Some
Practicalities You Should Consider:
1. A couple who
intends to marry must jointly file intentions to marry with a city or
town clerk in any community in Massachusetts.
Except for a few circumstances, you and your
fiancé must appear in person at an office of the Town Clerk in order to
file your intent to marry.
The
couple must complete and sign under oath an Intention of Marriage.
Information that is essential in completing this form includes your social
security numbers, your places of birth, and your mothers' maiden name.
Persons seeking a marriage license must be at least 18 years
old or have a court order providing for an exception.
2. The couple may have the
wedding ceremony anywhere in Massachusetts. You do not have to have your
ceremony in the town or city in which you filed your intent to marry.
3. Once you file your
intention to marry with a Massachusetts city or town clerk, after the
passage of three days, you may pick up your "Certificate of Marriage"
commonly referred to as a "marriage license." The couple must bring this
"Certificate of Marriage" to the person who will officiate at the
couple's wedding ceremony.
4. Couples must realize that they must wait three days after
filing their intent to marry before they may have their wedding
ceremony.
5. After the ceremony, the Justice of the Peace must sign the
"Certificate of Marriage" in order for it to take effect.
The Justice of the Peace then returns the signed Marriage
Certificate to the town clerk who issued it. The town clerk then sends
it to the appropriate Commonwealth of Massachusetts office and the
marriage is then officially recorded. The couple may request an
official copy of their Marriage Certificate from the clerk of the town
which issued it.
6. Massachusetts no longer requires a blood test for
marriage.
7. Witnesses to the wedding ceremony are not required in
Massachusetts.
9. Once you have obtained a "Certificate of Marriage" from a
city or town clerk, you have 60 days within which to marry. After 60
days, you would have to file your intent to marry again.
10. A Massachusetts Justice
of the Peace may marry you in any community in Massachusetts.