Getting a Marriage License in Chicopee MA

Chicopee residents apply for a marriage license at the City Clerk's office at 17 Springfield Street. At $25, the license fee in Chicopee is among the lowest in Massachusetts, making it an accessible option for couples in western MA. Both partners must appear in person together to file the application. This page covers the Chicopee clerk office details, what to bring, how the 3-day waiting period works, and the state rules that apply to every Massachusetts marriage license.

Chicopee City Clerk Marriage License Office

The Chicopee City Clerk's office is at 17 Springfield Street and handles all vital records for city residents, including marriage license applications. Chicopee is in Hampden County in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. The $25 fee is one of the most affordable in the state. Most Massachusetts cities charge between $35 and $50 for a marriage license, so Chicopee's rate stands out for couples watching costs.

The city website is the best starting point for confirming current hours and any updates to office procedures before you visit.

The office is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, but applications are only accepted until 4 PM. If you show up at 4:30 PM, the office may still be open but staff will not process a new marriage license application. Plan to arrive by 3:30 PM at the latest to give yourself enough time to complete everything without feeling rushed. Call 413-594-1466 ahead of time if you have any questions about what to bring or how the process works.

Note: Both partners must be present and ready to sign the application at the same time. The clerk cannot start the application with just one partner present.

What to Bring to the Chicopee Clerk's Office

Both partners must show up at the same time. This is a state-level requirement that applies everywhere in Massachusetts, including Chicopee. Proof of age is required for each applicant. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID is not accepted as proof of age for a marriage license application. Many people are surprised by this rule. You need a birth certificate, a passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). One of those four items is required for each of you, or the application cannot proceed.

You also need your Social Security number. Know the number before you go. You do not need the physical card, just the number itself. The clerk records it on the application. If you were previously married, come ready to say how that marriage ended. Bring a divorce decree or death certificate if it applies to either of you. Some clerks ask for documentation and some just ask verbally, but having the paperwork ready avoids delays.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Massachusetts raised the minimum age to 18 in 2022 under MGL Chapter 207. There are no exceptions for anyone under 18, even with parental consent. If either partner is under 18, the application will be denied in Chicopee and everywhere else in the state.

The 3-Day Waiting Period

After filing at the Chicopee City Clerk's office, you must wait 3 days before the license is available and the ceremony can take place. The wait starts the day after you file. It includes Sundays and holidays, so it does not get extended by weekends. File on Monday, earliest ceremony is Thursday. File on Thursday, the 3-day clock runs through Sunday, but since the office is closed Sunday, you would pick up the license Monday morning.

The license stays valid for 60 days from the filing date. If your ceremony is not held within that 60-day window, the license expires and you start over. For most couples, this is not a concern. But if your plans shift significantly, keep track of the expiration date so you do not end up paying a second $25 fee.

If you genuinely cannot wait 3 days, Massachusetts allows you to apply for a waiver through the Probate or District Court. For Chicopee, that would be the Hampden County Probate and Family Court in Springfield. The waiver process is outlined at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay. The fee is around $195 under MGL c. 207 § 30. A judge must approve it. Apply as soon as you know you need one since approval is not guaranteed and there is no shortcut to the process.

Who Can Officiate Your Ceremony in Chicopee

Massachusetts law allows a range of people to perform marriage ceremonies. Judges, justices of the peace, and ordained religious clergy are all authorized officiants. The state keeps a directory of justices of the peace at mass.gov/info-details/justice-of-the-peace that you can search by region. Chicopee is in Hampden County, so look for justices in the western Massachusetts area.

If you want someone specific, like a friend or family member, to officiate the ceremony, the One-Day Marriage Designation is the right option. This is a one-time authorization granted by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for a specific person to officiate one particular ceremony. The application is submitted online through the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage portal. Apply before the ceremony date since processing takes time. One-day designations do not allow someone to officiate multiple ceremonies.

The full Massachusetts marriage guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts covers officiant rules and all other steps of the process. It is a useful reference whether you are still in the planning phase or just confirming details before your Chicopee visit.

After Your Ceremony: Recording and Certified Copies

Once the ceremony is done, your officiant is required to return the signed marriage license to the Chicopee City Clerk. This is mandated by MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and files the original document. You do not hold onto the license after the ceremony. The officiant is the one who sends or delivers it back to the clerk's office.

After the marriage is recorded, certified copies are available from the Chicopee City Clerk or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. The RVRS can be reached at 617-740-2600. The state keeps records from every Massachusetts city and town, so you can order a copy from the RVRS even years later or after you have moved away from Chicopee. Instructions for ordering certified copies from the state are at mass.gov/how-to/request-a-marriage-certificate.

You will need certified copies for name changes at the Social Security Administration, updating a passport, changing your name on bank accounts and insurance policies, and other legal purposes. Order at least two when you first request them. Coming back for copies one at a time is less efficient and may cost more per copy than ordering in a group.

Note: The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is the state's permanent repository for all marriage records from every Massachusetts city and town, including Chicopee.

Nearby Cities

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

Hampden County Marriage Licenses

Chicopee is part of Hampden County. For details on how the marriage license process works across other cities and towns in Hampden County, visit the county page.