license" in its forms. Couples file a Notice of Intention of Marriage with a city or town clerk. After the waiting period, the clerk issues a marriage certificate that the couple gives to the officiant. Once the wedding takes place and the certificate is returned, it becomes the official record.

Certified Marriage Certificates

A certified copy comes from the town clerk, the RVRS or the Massachusetts Archives, depending on the year. It is the copy you need for a name change, a passport, immigration, benefits or court matters.

Uncertified and Research Copies

The Archives emails up to 5 free digital images of 1841 to 1935 records. The RVRS also offers research hours for uncertified records at $4.50 per half hour. These copies work for genealogy but not for legal use.

Are Massachusetts Marriage Records Public?

Most Massachusetts marriage records can be ordered by the public, but there is an important exception. Under MGL Chapter 46, Section 2A, the marriage record of a person born out of wedlock is restricted. Only the person named, their attorney, parent, guardian or conservator, or certain officials can get a copy. Anyone else needs a court order. This rule does not apply to records filed before 1841.

The RVRS requires proof of identity for every order. A driver's license is preferred, and an expired one is accepted. Some clerks, such as Everett, issue restricted records only in person with photo ID.

What Is on a Massachusetts Marriage Record?

The intention form collects detailed information that becomes part of the record:

• Each person's legal name and surname after marriage
• Date of birth, age and birthplace
• Occupation and residence
• Number of the marriage and how any prior marriage ended
• Parents' full names, including the mother's maiden name
• Any blood relationship between the parties
• Date and place of the marriage and the officiant's details

How to Order a Certified Marriage Certificate in Massachusetts

From the RVRS (1936 to Present)

The in-person counter is open Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 4:45 pm, and takes check or money order only. RVRS phone: (617) 740-2600. VitalChek: (866) 300-8535. There is no online index of RVRS marriage records.

From a City or Town Clerk

Ask the clerk in the town where the intention was filed. Fees vary. For example, Boston charges $12 in person and $14 by mail, and Salisbury charges $5 in person and $6 by mail.

From the Massachusetts Archives (1841 to 1935)

Certified copies cost $3 each, cash or check only, with up to 5 per order. Processing can take 20 weeks or more, so order early if you have a deadline.

How to Get Married in Massachusetts

• Where to file: with the clerk of any city or town in Massachusetts. There is no residency requirement, and the certificate can be used anywhere in the state.
• Filing together: both partners file in person, with exceptions for military service or incarceration.
• Age: 18. Since October 26, 2022, there are no exceptions for minors, even with parental or court approval.
• Waiting period: the certificate is issued on or after the 3rd day after filing.
• Waiver: a court can waive the waiting period. Boston notes a $195 court fee.
• Validity: the certificate must be used within 60 days of filing and only within Massachusetts.
• Fee: set by each town. Boston and Cambridge charge $50.
• Medical certificate: no longer required since January 28, 2005.
• Witnesses: not required by state law.
• Divorced applicants: a Massachusetts divorce becomes final 90 days after the judgment nisi.

Who Can Officiate a Massachusetts Wedding

Massachusetts clergy and justices of the peace can perform weddings. Clergy from other states need a certificate from the Secretary of the Commonwealth. A friend or relative can apply for a One-Day Marriage Designation, which costs $20 plus $3.50 online or $25 by mail. Apply up to 6 months before the wedding and no later than 1 week before.

After the Ceremony

The officiant returns the completed certificate to the clerk who issued it. Once recorded, you can order certified copies from that town.

Massachusetts and Same-Sex Marriage Records

Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to license same-sex marriages, starting May 17, 2004. This followed the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health decision on November 18, 2003. Same-sex marriage records from 2004 onward are kept the same way as all other marriage records.

Free and Historical Marriage Searches in Massachusetts

• FamilySearch: free images of Massachusetts marriage records from 1841 to 1930.
• Massachusetts Archives: up to 5 free emailed digital images for 1841 to 1935 records.
• Vital Records to 1850: early 1900s town transcriptions of births, marriages and deaths for many towns. These are searchable through AmericanAncestors (NEHGS), which requires a membership.
• Town clerks: the best source for records before 1841.

No free state index exists for records from 1936 onward. For those, order through the RVRS or the town clerk.

Common Law Marriage in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not recognize common law marriage. The state's highest court confirmed this in Collins v. Guggenheim (1994). Couples must file an intention and have a solemnized ceremony.

How to Correct a Massachusetts Marriage Record

Start with the clerk in the town where the intention was filed. The RVRS Amendment Unit processes the change. The amendment fee is $50 plus the cost of copies, and mail requests take 3 to 4 months. Your evidence must show the entry was wrong at the time of the marriage. A legal name change alone is not a reason to amend the record.

Changing Your Name After Marriage in Massachusetts

Write your new surname on the intention form. It becomes your legal name on the certificate after the wedding. Then update your records in this order: Social Security first (the RMV checks your SSN), then your RMV license, your passport and your voter registration.

Frequently Asked Questions