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How to get a Massachusetts marriage certificate

In Massachusetts, order a certified marriage certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.1 City or town clerk where the marriage intention was filed also issues certified copies.2 Each certified copy costs $323. You can order online, by mail, in person, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day3.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a Massachusetts marriage certificate costs
  3. How long it takes
  4. Who can order a Massachusetts marriage certificate
  5. ID you need
  6. What the application asks for
  7. Which office holds a marriage record
  8. Forms
  9. Years held and older records
  10. Special situations
  11. The state office
  12. Questions people ask
  13. Sources

Current notice from the office

  • 1931-1935 birth, marriage and death records moved to the Massachusetts State Archives1

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek$542 first, $423 each extra copy
+ 4 possible extra charges		Up to 10 business days3Card3
By mail$323
+ one extra charge		–Check and money order3
In person$203Same day3–
At a local officeSet by each office, for example $124 or $144––
By phone$542 first, $422 each extra copyUp to 10 business days3Card3

Online through VitalChek

Vendor
VitalChek3
Fees
  • First copy $542
  • Each additional copy in the same order $423
  • Processing or service fee $123
  • First copy $62.503
  • Each additional copy in the same order $50.503
  • Standard USPS First Class Mail $03
  • UPS Second Day Shipping $12.503
  • UPS Next Day Shipping $19.503
Processing time
Up to 10 business days3
Expedited service
Processed and shipped the next business day; expedited prices are $62.50 first copy and $50.50 each additional copy instead of $54.00/$42.003
Payment
Card3

Good to know

  • Search-only (research) requests are not available by phone2

Go to the ordering site2

By mail

Run by
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics2
Fees
  • Per copy $323
  • Expedited Mail Request $423
Expedited service
$42. Expedited Mail Service: $42.00 per copy instead of $32.00; processed and shipped within 10 business days of receipt3
Payment
Check and money order3
Make payable to
Commonwealth of Massachusetts2
Mail to
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
5

Good to know

  • Limit of five searches per mail request5
  • A postage-paid, self-addressed envelope or prepaid carrier envelope is required5

Open the application or mail instructions2

In person

Run by
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics2
Fees
  • Per copy $203
Processing time
Same day3
Make payable to
Commonwealth of Massachusetts2
Office
150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
6
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.2

Open the official page1

At a local office

Run by
City or town clerk where the event occurred (e.g. City of Boston Registry Division)7
Fees
  • Per copy $124
  • Per copy $144

Find a local office8

By phone

Run by
VitalChek2
Fees
  • First copy $542
  • Each additional copy in the same order $422
Processing time
Up to 10 business days3
Expedited service
Processed and shipped the next business day at $62.50 first copy / $50.50 each additional3
Payment
Card3

Good to know

  • Research is not available via phone2

What a Massachusetts marriage certificate costs

First certified copy
$323
Each additional copy, same order
$325
Expedite fee
$423
Each extra year searched
$325
Fees in effect since
2026 fee schedule (no exact effective date printed)9

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified copy2–$322
Negative Statement3Required to establish a delayed record or correct an existing record5$323

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you orderProcessing timeCounted
Online through VitalChekUp to 10 business days3Before shipping
In personSame day3From receipt
By phoneUp to 10 business days3Before shipping

Who can order a Massachusetts marriage certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • The person named on the record and a parent named on the record: if the conditions in the state’s rule are met2
  • Attorney or legal representative2
  • Legal guardian2

ID you need

Photo ID
Required2
Accepted ID
  • Driver’s license (even expired)
  • Government issued Photo ID2
Without that ID
  • Photo ID from Work or School
  • Personal Documents (Utility Bills, W-2 Form, Pay Stub, Library Card, Military ID, etc.)
  • Massachusetts Issued ID Cards (RMV, SNAP, DTA, etc.)
  • Correctional Facility ID
5
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID5

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.5

  • Party A name (first, middle, surname, surname at birth or adoption)
  • Party B name
  • Date of marriage
  • Massachusetts city/town where intention of marriage was filed

Which office holds a marriage record

Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office2; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1936 to today5
Older records
Massachusetts Archives (1841-1935); city/town where intentions were filed2

Special situations

If no record is found
A certified Negative Statement is issued when no record is found; it is needed to establish a delayed record or correct a record2 Details
Use abroad
Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth on copies bearing the original signature of the Registrar of Vital Records or a city/town clerk10 Details

The state office

Office
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)1
Mailing address
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
5
Walk-in address
150 Mount Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
6
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:45 am-4:45 pm (genealogical research: Mon 1-4, Tue 9-12, Thu 1-4, Fri 9-12)6

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Massachusetts marriage certificate?

Each certified copy costs $32.35

How long does it take to get a Massachusetts marriage certificate?

Online through VitalChek: up to 10 business days. In person: same day. By phone: up to 10 business days.3

Can I order a Massachusetts marriage certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.3

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.2

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver’s license (even expired); Government issued Photo ID.2

Where are older Massachusetts marriage certificates kept?

Massachusetts Archives (1841-1935); city/town where intentions were filed.2

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Registry of Vital Records and StatisticsMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  2. Order a birth, marriage, or death certificateMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  3. Vital records service feesMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  4. How to get a copy of a marriage certificateCity of Boston Registry Divisiondated August 4, 2026
  5. Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  6. Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (location)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  7. Learn about records available through RVRSMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  8. Researching Vital Records at the Massachusetts ArchivesSecretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Archivesdated September 17, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  9. 2026 RVRS Service Fees (PDF)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
  10. Apostilles and Certification of DocumentsSecretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Commissions Sectiondated October 4, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page