Getting married in Massachusetts: a US$50 license in Boston, and you wait 3 days before you can use it
Under state law, once you get a Massachusetts Marriage License you must wait 3 days before you can use it; to use it sooner, you have to ask a court for a waiver, which the Boston page says costs US$195. The license is valid for 60 days and can only be used within Massachusetts.
Licenses are issued by each city or town's clerk or registry, and fees vary from place to place. In Boston, for example, the application fee is US$50, both of you must appear together in person, and you must book an appointment online first. If you need to register the marriage in Taiwan, a certificate issued in Massachusetts is authenticated by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Boston.
Requirements and appointments
The rules of the City of Boston Registry Division (page updated 2026-10-08, checked 2026-10-26):
- Location: 1 City Hall Square, Room 213; go to Window 24 or 25 on the 2nd floor.
- You must book an appointment online first; walk-ins are not accepted at the moment. After you submit the booking, you get a confirmation email with a link to the marriage intention form.
- Both of you must apply together in person. If one of you is a Massachusetts resident on active military duty out of state, or can't appear because of special circumstances such as hospitalization or incarceration, call 617-635-4175.
- Bring valid photo ID: a passport, driver's license, state ID or military ID.
- You must provide your Social Security number; if you don't have one, you must explain why (for example, one was never issued, or you are a non-resident).
- The application fee is US$50, payable by cash, debit card, credit card, or a money order made out to City of Boston.
- Each of you must be 18 or older and currently unmarried. The page doesn't mention any residency requirement.
For other points for foreigners applying, see foreigners marrying in the US.
The 3-day waiting period and the court waiver
- After the license is issued, you must wait 3 days before you can use it; this is set by state law. Without a waiver, you can't marry on the day you apply.
- For a waiver, apply to a court for a "Marriage Without Delay" waiver; the Boston page says the court charges US$195. Ask the Registry which court to go to when you submit the marriage intention form.
Valid for 60 days, Massachusetts only
- The license is valid for 60 days. One part of Boston's page says this counts from the day you apply and sign, and another says it counts from the day of your appointment, so confirm the start date with the Registry and plan the ceremony around the earlier of the two dates.
- It can only be used within Massachusetts.
- Get the license before the wedding and give it to the person officiating.
For a comparison of waiting periods and validity across states, see the official rules checked for 9 states.
Who can officiate, and City Hall ceremonies
- The ceremony can be performed by a Massachusetts minister, priest, rabbi or justice of the peace.
- A friend or relative can officiate through a "One-Day Marriage Designation".
- Clergy from outside Massachusetts must first be authorized by the state.
You can also be married at Boston City Hall by the City Clerk or an Assistant City Clerk (acting as a justice of the peace) (page updated 2026-10-08, checked 2026-10-26):
- The fee is US$75 (US$60 plus a US$15 city service fee), cash only; arriving late costs an extra US$25.
- You must already have your marriage license and bring it on the day to give to the officiant; the license's 3-day waiting period still applies.
- Room 213: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00–11:30 a.m. and 2:00–3:30 p.m. Room 601: Monday and Tuesday, 2:00–3:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, the same morning and afternoon slots. No ceremonies on Wednesdays, weekends or holidays.
- The page doesn't say how many guests are allowed or what the rules on witnesses are.
Returning the license and certified copies
- The officiant fills in the license and mails it back to the Boston Registry (at the Room 213 address).
- Certified copies: US$12 in person, US$14 by mail.
Authentication uses up one certified copy, so order several at once (item 10 of the checklist). A week or two after the ceremony, check with the Registry that recording is complete (item 9 of the checklist).
Registering in Taiwan and TECO in Boston
- Documents issued in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont are authenticated by TECO in Boston (jurisdiction table from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US, checked 2026-10-22).
- TECO in Boston: US$15 per document, plus US$7.50 per document for rush service; payable by cash, money order or certified bank check, with no credit cards or personal checks (checked 2026-10-14).
- The office doesn't translate documents; for the translation, see translating the marriage certificate into Chinese.
For the full steps to register in Taiwan, see registering a US marriage in Taiwan in five steps; for a comparison of offices, see which TECO office to send your marriage certificate to.
Common questions
How long do we have to wait to marry in Massachusetts?
You wait 3 days after the license is issued, under state law; to use it sooner, apply to a court for a Marriage Without Delay waiver, which the Boston page says costs US$195.
How much is a Boston marriage license?
The application fee is US$50; both of you appear together in person, and you must book an appointment online first. A ceremony at City Hall costs another US$75, cash only.
Can a friend officiate our wedding in Massachusetts?
Yes, by applying for a One-Day Marriage Designation. Clergy from outside Massachusetts must first be authorized by the state.
Massachusetts's 3-day wait, 60-day validity and registering in Taiwan are all on the timeline in the My Wedding Plan checklist: confirming the recording is item 9, certified copies item 10, and registering in Taiwan item 15. The checklist has a free version, and you can start without giving an email address.
Sources (checked 2026-10-26)
Fees and procedures in this article follow the City of Boston's official pages; for other cities and towns in Massachusetts, go by each clerk's website. The state government website would not open this time (it returned a 403), so it is not cited.
- City of Boston: How to get married in Boston (checked 2026-10-26; page updated 2026-10-08)
- City of Boston: How To Get Married At City Hall (checked 2026-10-26; page updated 2026-10-08)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston: Document authentication (checked 2026-10-14)
- Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States: Office jurisdictions (checked 2026-10-22)