HOW TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENSE
Marriage licenses are issued from the Office of the Town Clerk in any city or town in the Commonwealth. The marriage licenses are valid only in the State of Massachusetts. If you are not Massachusetts residents and you enter into a marriage in Massachusetts that would be void if contracted for in the state(s) in which you reside and intend to continue to reside, your marriage "shall be null and void" (G.L. c207 ss 11).
The fee for filing a Marriage Intention in the Town of Monson is $25.00. A marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date the intention to marry was filed. Couples must make an appointment to file.
Requirements for Obtaining a Marriage License
* Both parties must be 18 years of age or older. Under-aged parties must obtain a court order.
* Both parties must be present to file. If a person is in the military, the intention (application for license) may be filed by either party, providing one is a Massachusetts resident.
*Evidence of residence for both parties must be provided (driver's license, utility bill, bank or credit card statement, tax return, etc.).
* A marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date the intention was filed.
Waiting Period For Issuing License
* There is a mandatory three (3) day waiting period from the date of filing the intention before the marriage license can be issued. While Sundays and holidays are included in the three days, the day the application is made is not. For example, if you apply on Friday, your license will be issued on or after Monday.
* A court waiver may be obtained after filing intentions by applying to the judge of a probate or district court. After a hearing explaining the extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the court may issue a certificate allowing the marriage license to be issued without delay.
Premarital medical Certificates are no longer required for licenses issued after January 28, 2005.
Divorced or Widowed
* Divorced individuals must be certain that the divorce is absolute.
* Widowed individuals have no special requirements to remarry.
Out-of-State Clergy or One-Day Solemnizer
* If an out-of-state member of the clergy is to perform the marriage, the clergyperson must obtain a Commission from the Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to performing the ceremony. This Commission must be returned to the Town Clerk where the license was issued. The license cannot be filed nor certified copies made until this Commission is received by the Clerk.
* It is possible for a friend or relative who is not a member of the clergy to obtain special permission to perform a marriage. A Commission must be obtained from the Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. This Commission must be returned to the Town Clerk where the license was issued. The license cannot be filed nor certified copies made until this Commission is received by the Clerk. Applications for this special commission and instructions for completion are available at the Town Clerk's Office.
For additional assistance or information, please contact the Town Clerk's Office at 267-4115.
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