Don’t forget your paperwork!
ALL ABOUT MARRIAGE LICENSES IN MASSACHUSETTS
Credit where credit is due: the Mass.gov website has a great page, laying out a bunch of legal and administrative considerations for all sorts of wedding scenarios (getting married at state park, for example). It’s a link we send out often!
But I love a list. So here are a couple “We booked our wedding date, now what?” lists for your reference.
BEFORE THE WEDDING
-
The when is as important as the where because it dictates your timeline for filing your intent to marry – more on that below.
This is where I plug Dearly’s easy booking system, where you can book your intimate ceremony in minutes, complete with Justice of the Peace services. 👀
-
Some couples decide to have a loved one officiate their ceremony. In that case, you’ll likely need to apply for a One Day Designation. It’s a simple process, costs about $25, and allows anyone to officiate your wedding on the day you specify only.
All Dearly Studio ceremony packages come with optional Justice of the Peace services included, so you don’t have to worry about organizing an officiant if you do not want to.
-
This is the form you’ll need in order to be administered a marriage license. You can file at any town clerk’s office, it does not need to be from the district or town you’re getting married in.
That said, every town clerk is a little different in how they accept appointments / walk ins for these forms, so double check your local city or town clerk before you visit with your fiancé.
You’ll need to provide:
Proof of your age (i.e a birth certificate or passport)
Your Social Security number
Payment for fees (these vary by town)
The name you’ll use after the wedding if you’ve decided to change it
Some town clerks ask for officiant address information at this time as well. If that’s the case, just shoot us a text (617) 237 6763!
-
There’s a 3 day waiting period once you fill out your Intention of Marriage form. Marriage licenses are valid for a 60-day period.
** That means you can pick up your marriage license no less than 3 days but no more than 60 days from your ceremony date. **
-
Let’s say you forgot about the marriage license (oops!) and you’re now less than 3 days out from your ceremony – or the waiting period falls on a weekend when you are unable to pick up your license from the city clerk’s office. All’s not lost, but it will cost you time and money.
In this case, you would need to state your case in front of a district judge and apply for a marriage without delay ($195).
Anecdotally, we’ve never heard of anyone being denied in this case – but we also haven’t had a Dearly couple have to exercise this option just yet either :)
ON AND AFTER YOUR WEDDING DAY
-
Your officiant will sign and return this on your behalf.
At Dearly, this means putting it in the mail and providing a tracking number to you so you know exactly when it’s been delivered for processing. If your license was issued in Somerville, we’ll even hand-deliver it in person within 1-2 business days.
-
There are a bunch of logistical reasons you might need an official copy of your marriage license (switching health insurance plans, for example).
You can order a copy of your marriage certificate online, by phone, by fax, or by mail. Service fees vary depending on how you order it, but the simplest and cheapest option is usually to obtain it directly from the city clerk’s office you filled out your Intention of Marriage form at.
-
If you’ve changed your name, you’ll need a new social security card, MA driver’s license or state ID and US passport.
*You should get your Social Security card first, as the RMV will check this number when you apply for your new license.
-
That’s the whole point! :)
