Applying for a Marriage License?

You must be planning to get married in the State of Massachusetts to file in Massachusetts. You may apply for a Marriage License at any Town or City Clerk's Office in Massachusetts, however, the town or city that you apply is where your license will be kept on file and where you will return for certified (official) copies after you are married.

The Marriage License is valid for 60 days after the date of application.

Both parties must appear at the Clerk's Office to fill out the paperwork together, must be 18 years of age or older, and must bring valid proof of identification. There are only 3 exceptions to this: Military, Incarceration, and Doctor's verification of impending death - confirming documentation is required.

The intention takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Our office hours are 8 AM to 4 PM (close) - please come in no later than 3:30 PM to fill out this paperwork.

The fee for a Marriage License in Haverhill is $40.00.

Waiting Period

There is a mandatory three day waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued. Sundays and holidays are included in the three days, however, the day the application is made is not. The license cannot be picked up on Saturday or Sunday at the Clerk's Office because City Hall is closed on the weekends. It is possible to obtain a waiver through the probate or district court to waive the three-day waiting period.  After a hearing, the court may issue a certificate allowing the marriage license to be issued (which must be brought back to the City Clerk), who will then issue your marriage license. At that point, the marriage may then performed without delay.

After the Three-Day Waiting Period Has Passed

After you have filled out the paperwork, we prepare Marriage Licenses in the order they are received and the order in which they are needed.

About a week prior to your wedding ceremony, the marriage license will need to be picked up in person. Either party may pick up the license. Whomever picks up the license must verify that all of the information on the license is correct.  At this time, we will also provide instructions for officiates and information on how to get a certified copy once you are married. If the couple reviews and approves the license and then asks to make a change prior to the issuing of the license, there is a $10 fee to retype the license. We do not mail marriage certificates prior to the ceremony.

The license must be picked up before your marriage ceremony; the person performing the marriage may not legally marry you without this important document.

Once you are married, the license needs to be returned to our office to be registered. Once we register it, you may request certified copies. Certified copies of the record are available for $10 in person per record or $15 per record via the mail. Order a copy online to be mailed to you here.

Changing Your Name After Marriage

Social Security Administration 

Area SSA offices:

62 Brown Street #401, Haverhill / 866-964-4324

10 Causeway Street, Room 135, Boston / 800-772-1213

Before you can change your driver’s license, you must first make the change with Social Security Administration

MA Driver’s License 

You must change your name on your license or identification card at any of the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Massachusetts. For more information, click here.

Should you need additional certified copies of your marriage license, they can be obtained from the City Clerk's Office for $10 a copy in person or $15 a copy via the mail.