Marriage License Fee in Massachusetts

The fee on this page covers filing that notice and obtaining the certificate of intention. Section 19 of Chapter 207 requires couples to file the notice at least three days before the marriage and to pay the fee provided by clause (42) of Section 34 of Chapter 262. The clerk or registrar collects that fee at the time you file and cannot issue the certificate without it.

This fee does not include optional services such as a civil ceremony or certified copies of the marriage record after the ceremony. If you will need certified copies later, ask the issuing clerk about the separate copy fee and how to order them. Always confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods with the city or town clerk where you plan to file.

The same statute requires payment of the fee referenced in Chapter 262. That notice is the legal starting point for a Massachusetts marriage license, and the three-day rule is mandatory unless you obtain a court waiver.

Filing the notice with a clerk or registrar and paying the required fee are the steps that trigger issuance of the certificate of intention under Section 28. Because the notice must be filed jointly, both parties should plan to appear and sign under oath as required in Section 20, unless a physician affidavit exception applies.

That means you can choose the municipality where you want to file, and that municipality becomes the issuing office for your certificate of intention. You do not have to file in the same city or town where the ceremony will occur, because Section 38 allows marriages to be solemnized in any place within the commonwealth. The key is to file early enough with the chosen clerk to meet the three-day waiting period and to allow time for the certificate to be issued.

Local clerks control appointment procedures, hours, and payment rules, so confirm their current process before you visit. If you are unsure which office to use, start with the city or town clerk where you plan to complete your paperwork and ask about their procedure for marriage intentions.

Section 19 says the notice must be filed not less than three days before the marriage, and it also instructs that Sundays and holidays are counted when computing that three-day period. Section 28 reinforces that the certificate can only be issued on or after the third day after filing. This makes the waiting period a calendar-day count rather than a business-day count.

For example, if you file on a Monday, Tuesday is day one, Wednesday day two, and Thursday is the earliest day the certificate can be issued and used. If a Sunday or holiday falls within the three days, it still counts toward the waiting period.

The certificate must be delivered to the minister or magistrate before the marriage is solemnized, so plan to hand it to your officiant before the ceremony begins. If the certificate is not used, it must be returned to the issuing office within 60 days after the date the notice was filed.

In practice, this means you should plan your ceremony within 60 days of filing the notice of intention. If you miss that window, you must file a new notice, pay the fee again, and receive a new certificate.

This is commonly referred to as a Marriage Without Delay waiver. The statute says the judge may act after hearing whatever evidence is presented, so courts can require documentation or a brief hearing before issuing the waiver. Upon presentation of that court certificate, the clerk must issue the marriage certificate at once.

Section 30 also allows immediate issuance in extraordinary or emergency cases when the death of either party is imminent, upon request from a minister, clergyman, priest, rabbi, authorized Baha'i representative, or attending physician. A waiver does not remove the need to file the notice of intention; it only shortens the waiting period. Local courts may charge a separate fee for the waiver, and clerks can tell you which court to petition.

The notice must include information required by law and a statement of no legal impediment to the marriage, and it must be given under oath by both parties before the clerk. Because the notice is a public record, it can be inspected as a public document. In addition, the clerk must collect information for a separate report to the state registrar, including Social Security numbers and residence addresses.

The clerk does not retain a copy of that separate report and it is not a public record. This distinction is important for privacy because some information is collected for state reporting but not kept as a local public record.

If a registered physician makes an affidavit to the satisfaction of the town clerk that a party is unable, by reason of illness, to appear, the notice may be given on behalf of that party by a parent or legal guardian, or by the other party if there is no parent or guardian competent to act. This exception is narrow and requires medical documentation, so ask the clerk about their required affidavit form and any additional documentation if you expect someone cannot appear.

The clerk has discretion to determine whether the affidavit is sufficient.

Section 7 states that a magistrate or minister shall not solemnize a marriage if a party to the intended marriage is under the age of 18. This is a statewide requirement that applies regardless of the municipality where you file the notice of intention.

Clerks commonly verify age with photo identification during the notice filing, and an officiant cannot lawfully proceed if either party is under 18.

Examples include a resident ordained minister, a commissioned cantor or ordained rabbi, a Buddhist priest, an Imam, an authorized Baha'i representative, a minister in fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association, an Ethical Culture leader, or a Friends or Quaker meeting acting according to its usage. Section 38 also allows a duly ordained nonresident minister to solemnize a marriage if they are the pastor of a church or denomination established in Massachusetts, and it provides a pathway for other religious organizations that comply with the state secretary's requirements. Section 39 adds that the state secretary may authorize a nonresident clergy member or qualified official to solemnize a specific marriage anywhere in Massachusetts.

If your officiant is from outside the state or not routinely authorized, confirm they have the required state authorization before the ceremony. This is especially important if you are relying on a nonresident officiant or a justice of the peace who must be designated by the state.

The return must be made no later than the tenth day of the month following the month in which the marriage was solemnized. This step is how the marriage is formally recorded in the issuing municipality.

If the certificate is not returned promptly, it can delay the recording of the marriage and the availability of certified copies. Confirm with your officiant that they will return the certificate on time.

The City of Boston, for example, requires couples to apply together in person by appointment at City Hall. Boston sends applicants a link to complete a Marriage Intention form after booking an appointment, then reviews and finalizes the form when both parties appear to sign under oath. Boston lists a $50 application fee and accepts cash, debit or credit card, or a money order payable to the City of Boston.

Boston also notes that the license can be used only in Massachusetts, is valid between 3 and 60 days from the application date, and cannot be used until the three-day waiting period has passed. Boston further explains that a Marriage Without Delay waiver requires a court order and that the court fee is $195. Use these details as a local example and confirm your own clerk's requirements before you apply.

Section 20 requires the notice to be given under oath by both parties unless a physician affidavit exception applies. Section 19 and Section 28 enforce the three-day waiting period, so you cannot use the certificate sooner without a court waiver. Applications can also stall if Social Security numbers are missing without the required explanation, or if the clerk has not received the fee and completed the notice form.

Another frequent issue is waiting too long after filing; the certificate cannot be used after 60 days, which means you must refile and pay again. Couples also sometimes assume the waiting period is business days rather than calendar days, or forget to deliver the certificate to the officiant before the ceremony. Confirm all documents and timing with your local clerk to avoid rebooking an appointment.