Marriage Certificates

Marriages are recorded in the city or town where the couple applies for the marriage license. This is also known as filing a Marriage Intention. It can be confusing, because the city or town where you applied for a marriage license may not be where the marriage ceremony was performed. If you applied for a marriage license in Groton, you can obtain certified marriage certificates here after the wedding takes place.

Fee: The fee for a certified marriage certificate is payable by cash, check or with an online payment. If paying by check, make it payable to the Town of Groton. If using U.S. mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, the names of both parties (prior to marriage), and the date of the wedding. View the fee schedule PDF document. You can make an online payment by accessing Unibank. Pick from the Activity drop down.

Call or send your request to the Town Clerk's Office.

Marriage Intentions

If are planning to be married, Massachusetts General Laws require that you apply for a marriage license, or Marriage Intentions. Please see the FAQ below (Frequently Asked Questions) for more information on Marriage Intentions.

When are you open?

Our hours are listed here.

Where are you located?

Our address can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should we apply?

The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the day you apply (after the three-day waiting period) 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 commonwealth communities' 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?

No appointment is necessary. A couple must appear at the Town Clerk's Office together, in person, to file a "Notice of Intention to Marry." This can be done any time during our regular office hours. Please allow approximately 15 minutes for completion of your application.

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 on the third calendar day after the day that you apply. For example, if you apply on a Friday, your license can be issued on or after Monday. Please note that licenses are not issued on some Saturdays nor on Sundays (Please see our office hours schedule) unless special arrangements are made with the Town Clerk.

Is a waiver of the three-day waiting period available?

If there is 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.

The Ayer District Court is located at 25 East Main Street and can be reached at 978-772-2100. Courthouse hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The fee for the waiver at District Courts in Massachusetts is currently $195, payable by either cash or check.

The Concord District Court is located on Walden Street (Route 126) and can be reached at 978-369-0500. Courthouse hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. The fee for the waiver at District Courts in Massachusetts is currently $195, payable by either cash or check. The Courthouse staff recommends that applicants for waivers arrive at the Courthouse no later than 3:00 pm to assure ample time for consideration of the waiver prior to closing time.

The Middlesex County Probate Court is located at 208 Cambridge St. in Cambridge and can be reached at 617-768-5800. Courthouse hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday Through Friday. The fee for the waiver at Probate Courts in Massachusetts is currently $85.00.

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 to file a notice of intention to marry in Groton?

View the fee schedule PDF document.

How do I find a Justice of the Peace?

Click here for a list of all Massachusetts Justices of the Peace.

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. Please visit the State 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?

If a same-sex couple currently does not reside in Massachusetts, but intends to establish a new home or residence in Massachusetts in the near future (even if a specific address or town has not been selected), then a license can be issued in Massachusetts. If a couple currently does not reside in Massachusetts, and intends to continue to reside outside of Massachusetts in a state that does not permit same-sex marriage, then a license cannot be issued in Massachusetts.

Will proof of residency be required?

Documentary proof of residence will be required in Groton, and couples will be asked to sign a sworn affidavit, as follows: "I have reviewed a list of impediments to marriage for my place of residence and hereby state that there is an absence of any legal impediment to the marriage and do hereby depose and say that all of the statements as set forth in the above notice whereof I could have knowledge are true and are made under the penalties of perjury." (MGL Ch. 4, Paragraph 6, Rule 6) The list of impediments for each state will be available in the Town Clerk's Office. The Groton Town Clerk's Office will not issue a marriage license to an out-of-state, same-gender couple unless they intend to move to Massachusetts.

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 statute 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.