A Marriage Certificate is a copy of the record certified by a city or town clerk or by the registrar of vital records and health statistics which serves as evidence of the fact of the marriage.
License/Certificate information for NH
- Same-sex marriage is legal in NH
- Both parties must be at least 18 years of age
- There is no waiting period. You can get married immediately after receiving your license.
- You should apply at least 7 days before your ceremony, preferrably about a month in advance to account for any delays from your town.
- Your license is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. You must marry within 90 days.
- You do not need a bloodtest
- You do not have to be a NH resident to apply for a license. Anyone can apply at any city or town clerk's office and then be married in any city or town in NH.
- Both parties must be present to apply for a license. For parties in the armed forces who cannot be present, please go here for more information.
- There is a $50 marriage license fee due when applying
- To get your license you will need to bring:
- Proof of age (driver's license, passport, birth certificate)
- Photo ID's (driver's license, passport)
- Certified copies of birth certificates
- If divorced, you will need a certified copy of your divorce decree
- If you had an annulment, a certified copy of your civil annulment decree
- If widowed, your spouses death certificate.
- I will submit your paperwork from your wedding to your town clerk immediately after your ceremony. However, it may take up to two weeks following your wedding to receive your marriage certificate from your town.
License/Certificate information for MA
- Same-sex marriage is legal in MA
- You must be 18 year of age or older. If either party is under the age of 18, a Marriage of Minors application may be filed with the Probate or District court where the minor lives.
- Couples must apply in person, together, at the same time, and have the license issued within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- If a person is in the military, or incarcerated, intentions may be filed by either party, provided one is a MA resident
- There is a mandatory three-day waiting period after you file for your license. However, you can apply for a waiver by filing a Marriage Without Delay with the Probate or District Court in the town in which you are applying for a license.
- Your license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. You must marry within 60 days, or you will need to apply for a new license.
- You do not need a blood test
- You do not have to be a MA resident to apply for a license. Anyone can apply at any city or town clerk's office and then be married in any city or town in MA.
- Witnesses are not required to be present during your ceremony
- To get your license you will need to bring:
- Valid government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, passport)
- Social Security numbers
- I will submit your paperwork from your wedding to your town clerk immediately after your ceremony. However, it may take up to two weeks following your wedding to receive your marriage certificate from your town.
