MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES
Marriage Certificate Apostille in Massachusetts
Registering your marriage abroad, applying for a spouse visa, changing your name or applying for citizenship? Your marriage certificate will likely need an apostille. We handle the whole process.
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WHAT YOU NEED
A certified copy, then an apostille
No notarization needed.
- Certified copy from the city or town clerk or the Registry of Vital Records
- Apostille from the Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries
- Translation if required
No notarization needed
How it works
- 1
Get a certified copy
From the city or town clerk where your marriage license was filed, or the Registry. Don't have one? We can order it. See Vital Records Retrieval.
- 2
Send it to us
Mail it or we can pick it up. We check that it's the right version first.
- 3
We get the apostille
From the Secretary of the Commonwealth, usually within 1–2 business days once the document is ready.
- 4
Translation and shipping
Certified translation if needed, then tracked shipping anywhere in the world.
Common reasons you'll need it
Registering your marriage abroad
Many countries ask citizens married in the U.S. to register the marriage with their consulate or home registry.
Spouse and family visas
Proof of marriage for residence permits and family reunification.
Name changes abroad
Updating your name on foreign passports, IDs or bank accounts.
Citizenship by descent
Marriage records are often part of the chain. See Italy.
Avoid these common problems
A souvenir certificate
The decorative certificate from your ceremony isn't an official record.
An old certified copy
Some countries want a copy issued within the last 6 or 12 months.
Married in another state
The apostille comes from that state. We handle all 50 states.
Non-Hague country
You'll need embassy legalization instead. See Embassy Legalization.
Which marriage record to order
Ask the city or town clerk, or the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, for a certified copy of the marriage record. The intention of marriage, the license application and the decorative ceremony certificate aren’t the official record and can’t be apostilled.
If the clerk offers more than one format, choose the one that shows both spouses’ full names, dates of birth and the date and place of marriage. Many foreign registrars ask for those details.
When names don’t match
If a spouse’s name on the marriage record is spelled differently from their passport or birth certificate, a foreign office may question whether the documents belong to the same person. A notarized “one and the same person” affidavit, apostilled along with the marriage certificate, often resolves it. We can notarize the affidavit and add it to the same order. See affidavits for use abroad.
Marriage certificates for residency and citizenship
Marriage records are part of many residency and citizenship applications, including Portugal’s residence programs and citizenship by descent for Italy, Ireland and Portugal. These files usually include several apostilled records plus certified translations, so it helps to plan them together. See Portugal Golden Visa documents and Citizenship by descent.
Timing
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Certified copy from the clerk or Registry | Varies by office; we can order it for you |
| Massachusetts apostille | 1–2 business days once we have the certified copy |
| Certified translation, if needed | Usually about 3 business days |
| Embassy legalization for non-Hague countries | Varies by country |
Married in Massachusetts, registering abroad
Many countries ask their citizens to register a marriage that took place abroad with their consulate or a registry at home. Requirements vary: some want the apostilled marriage certificate only, others also want apostilled birth certificates for both spouses, a certified translation or a recent copy issued within a set number of months. Ask the consulate for its current checklist, then send it to us with your quote request. We’ll match each item to the right certified copy, apostille and translation so the file is complete the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notarize my marriage certificate?
No. The apostille is placed on a certified copy. No notarization is needed.
How long does it take?
A Massachusetts apostille usually takes 1–2 business days once we have the certified copy. Shipping time is extra.
Can you get the certified copy for me?
Yes, if you're eligible to request it. See Vital Records Retrieval.
Do you translate marriage certificates?
Yes. See Certified Translation.
We married in Massachusetts but live abroad now. Can you still help?
Yes. We can order the certified copy, get the apostille and ship it to you anywhere in the world.
Can you apostille our marriage certificate and birth certificates together?
Yes. Each record gets its own apostille, and we file them in one order.
Need your marriage certificate apostilled?
Tell us the destination country and your deadline.