Massachusetts Marriage Records

Massachusetts maintains some vital records from 1921 until the present day. The fee for conducting the search is $28, payable by check or money order to “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Send the payment with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-2600
Phone: (617) 740-2600

You’ll need to fill out an application that includes all of the vital record information that you have available to provide. Massachusetts also requires that you furnish photo identification that proves you are who you claim to be. This is required because of the privacy laws that restrict only certain information is provided to the public. The state will perform the search and you will receive a certified copy of the marriage record. This fee covers a ten year search if you don’t know the place or date where the event occurred. Expect the search to take 20 to 30 business days – or, if you want speedier service, the fee is $37 and you need to add “Expedited Mail” to your self-addressed envelope. If the event occurred as far back as 1841, you can look through the State Archives in Massachusetts. The certified Massachusetts marriage record that you receive will only contain the date of the marriage, place and perhaps witness and parent names.

Another way to search through Massachusetts marital records is to use an Internet search site. These sites have become very popular because of the huge amount of information contained online and the fact that the state can’t possibly perform vast searches for data. Online search sites are fee-based and use powerful search engines and widely optimal databases that can provide you with all of the information sometimes contained in a marriage decree. The information might include addresses, former addresses, former marriages and divorces and children involved – also, if there was a pre-nuptial agreement. These sources are entirely legal and can be worth the fee if your requirements include truthful and thorough information. You can also search through online records yourself, but the process can be tedious and very time-consuming. You also have to be careful that you’re seeing the correct data for the person or persons you requested. You don’t need to prove you’re related or provide photo identification when using an Internet search service and you’ll usually have a copy of the marriage decree within moments. Your payment information is encrypted so no one will ever know that it was you who requested a copy of the Massachusetts marriage record. Click on the link to discover how an Internet search service can help you find the Massachusetts marital records you need.