Marriage Certificates & Licenses

Obtaining Certified Copies of the Marriage Certificate

Often many couples wish to have a certified copy of their marriage record to keep with family records and to comply with the constant demands made today for proof of marriage. If you wish to obtain a certified copy of your marriage record by mail, please send the request including the date of marriage, and the names of the individuals that were married. In addition, include a check or money order in the amount of $10.00 made payable to the Town of Freetown and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The request, check and return envelope can be mailed to:  Town Clerk, P O Box 438, Assonet, MA 02702.

Obtaining a Marriage License in Massachusetts

All persons wishing to marry in Massachusetts must obtain a marriage license issued from a Massachusetts City or Town Clerk's Office of their choice no more than 60 days PRIOR to getting married. Both parties/couple must jointly  file marriage intentions (application for marriage license) in person at the Clerk's Office. Marriage licenses and marriage certificates are permanently maintained on file at the Clerk's Office where the marriage intention is filed.  Marriage Intentions may be filed at the Freetown Town Clerk's Office during normal business hours.  The filing of marriage intentions takes approximately 30 minutes to complete & process, therefore can only be done up until ½ hour before Town Hall Closing time.  Effective January 1, 2024 appointments will be necessary and we recommend you give our office a call to schedule an appointment and available to administer the required oath. Please be sure to bring a current & valid government-issued ID.  Please note: There is a 3-day holding period once Intentions are filed and before a couple can pick up their marriage license.  The marriage license must be picked up before the wedding date, as the officiant can not marry a couple without the paper marriage license in hand.  The cost for filing marriage intentions is $30 and is payable by cash, check or charge card.  Couples have the option to pre-pay for heir marriage certificate ($10) and optional decorative storage envelope ($3) at the time of filing intentions.

Applying for a Marriage

According to Massachusetts law, a couple must jointly file intentions to marry, and you may do so with the city or town clerk in any community in the state. If a person is in the military and is on active duty, intentions may be filed by one party, providing one is a Massachusetts resident. If a person is incarcerated in a county house of correction or a state correctional facility, intentions may be filed by either party. A marriage license, once obtained, is valid for 60 days from the date intentions are filed and may be used in any Massachusetts city or town no matter where the intentions were filed.  The marriage license is not valid to be married outside of Massachusetts.  

License Availability

There is a mandatory three day waiting period after the marriage intention has been filed. While Sundays and holidays are included in the three days, the day the application is made is not. For example, if you apply on Friday, your license will be available to issue on Monday. Marriage licenses must be picked up in person at the Office of the Town Clerk.  Please note Town Hall closes at 12:00 noon on Fridays.

Age Guidelines

Per state regulations updated as of October 26, 2022, a current & valid government-issued ID is now required to show proof of age. The marriage of a person under the age of 18 is prohibited. (G.L. c.207 §§7, 24).

Previously Married

Neither party is required to present a divorce certificate when filing intentions to marry. However, it is extremely important that an individual who has been divorced be certain that his/her divorce is absolute. If the party is uncertain as to the absolute date of the divorce, they should contact the court where the divorce was granted. In Massachusetts, a divorce does not become absolute until 90 days after the divorce nisi has been granted, regardless of the grounds for divorce.  There are no special requirements for a widow or widower who is remarrying.

Ceremony

Massachusetts statute does not require that witnesses be present at your ceremony. However, if a member of the clergy performs the ceremony, you should ensure that you are in conformity with the appropriate religious requirements.

Solemnizer/Clergy

If an out-of-state member of the clergy is to perform the marriage, the member of the clergy must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. This certificate, which is issued by the Public Records Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, is to be attached to the original license and returned to the clerk of the city or town where the license was issued. For further information, contact:

Division of Public Records
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2836

If a person other than a member of the clergy is designated as "Solemnizer" or Justice of the Peace for the Ceremony, further information can be obtained from:

Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-5787

When requesting a Certificate of Authorization, Party A and Party B must match the marriage intention as it was filed in the Clerk's Office.

Additional assistance

You may contact the Town Clerk’s office at (508) 644-2201, ext 2

Online Payments

Click here to request a copy and make an online payment for a vital record (Birth, Marriage or Death certificate) or other document from the Town Clerk's Office only.   

NOTE: Please call the Office of the Town Clerk BEFORE making online payment/request, if you are not certain that the record is on file in Freetown. 
508-644-2201 ext 2   (Please note: the marriage certificate remains in the city/town in which the couple filed their intentions, regardless of where the ceremony took place)