Getting a Marriage License in Brookline MA

If you or your partner lives in Brookline, the Brookline Town Clerk's office at Town Hall is where you go to apply for a marriage license. Both of you must appear in person together to file the application. This page covers what you need to bring, how the process works at the Brookline office, what the 3-day waiting period means for your plans, and where to get help if something comes up along the way. Brookline is in Norfolk County, and the clerk follows state law under MGL Chapter 207.

Brookline Town Clerk Marriage License Office

The Brookline Town Clerk's office is located at Town Hall, 333 Washington Street. This is the only office in Brookline that issues marriage licenses, and it serves all town residents. The clerk handles vital records, which includes both the application for a new license and certified copies of previously recorded marriages. If you need to apply or get a copy, this is the place to go.

The town clerk's page is a useful starting point before you visit, since hours and any temporary closures are posted there.

Friday hours end at 12:30 PM, which is much earlier than the rest of the week. If you plan to visit on a Friday, arrive early. Better yet, plan your trip for Monday through Thursday when you have the full day and more time if questions come up or you need to gather extra paperwork on the spot.

Note: The office does not require an appointment for marriage license applications, but calling ahead at 617-730-2010 is a good idea to confirm hours have not changed around holidays.

What to Bring to the Brookline Clerk's Office

Both partners must appear together in person. There is no way to file by mail or proxy in Massachusetts. When you arrive at the Town Hall on Washington Street, you will both sign the application at the same time in front of the clerk. Plan your schedules so you can both get there during office hours on the same day.

Proof of age is required, and Massachusetts law is specific about what qualifies. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, a driver's license or state ID is not accepted as proof of age for a marriage license application. This surprises many people. You need to bring a birth certificate, a passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). If you do not have one of these documents, get a copy before your visit to Town Hall. The clerk cannot accept anything else in place of them.

You also need your Social Security number. You do not have to bring the physical card. Just know your number so the clerk can record it on the application form. If either of you was previously married, be ready to explain how that marriage ended. Most clerks ask, and some may want to see a divorce decree or death certificate. Bring those documents if they apply to your situation.

Massachusetts requires both applicants to be at least 18 years old. The state raised the minimum age to 18 in 2022 under MGL Chapter 207, and there are no longer any exceptions for younger applicants, even with parental consent. If either party is under 18, a marriage license cannot be issued in Brookline or anywhere in the state.

The 3-Day Wait and License Validity

After you file your application at the Brookline Town Clerk's office, you must wait 3 days before you can pick up the license and hold the ceremony. The wait is required by Massachusetts law. It does not include the day you apply, but it does count Sundays and holidays. If you file on a Monday, the earliest you can pick up the license and get married is Thursday.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date you file. That gives you a decent window to schedule the ceremony. However, if the license expires before your ceremony happens, you will need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. Do not apply too far ahead of your planned date.

If you cannot wait the full 3 days, there is a legal way to skip it. You can apply for a waiver through the Probate or District Court. This costs around $195 under MGL c. 207 § 30 and requires a judge to approve your request. The state provides a guide at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay that explains how to apply for the waiver and what the court looks for. Not every request is approved, so apply as soon as you know you need it. If your situation qualifies, the clerk can point you toward the nearest Probate Court.

Note: Brookline is in Norfolk County, so the relevant Probate Court for a waiver would be the Norfolk County Probate and Family Court in Dedham.

After the Ceremony: Recording and Certified Copies

Your officiant is responsible for returning the signed marriage license to the Brookline Town Clerk after the ceremony. This is a legal requirement under MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and files the original. Do not try to keep the license yourself after the ceremony. It needs to go back to the clerk's office.

Once the marriage is recorded, you can request certified copies. Certified copies are used for name changes with the Social Security Administration, updating a passport, changing your name on a driver's license, updating insurance policies, and many other purposes. You will likely need more than one, so order at least two when you first request them. Ordering multiple copies at once is cheaper per copy than coming back for them one at a time.

Copies can be requested directly from the Brookline Town Clerk or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS). The RVRS is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester and can be reached at 617-740-2600. The state office keeps records from every city and town in Massachusetts, so you can get a copy there even years later or if you have moved away from Brookline. For more details on ordering copies from the state, visit the RVRS marriage certificate page.

Who Can Perform Your Ceremony in Brookline

Massachusetts law allows several types of people to officiate a marriage. Judges, justices of the peace, and ordained religious clergy are all authorized to perform ceremonies. The state keeps a directory of justices of the peace at mass.gov/info-details/justice-of-the-peace if you need help finding one.

If you want a friend or family member to officiate, the One-Day Marriage Designation is the way to do it. Under this process, the Secretary of the Commonwealth grants a one-time authorization for a specific person to officiate one ceremony. The application is done online through the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage portal. It must be completed before the ceremony date. There is a processing time involved, so do not wait until the last minute to apply.

The main state guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts covers officiant rules along with the full marriage license process. It is a useful reference if you are still in the early planning stages and want to understand all the steps from application to ceremony.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also have marriage license pages with local office details.

Norfolk County Marriage Licenses

Brookline is part of Norfolk County. For information on other towns and cities in the county, or to see how the process works across the county as a whole, visit the Norfolk County marriage license page.