Marriage License Information
When should we apply?
The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the day you apply. Apply for your license no sooner than 60 days before your planned wedding date.
Do I have to apply where I live?
If the marriage is to take place in Massachusetts, you may apply for your license at any City or Town Clerk's Office in Massachusetts regardless of where you live. Fees and hours vary from office to office. Information on offices in other cities and towns can be obtained from the the Commonwealth Communities page page on the State of Massachusetts website.
If your marriage is going to take place outside of Massachusetts, you must contact the local officials in the jurisdiction where the marriage will take place. Marriage laws vary from state to state.
Do I need an appointment to apply for a marriage license?
Yes, but appointments can generally be made with little notice. The couple must appear at the Town Clerk's Office together, in person, to file a "Notice of Intention to Marry." Please plan on 15-30 minutes to fill out your paperwork. Please call (508) 979-4023 ext 3 for an appointment.
What do we need to bring with us?
You will both need picture ID's (such as a license or passport). You will also need to know your social security number, the spelling of your parents' names (including maiden names, if applicable), the city where you were born, your wedding officiant's name and address, and the details of when/where you are to be married. If you do not have an officiant, we can provide the names of local Justices of the Peace that you can contact.
Is there a waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued?
Yes, there is a three-day waiting period. Your license will be available 3 days after the day that you apply. Please note that licenses are not issued on Saturday or Sunday.
Is a waiver of the three-day waiting period available?
If there is a reason to dispense with the three day waiting period, a couple may apply to the judge of a Massachusetts Probate or District Court to have the license issued without delay. Applicants can proceed to the courthouse after filing the "Notice of Intention to Marry" with the Town Clerk.
Is a blood test required before a license can be issued?
No. On October 29, 2004, the Governor signed a law eliminating the premarital medical certificate requirement in Massachusetts. This law went into effect on January 28, 2005.
What is the fee for obtaining a marriage license in Fairhaven?
The fee is $20.00.
Can a friend be authorized to perform my marriage ceremony?
The Governor's Office may issue a certificate authorizing a citizen to solemnize a specified marriage on a specified day. Click here to visit the State's website for information and an application.
Is Massachusetts residency required to obtain a marriage license in Massachusetts?
No. Residence is not a requirement for marriage in Massachusetts. According to M.G.L. Chapter 207, Section 11, however, "No marriage shall be contracted in this commonwealth by a party residing and intending to continue to reside in another jurisdiction if such marriage would be void if contracted in such other jurisdiction, and every marriage contracted in this commonwealth in violation hereof shall be null and void."
Are same-sex couples who reside outside of Massachusetts allowed to be married in Massachusetts?
Yes.
What if one or both of us has been divorced?
You are not 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. In Massachusetts, a divorce does not become absolute until 90 days after the divorce nisi has been granted, regardless of the grounds for divorce.
Are witnesses required to be present at the ceremony?
Massachusetts statutes does not require that witnesses be present at your ceremony. The officiant serves as the witness.
What if I have further questions?
You may contact the Town Clerk's Office at (508) 979-4023 ext 3 during office hours.
CERTIFIED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES
Marriages are recorded in the city or town where the couple applies for the marriage license. If you applied for a marriage license in Fairhaven, you can obtain certified marriage certificates here after the wedding takes place.
The cost for a certified marriage certificate is $10.00 - an uncertified copy is 25 cents.
Call the Town Clerk's Office at (508) 979-4023 to request a copy for pickup or send your request to Town Clerk's Office, 40 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719. Be sure to include your check or money order payable to the "Town of Fairhaven", a self-addressed, stamped envelope, the names of both parties (prior to marriage) and the date of the wedding.