Fall River Marriage License
Fall River residents apply for a marriage license at the Fall River City Clerk's office inside City Hall. The fee is $40, and credit cards are accepted, which is more convenient than clerks who only take cash or check. Both partners must appear together in person to file the application. This guide covers what to bring, how the process works, the waiting period, and where to get certified copies after the ceremony.
Fall River Quick Facts
Fall River City Clerk Office
The Fall River City Clerk's office is located inside Fall River City Hall. The office handles marriage license applications for all Fall River residents. For current hours and contact information, visit the City of Fall River's official website. Call ahead before your visit to confirm hours, as schedules can shift around city holidays or during busy periods.
| Office | Fall River City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Fall River City Hall, Fall River, MA |
| License Fee | $40 |
| Payment | Credit cards accepted |
| Website | fallriverma.org |
One practical advantage Fall River offers is credit card payment. Many Massachusetts city and town clerks only take cash, check, or money order for marriage licenses. Fall River accepting credit cards means couples don't have to make a special trip to an ATM or bank before the appointment. Just confirm that credit cards are still accepted when you call ahead, as policies can change.
The City of Fall River's official website has the most current information on City Clerk services, hours, and marriage license requirements.
Fall River's city website is the primary source for confirming current clerk hours and any specific local requirements before your visit.
Note: If you need to contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Southeastern Regional Office, it is located at 218 South Main Street, Suite 206, Fall River, MA 02721, phone 508-646-1374.
Documents Required for a Fall River Marriage License
Massachusetts sets clear rules on what documents are accepted for proof of age. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, a driver's license does not count. Many people assume it would, so this catches couples off guard. Accepted documents are a birth certificate, a valid passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). Each applicant needs to provide one of these. Make sure the document is current and not expired before you head to City Hall.
Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers. You don't need to bring the card itself, just know the number. The clerk records it on the marriage intentions form. If either of you was previously married, the clerk will want to know how that marriage ended. Divorce, death of a spouse, or annulment are the three options. In some cases the clerk will ask for documentation. A certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate will handle that. It's better to have the paperwork with you and not be asked for it than to be sent home to get it.
Both people must show up at the same time. Neither partner can file on the other's behalf. Both must sign the application in front of the clerk. That's a required step in the process, not just a preference. If one partner cannot be there due to active military service, incarceration, or a medical situation involving imminent death, there may be a narrow exception. Outside of those specific cases, both people need to be present together.
The documents to bring are:
- Birth certificate, valid passport, I-94, or I-551 (each applicant)
- Social Security number for each applicant
- Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
- Payment of $40 (credit cards accepted)
The Fall River Marriage License Application Process
You both go to City Hall, visit the clerk's office, fill out the marriage intentions form, and pay the $40 fee. The clerk records the application and starts the mandatory 3-day waiting period. That period is set by Massachusetts state law. The day you apply does not count. Sundays and legal holidays do count. Apply on a Monday, and the earliest you can pick up the license is Thursday.
After the 3 days pass, you go back to the clerk's office to pick up the license. No separate appointment is usually needed for the pickup. Once you have it, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. The license is valid for that 60-day window only. If the window closes without a wedding, the license expires. You would need to start over with a new application and pay again. Knowing your ceremony date before you file makes this easy to avoid. Don't file too early and don't wait until the last possible moment either.
If there is an urgent need to skip the 3-day wait, a waiver is possible through the courts. The process involves applying to a Probate or District Court and paying around $195 for the request. A judge must approve it. It is not automatic. Details are at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay. The Fall River City Clerk cannot grant the waiver directly.
Eligibility Rules for Fall River Marriage Licenses
Both applicants must be 18 or older. Massachusetts set that as the firm minimum age in 2022, and there are no exceptions. Even with both parents' permission, no one under 18 can get a marriage license in Massachusetts.
Each partner must be legally free to marry at the time of the application. If either person has a prior marriage that was not legally ended, the new application cannot proceed. Divorce, death of the prior spouse, or annulment are the only recognized ways a prior marriage can end. The clerk will ask about prior marriages on the application form. Being straightforward and having supporting documents ready is the best approach.
Both applicants must also meet the relationship requirements under MGL Chapter 207. Certain close family relationships are prohibited. A parent and child cannot marry. Grandparents and grandchildren cannot marry. Siblings cannot marry. These restrictions apply regardless of whether the family relationship is biological or through adoption. If you have any question about whether your relationship falls within the prohibited categories, consult an attorney before you visit the clerk.
There is no minimum residency requirement for how long you must have lived in Fall River before applying. The requirement is simply that you or your partner must live in Fall River to apply there. If neither of you lives in Fall River, you would need to apply in whichever city or town one of you calls home.
Bristol County Marriage License Resources
Fall River is one of the major cities in Bristol County. The county covers a significant portion of southeastern Massachusetts, and like all Massachusetts counties, it does not have a centralized marriage license office. Each city and town in Bristol County has its own clerk who handles applications for that community's residents. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton are the county's largest cities, each with its own City Clerk operation.
Taunton's marriage license page illustrates the kind of clerk-based process that all Bristol County cities, including Fall River, follow under Massachusetts law.
The core process in Fall River follows the same state law as Taunton and every other city in Bristol County, with local variations in hours and payment options.
For a comprehensive view of Bristol County marriage license resources, clerk offices, and other community information across the county, see the Bristol County marriage license page.
After Your Fall River Wedding Ceremony
When the ceremony is over, the officiant must return the signed marriage license to the issuing clerk. For Fall River couples who got their license at the Fall River City Clerk, the officiant sends it back there. This is required by MGL c. 207 § 40. The license is not yours to keep. The clerk records the marriage in the city's vital records system, and that recording is what makes the marriage official in Massachusetts.
After the marriage is recorded, you can request certified copies. Certified copies serve as legal proof of the marriage for purposes like changing your name on a Social Security card, updating a passport, changing a bank account name, updating insurance policies, or filing a joint tax return. A photocopy is not the same as a certified copy. The certified copy has an official seal and signature. Government agencies, financial institutions, and most other organizations will ask for the certified version.
Certified copies can be obtained from the Fall River City Clerk or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. Phone is 617-740-2600. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. The RVRS holds records from every city and town in Massachusetts, so you are not locked into going back to Fall River if you move. Learn more at mass.gov's RVRS page. Order at least two copies when you first request them. It is more cost-effective, and you will likely need more than one.
Who Can Officiate at a Fall River Wedding
Massachusetts law allows judges, justices of the peace, and ordained clergy to perform marriage ceremonies. For a justice of the peace in the Fall River area, search the state's directory at mass.gov's justice of the peace page. Justices of the peace in southeastern Massachusetts are generally willing to travel within a reasonable area and can perform ceremonies at many locations.
If you want someone you know to officiate, the One-Day Marriage Designation is your route. A specific person can be authorized by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to perform one ceremony on one date. The application process is online at the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage Designation page. It applies to a single event only and cannot be reused. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's Southeastern Regional Office, which covers Fall River's area, is at 218 South Main Street, Suite 206, Fall River, MA 02721, phone 508-646-1374. You can contact that office with questions about the One-Day Designation process.
Ordained clergy may also officiate. The clergy member must be ordained and in good standing with their religious organization. There is no requirement for them to register with the state in advance, though the clerk may ask for their credentials when the license is returned after the ceremony.
Massachusetts Marriage License State Resources
The main state guide is at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts. It is a thorough, up-to-date resource that covers the full process. Reading it before your visit to the Fall River City Clerk is a good way to make sure you show up prepared and don't miss any steps.
The legal foundation for everything the Fall River City Clerk does is MGL Chapter 207. That statute defines the minimum age, proof of age requirements, prohibited marriages, the waiting period, who can officiate, and how the record gets filed after the ceremony. Every clerk in Massachusetts follows this same law. The specific statute section on the no-driver's-license rule is § 33A. The waiver provision is § 30. The record-return requirement for officiants is § 40. If you ever have a specific legal question about your situation, this statute and a licensed Massachusetts family law attorney are the right resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Massachusetts cities have marriage license pages with local clerk details and step-by-step guidance.
Bristol County Marriage License
Fall River is a major city in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The Bristol County page covers all the cities and towns in the county, outlines the town-based clerk system, and provides resources for New Bedford, Taunton, and other Bristol County communities.