Marriages
Planning on getting married?
If you are planning on getting married in Massachusetts, you can apply for Marriage Intentions at any City or Town Clerk’s Office.
You must be getting married within 60 days. There is a three day waiting period from the time of application until the marriage license can be issued.
Marriages can be solemnized by Massachusetts clergy or Justices of the Peace.
Out of state clergy must register with the Massachusetts Governor’s Office.
Many couples prefer to have a family member of friend solemnize their marriage. If that person is not a member of the clergy or a justice of the peace, he or she may apply for a One-Day Marriage Designation, also through the Governor’s Office (https://www.mass.gov/one-day-marriage-designation).
Intention to Marry
To apply for Marriage Intentions, both parties to the marriage must present themselves at the same time to a clerk’s office to complete brief paperwork.
Both parties must present identification. After the three day waiting period, a marriage license is issued which must be brought to the ceremony.
The Solemnizer will complete a portion of the document, which is then returned to the same clerk’s office (along with a One-Day Marriage Designation certificate if applicable).
Once certified by the clerk, a marriage certificate will be issued.
The cost for this process in Groton is listed in the fee schedule.
Looking to obtain a copy of your marriage certificate?
Marriage certificates are kept in the city or town where the marriage intention was filed. This is often not the same city or town where the marriage took place. Certified copies of marriage certificates may be obtained in person, by mail or by using the online ordering service. Requests for records can be made to the Town Clerk’s Office. Please have the marriage date available.
Marriage Certificate Corrections
When couples marry, officiants fill out the marriage license after solemnizing a marriage. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has exacting requirements for the completion of marriage licenses in order to produce standardized archival records. When errors in a marriage license result in a need to correct the marriage license, the Town Clerk’s office charges a $30 corrections fee. If asked to pay a corrections fee, you may use our online ordering service to make that payment.
