GUIDE · UPDATED NOVEMBER 2026
How to Get a Certified Massachusetts Marriage Certificate
Where your marriage record is kept, how to order a certified copy, what it costs and what to do if you need it for a name change or for use abroad.
The short answer
In Massachusetts, your marriage record is kept by the city or town clerk where you filed your notice of intention to marry, which is not always the community where the ceremony took place. The state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics also holds a copy, so you can order from either office.
If you are not sure where you filed, look at your marriage license or the souvenir certificate from the ceremony, or call the clerk’s office in the community you think you used before ordering.
Where to order and what it costs
| Where and how | Cost (November 2026) |
|---|---|
| The city or town clerk where your intention was filed | Set by each community; many charge $10–$20 |
| City of Boston Registry, online or by mail | $14 per copy; online orders include U.S. shipping |
| State Registry, in person in Dorchester | $20 per copy |
| State Registry, by mail | $32 per copy; $42 expedited |
| State Registry, online or by phone through VitalChek | $54 first copy, $42 each additional |
Fees can change. Confirm with the office before ordering. For a recent marriage, the clerk where you filed your intention is usually the quickest source.
Need your marriage certificate apostilled?
We retrieve the certified copy and handle the apostille in one order.
Who can order a copy
Most marriage records can be ordered by anyone who can identify them. A marriage record is restricted if either spouse was born to parents who were not married at the time of that spouse’s birth. A restricted record can be released only to the spouses, their parents, legal guardians or a legal representative with supporting documents, and identification is required.
What you need to order
- Both spouses’ full names before the marriage.
- The date of the marriage.
- The city or town where the intention was filed.
- A current photo ID, and proof of relationship for a restricted record.
The souvenir certificate is not the official record
The decorative certificate many couples receive at the ceremony is a keepsake. Banks, the Social Security Administration, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, courts and foreign authorities require a certified copy issued by the clerk or the state Registry, with an official signature and seal.
Using a Massachusetts marriage certificate abroad
To register your marriage in another country, apply for a spouse visa or update records overseas, you usually need a certified copy followed by an apostille from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, or embassy legalization for countries outside the Hague Convention. Many countries also ask for a recently issued copy and a certified translation. See our marriage certificate apostille service.
Good to know
Where it is kept
With the clerk where you filed your intention to marry.
Also at the state
The Registry of Vital Records holds a copy.
Keepsake vs. record
Only a certified copy is accepted officially.
For use abroad
A certified copy, then an apostille.
Official sources
- Mass.gov: Order a birth, marriage or death certificate
- Mass.gov: Registry of Vital Records service fees
- City of Boston Registry: birth, death and marriage certificates
This guide is general information about Massachusetts and federal requirements. It is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a copy of my marriage certificate in Massachusetts?
From the city or town clerk where you filed your notice of intention to marry, or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
I married in one town but filed my intention in another. Which has my record?
The town where you filed your intention. Massachusetts keeps the marriage record with that clerk, regardless of where the ceremony took place.
How much does a Massachusetts marriage certificate cost?
The City of Boston charges $14 per copy online or by mail. The state Registry charges $20 in person, $32 by mail or $54 for the first copy online, as of November 2026. Other clerks set their own fees.
How do I get a Boston marriage certificate?
If you filed your intention in Boston, order from the City of Boston Registry online, by mail or in person at City Hall, Room 213.
Can anyone order a marriage certificate?
Most records, yes. If either spouse was born to unmarried parents, the record is restricted to the spouses, their parents, guardians or a legal representative.
Do I need an apostille on my marriage certificate?
Only if it will be used in another country that requires one. The apostille is added to a certified copy by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Need a certified marriage certificate?
Tell us where you filed your intention and where the certificate is going.