In Massachusetts one of the most important steps in planning a wedding – whether a religious or secular ceremony – is obtaining a marriage certificate. If the wedding is to be performed in Massachusetts, the couple can obtain a certificate from any City or Town Clerk in Massachusetts.

Newton City Clerk is open Monday - Friday: 8:30am to 5:00 pm.

For further information, call 617-796-1200

Does Newton Have the Record?

Certified copies of Marriage Certificates can ONLY be obtained from the City or Town that issued the certificate even if the ceremony was performed in another community. If you are looking for an older record or doing genealogical research please visit the City Clerk's City Archive page.

Steps to Marriage

First the couple must come in together to fill out the Marriage Intention forms

• This can be done at Newton City Hall or any City or Town Clerk's Office in Massachusetts. The filing fee in Newton is $35.00 and can be paid at City Hall with cash, check or debit card.
• Both parties must be at least eighteen years of age and should consider the date and place of the wedding, name of officiant and the name that each party will use after the wedding.
• The wedding ceremony must be performed in Massachusetts within 60 days of the date of filing the marriage intention.
• There is a three (3) calendar day waiting period before the certificate may be issued in-person.
  • Unless a court order waiving the waiting period is obtained through a local trial court.

After the three (3) day waiting period is complete, the Marriage Certificate may be issued to the couple to be completed at the wedding ceremony by the Officiant of the wedding.

To register the marriage, the officiant (a member of the clergy, Justice of the Peace, or person registered as a One Day Solemnizer with the State of Massachusetts) must sign the certificate in black ink and return it directly to the City or Town Clerk that issued the license.

If the officiant is a One Day Solemnizer they must also return the original certificate given to them by the state

Once the signed, complete, certificate is received by the City Clerk's Office the marriage will be registered and the couple may obtain certified copies. If either party chooses to change their name following the ceremony a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate will have to be obtained by the couple for Social Security and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Couples may purchase as many certified copies as they like, each copy is $10.00.

How Do I Get A Copy Of A Marriage Certificate?

Order On-line (Allow 10 to 14 Days)

You can order and pay for a copy of a marriage certificate to be mailed to you. Payment processing service charges apply.

Order On-line

By Mail (Allow 10 to 14 Days, from the day we receive the request)

A written request must contain the following:

1. Names of the Individuals on the Certificate
2. Date of Marriage
3. Number of Copies Ordered
4. Address to which it should be sent
5. Check in exact amount made payable to the City of Newton

Printable Certified Copy Form (PDF)

In Person 

Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Newton City Hall, First Floor

1000 Commonwealth Avenue

Newton, MA 02459

The City Clerk's office cannot accept requests for marriage certificates via FAX and does not accept orders via the telephone. A marriage certificate, to be considered valid, cannot be a copy or on facsimile paper, Massachusetts law requires that it be certified with the City Seal.

Vital Records: A certified copy can also be obtained from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics at:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon Street
First Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-2714

For more information on the Registry of Vital Records please visit the state’s website.

Please Note: If the officiant for your wedding is from another state, or is not with the clergy or a Justice of the Peace, he or she must apply for and receive a one-day commission before the marriage takes place. The Commission must be obtained from:

Secretary of State, Commissions Division
McCormack Building 17th floor
1 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108

Information and the appropriate forms can be found on-line.

For more information please contact the City Clerk's Office at (617)796-1200 or by e-mail at vitals@newtonma.gov

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