Marriage Intentions - Filing

If you are getting married in the State of Massachusetts, you may file your marriage intentions at ANY Massachusetts City/Town Clerk's Office.

Applying for a Marriage License in Plymouth:

The Marriage Intention paperwork must be completed using the Online Portal. The online paperwork can be completed without a date of marriage or officiant information. You may use your own computer (highly recommended) or the kiosk located in the lobby at the Town Clerk's Office. Please read all the information below before submitting your online application.

 ONLINE PORTAL TO APPLY FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE

How to Obtain a License

To obtain a marriage license, couples must complete the marriage intention paperwork using the online portal and then appear together at the Town Clerk's Office to sign & file the intention of marriage, take the oath and make the $40 payment. Please plan to arrive 60 minutes before our office closes to apply in person and 30 minutes if you apply online. 

Persons seeking a marriage license must be at least 18 years of age. Proof of age (such as MA Driver's License, passport or birth certificate) and social security number must be provided at the time of signing the intention paperwork in the Clerk's Office.

Waiting Period

After the completion of the marriage intention, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period before the marriage license can be issued. A waiver of the waiting period may be granted by the Plymouth County Probate and Family Court. In that instance, the couple should bring the court waiver to the Town Clerk and a marriage license may be issued immediately.

The marriage license is valid for a 60 day period from the filing date of the marriage intention. This is when both parties come to the Town Clerk’s Office to sign & file the paperwork — it is not from the date of submitting the application through the online portal.

Recording the Marriage

Following the marriage ceremony, the official who performs the ceremony must mail back or hand deliver the marriage license to the Town Clerk’s Office that processed the marriage intention. Once the Town Clerk receives the license, it will be processed and recorded. Once received, please give our office 48 hours to record the marriage before requesting a marriage certificate.

Requesting a Certified Copy of your Marriage Certificate

Your certified marriage certificate can only be obtained from the Town Clerk's Office in which you filed your marriage intention. Your license is not available in the town you reside in or the community your marriage ceremony was held in (unless that is where you filed your intentions).

Your certified marriage certificate is available after the recording of your marriage (return of your license with officiant certification) for a fee of $15. Couples can request certified marriage certificates online.

Performing your Ceremony

If the person performing your ceremony is a clergy member or Justice of the Peace from another state they will need an out-of-state solemnizer certificate to perform the ceremony.

If the person performing your ceremony is not a Justice of the Peace or clergy member they will need a one-day solemnizer certificate to perform the ceremony.

Justice of the Peace services are offered during business hours at the Town Clerk's Office, upon availability and at the discretion of the Town Clerk. You may discuss a Town Hall ceremony with our staff after submitting your online application when you come in to sign and finalize your intention paperwork.