How to Get Married in Massachusetts (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Massachusetts · Last updated 2026-05-18
Getting married in Massachusetts means working through Massachusetts-specific rules on the marriage license, the timing around it, and the ceremony itself. On the timing side: 3-day. License validity in Massachusetts: 60 days. On common-law marriage, Not recognized. This guide walks the Massachusetts marriage-license steps, the documents required, and the officiant rules that apply.
Key Considerations
Two of the first questions any Massachusetts couple asks about a wedding are what the marriage license costs and who is old enough to apply. On the fee side, No state-level statute. The fee for a marriage license varies by city or town. See the state agency website. On the age side, A magistrate or minister shall not solemnize a marriage if a party to the intended marriage is under the age of 18. Confirm both with the issuing office before scheduling the ceremony.
Two structural Massachusetts rules determine whether the marriage is legally complete: the common-law-recognition rule and the officiant rule. On common-law: Not recognized. See the state agency website. On officiants: A marriage may be solemnized in any place within the commonwealth by the following persons who are residents of the commonwealth: a duly ordained minister of the gospel in good and regular standing with his church or denomination, including an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church or in the Roman Catholic Church; a commissioned cantor or duly ordained rabbi of the Jewish faith; by a justice of the peace if he is also clerk or assistant clerk of a city or town, or a registrar or assistant registrar of a city or town; by a justice of the peace who has been designated as provided in the following sentence and who has received a certificate of designation and has qualified at the office of the state secretary; or a duly ordained priest or minister of the Buddhist religion. A marriage may also be solemnized in the Baha'i faith by the chairperson of an incorporated local spiritual assembly of the Baha'is in the commonwealth, according to the usage of such assembly. A marriage may also be solemnized among the Friends or Quakers according to the usages of their societies. A marriage may also be solemnized by a leader of an Ethical Culture Society which is recognized by the American Ethical Union and which is duly established in the commonwealth. A marriage among persons of any other faith may be solemnized according to the usages of such faith. A marriage may also be solemnized by a justice of a court of record. A ceremony that satisfies neither path is not a marriage in Massachusetts.
Timing matters in Massachusetts on two fronts. After the license is issued, the waiting-period rule may delay a lawful ceremony: 3-day. See the state agency website. Once the license is in hand, it does not last indefinitely: 60 days. See the state agency website. Couples plan the ceremony date inside that bracket.
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Relevant Documents
Documents commonly produced at a Massachusetts marriage-license appointment: the marriage-license application form, identification for each applicant, and (where relevant) the certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation course. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Payment of the marriage-license fee is handled at the counter when the Massachusetts application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Massachusetts Marriage License Requirements
In Massachusetts, couples must obtain a marriage license from any city or town clerk in the state before getting married. Both parties must appear in person, and the license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between application and issuance, though this can be waived by court order in certain circumstances.
Age Requirements for Marriage in Massachusetts
Massachusetts law requires both parties to be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Individuals who are 16 or 17 years old may marry with written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Marriage under age 16 requires both parental consent and judicial approval.
Massachusetts Marriage Solemnization Requirements
Marriages in Massachusetts must be solemnized by an authorized officiant, which includes justices of the peace, ordained ministers, rabbis, or certain designated public officials. The officiant must be registered with the state to legally perform marriages and must return the completed marriage certificate to the clerk's office within 10 days after the ceremony.
Name Change Options After Marriage
Massachusetts law allows either spouse to legally change their surname after marriage by using their marriage certificate. This can include taking the spouse's surname, hyphenating surnames, or creating a new combined surname. The marriage certificate serves as legal documentation for updating names on government identification, Social Security records, and other official documents.
Massachusetts Prohibited Marriage Relationships
Massachusetts law prohibits marriages between certain related individuals. Marriages between ancestors and descendants, siblings (including half-siblings), uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews are prohibited. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Massachusetts since 2004, following the landmark Goodridge v. Department of Public Health decision.
Regional Variances
Eastern Massachusetts
Boston requires couples to apply for a marriage license at Boston City Hall's Registry Department. There is a 3-day waiting period after application before you can pick up your license. The license fee is $50, and both parties must appear in person with valid identification. Boston offers special historical venues for ceremonies including Faneuil Hall and the Boston Public Library.
Cambridge requires marriage license applications through the City Clerk's office. Like Boston, there's a 3-day waiting period, but Cambridge offers online pre-application to streamline the process. The license fee is $50, and Cambridge is known for being particularly LGBTQ+ friendly with staff trained in inclusive practices.
Western Massachusetts
Springfield requires marriage license applications at the City Clerk's office. The standard 3-day waiting period applies, and the fee is $40, slightly lower than eastern Massachusetts cities. Springfield offers several historic venues for ceremonies including the Springfield Museums and Forest Park.
Northampton, known for its progressive policies, processes marriage licenses through the City Clerk's office. The fee is $40, and while the 3-day waiting period applies, Northampton is known for its LGBTQ+-friendly services and has been a popular destination for same-sex marriages since they became legal in Massachusetts in 2004.
Cape Cod and Islands
Provincetown is a popular wedding destination, especially for LGBTQ+ couples. Marriage licenses are issued by the Town Clerk with the standard 3-day waiting period and a $50 fee. Provincetown offers unique beach wedding venues and has many officiants experienced with same-sex ceremonies.
Nantucket requires couples to apply for marriage licenses at the Town Clerk's office. The island location may require additional planning for documentation. The fee is $50 with the standard 3-day waiting period. Nantucket has specific regulations regarding beach weddings and may require special permits for ceremonies in certain locations.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Apply for the Massachusetts marriage license at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. The fee for a marriage license varies by city or town. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example).
Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter
Before the ceremony days after startingBoth applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended.
Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing.
Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window
Before applying days after starting60 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over.
Plan the ceremony date around the statutory waiting period
Before the ceremony days after starting3-day. A ceremony performed before the waiting period runs is voidable; the couple should confirm the earliest lawful date directly with the clerk.
Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Massachusetts authorized-officiant list
At the ceremony days after startingA marriage may be solemnized in any place within the commonwealth by the following persons who are residents of the commonwealth: a duly ordained minister of the gospel in good and regular standing with his church or denomination, including an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church or in the Roman Catholic Church; a commissioned cantor or duly ordained rabbi of the Jewish faith; by a justice of the peace if he is also clerk or assistant clerk of a city or town, or a registrar or assistant registrar of a city or town; by a justice of the peace who has been designated as provided in the following sentence and who has received a certificate of designation and has qualified at the office of the state secretary; or a duly ordained priest or minister of the Buddhist religion. A marriage may also be solemnized in the Baha'i faith by the chairperson of an incorporated local spiritual assembly of the Baha'is in the commonwealth, according to the usage of such assembly. A marriage may also be solemnized among the Friends or Quakers according to the usages of their societies. A marriage may also be solemnized by a leader of an Ethical Culture Society which is recognized by the American Ethical Union and which is duly established in the commonwealth. A marriage among persons of any other faith may be solemnized according to the usages of such faith. A marriage may also be solemnized by a justice of a court of record. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Massachusetts should be confirmed against the Massachusetts list, since reciprocity is not automatic.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply for the Massachusetts marriage license at the issuing clerk's office | No state-level statute. The fee for a marriage license varies by city or town. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for each applicant and any documentation the clerk requires (proof of termination of any prior marriage, for example). | - | Before the ceremony |
| Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter | Both applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Verify how long the license is good for and align the ceremony date inside that window | 60 days. A late ceremony is not a curable defect; the parties would have to start the application process over. | - | Before applying |
| Plan the ceremony date around the statutory waiting period | 3-day. A ceremony performed before the waiting period runs is voidable; the couple should confirm the earliest lawful date directly with the clerk. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Massachusetts authorized-officiant list | A marriage may be solemnized in any place within the commonwealth by the following persons who are residents of the commonwealth: a duly ordained minister of the gospel in good and regular standing with his church or denomination, including an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church or in the Roman Catholic Church; a commissioned cantor or duly ordained rabbi of the Jewish faith; by a justice of the peace if he is also clerk or assistant clerk of a city or town, or a registrar or assistant registrar of a city or town; by a justice of the peace who has been designated as provided in the following sentence and who has received a certificate of designation and has qualified at the office of the state secretary; or a duly ordained priest or minister of the Buddhist religion. A marriage may also be solemnized in the Baha'i faith by the chairperson of an incorporated local spiritual assembly of the Baha'is in the commonwealth, according to the usage of such assembly. A marriage may also be solemnized among the Friends or Quakers according to the usages of their societies. A marriage may also be solemnized by a leader of an Ethical Culture Society which is recognized by the American Ethical Union and which is duly established in the commonwealth. A marriage among persons of any other faith may be solemnized according to the usages of such faith. A marriage may also be solemnized by a justice of a court of record. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Massachusetts should be confirmed against the Massachusetts list, since reciprocity is not automatic. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
Not recognized. The practical test in Massachusetts is whether the state's marriage code permits a marriage to be formed without a license and a ceremony; in most states it does not, and a couple that wants the legal status of marriage should plan on the license-plus-ceremony track.
3-day. If the state offers a premarital-course waiver of the waiting period, the course-completion certificate must be presented to the clerk at the application appointment to take advantage of the waiver.
No state-level statute. The fee for a marriage license varies by city or town. Verify the current charge with the specific Massachusetts clerk that will issue the license; some clerks publish the figure online and others quote it only at the counter.
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