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Tuesday, January 04, 2005

Handy wedding information link

http://www.cornerstonehealingcenter.org/marriage_license_laws.htm

ID Requirement: Proper identification is necessary. You may be required to show a certified birth certificate.
Residency Requirement: You do not have to be a resident of Massachusetts. License can be used anywhere in Massachusetts.
Previous Marriages: No special requirements.
Covenant Marriage Option: No.
Waiting Period: Three-day (3) waiting period. You may go to court and obtain a court order to waive the three-day waiting period. If either of you are close to death, or if the bride is near the end of her pregnancy, a request by your attending physician or clergyperson would suffice and the clerk can issue the license immediately without a court order.
Fees: Between $4 and $15. Each community can set their own fees.
Other Tests: You will need to bring the report of your Pre-Marital Blood Test. It has to be done no longer than 30 days prior to your marriage license application. If either of you are close to death, or if the bride is near the end of her pregnancy, the blood test can be waived if a request by your attending physician or clergyperson is given to the clerk.
Proxy Marriages: No. However, if one of you is in the military, or is incarcerated, the other may make application for the marriage license for both of you.
Cousin Marriages: Yes
Common Law Marriages: No. 
Same Sex Marriages: Yes, as of May 17, 2004. However, with legal challenges to the new law, some local jurisdictions may have residency requirements and/or not issue marriage licenses to gay couples. Check with your local authorities to see how they are handling this issue. 
Under 18: If you are under 18 years old, you will need a court order from either a probate court or district court in the locale where you live in order to apply for a marriage license. 
Officiant: Any ordained ministers or clergymen, and justices of the peace may perform weddings. Out-of-state clergy need to obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth before the wedding ceremony. A non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative of family friend) may receive from the Governor, for a $25 fee, special one-time permission to perform a marriage. 
Witnesses: Witnesses are not required. 
Miscellaneous: License is valid for sixty (60) days. 

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Department of Public Health
150 Mt. Vernon Street
Boston, MA 02125-3105
(617) 740-2600