How to Get a Marriage License in Boston: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Massachusetts as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Boston, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- City of Boston Registry Division (Marriage Intention), 1 City Hall Square, Room 213, Boston, MA 02201-2006 (Window 24 or 25, 2nd floor)
- Booking
- Appointment required, booked in advance online (calendly.com/bostonregistry/marriage-intention-appointment); walk-ins are not accepted. A slot is not reserved until you press submit. Office hours not stated on the page.
- Fee
- $50 Application fee. A court waiver of the waiting period (Marriage Without Delay) costs $195, charged by the court, not the City.
- Payment
- Cash, debit or credit card, or money order payable to "City of Boston".
- Who attends
- Both partners must apply together, in person. Exceptions: call 617-635-4175 if a Massachusetts resident and either partner is on active military duty out of state, or hospitalisation or imprisonment prevents attendance.
- Valid for
- Usable only within Massachusetts, from 3 to 60 days after application; expires 60 days after you file and sign the Marriage Intention.
- Same day?
- The licence is issued at the appointment but cannot be used for 3 days after issue. Without a Marriage Without Delay court waiver you cannot marry on the day you apply.
Step by step
- Apply. Book an appointment online; you then receive an email link to the Marriage Intention form to complete. Both partners attend the appointment together in person to file the intention and receive the licence.
- Book or plan your visit. Appointment required, booked in advance online (calendly.com/bostonregistry/marriage-intention-appointment); walk-ins are not accepted. A slot is not reserved until you press submit. Office hours not stated on the page.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both partners must apply together, in person. Exceptions: call 617-635-4175 if a Massachusetts resident and either partner is on active military duty out of state, or hospitalisation or imprisonment prevents attendance. Cash, debit or credit card, or money order payable to "City of Boston".
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Massachusetts. Usable only within Massachusetts, from 3 to 60 days after application; expires 60 days after you file and sign the Marriage Intention.
What to bring
- Valid photo ID for each partner: passport, driver's license, state ID or military ID
- Social Security numbers for each partner; if none, write down why (for example never issued, or not a resident)
- Completed Marriage Intention form: legal names and post-marriage surname, current residence, dates and places of birth, parents' names including maiden names, number of previous marriages
- Previous marriages: divorce date or annulment papers. You cannot apply until at least one day after the divorce is final; in Massachusetts a divorce is not final until 90 days have passed. Recent out-of-state divorce for a Massachusetts resident: call 617-635-4175
- Age: each partner must be 18 or older and not currently married
- Residency: no general residency rule stated for the licence
Good to know
- Who may officiate: a Massachusetts minister, priest, rabbi or justice of the peace; a friend or family member with a One-Day Marriage Designation from the Secretary of the Commonwealth; clergy from outside Massachusetts with state authorisation (non-resident clergy application)
- Give the licence to your officiant before the wedding; the officiant completes it and mails it to the Registry Division at the address above. Registration requires the completed licence to be returned to the City
- Certified copies of the marriage certificate: $12 in person, $14 by mail; order online or by mail
- Free interpretation, translation and disability accommodation available in multiple languages
Your nikah and the license
The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Massachusetts, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Boston and our Massachusetts nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Boston?
The issuing office lists the license fee as $50. Application fee. A court waiver of the waiting period (Marriage Without Delay) costs $195, charged by the court, not the City. Fees change, so check the City of Boston Registry Division (Marriage Intention) page before you go.
Do I need an appointment in Boston?
Appointment required, booked in advance online (calendly.com/bostonregistry/marriage-intention-appointment); walk-ins are not accepted. A slot is not reserved until you press submit. Office hours not stated on the page.
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
It depends on the state. Usable only within Massachusetts, from 3 to 60 days after application; expires 60 days after you file and sign the Marriage Intention. Confirm with City of Boston Registry Division (Marriage Intention) whether your license can be used outside this county or state before you plan your ceremony.
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Only if you want the marriage to be legally recognized in Massachusetts. A nikah on its own is religiously valid but is not a legal marriage. If you want both, you need a license and an authorized officiant, and one ceremony can cover both.
Planning a nikah in Boston?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the City of Boston Registry Division (Marriage Intention) website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. City of Boston Registry Division (Marriage Intention): marriage license page. Contact: 617-635-4175, registry@boston.gov. This guide is general information, not legal advice.