Marriage License in New Bedford MA
New Bedford residents apply for a marriage license at the New Bedford City Clerk's office inside City Hall. The fee is $40, and both partners must appear together in person to complete the application. New Bedford requires birth certificates as part of the application process. This guide covers what to bring, how the process works, the 3-day waiting period, and what to do after your ceremony.
New Bedford Quick Facts
New Bedford City Clerk Marriage License Office
The New Bedford City Clerk handles marriage licenses for all city residents. The office is inside New Bedford City Hall. For current hours, contact information, and any updates on procedures, visit the City of New Bedford's official website. It's a good idea to call ahead before your visit to confirm hours and any specific steps the office may have added since this guide was last updated.
| Office | New Bedford City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | New Bedford City Hall, New Bedford, MA |
| License Fee | $40 |
| Special Requirement | Birth certificates required for application |
| Website | newbedford-ma.gov |
One thing that sets New Bedford apart from many other Massachusetts cities is that the City Clerk is also a Justice of the Peace. This means the clerk can legally perform marriage ceremonies in addition to issuing the license. If you want a simple ceremony at City Hall, that option may be available to you. Ask the office directly when you visit or call to get details on how that works in practice.
The New Bedford city website provides current information on the City Clerk's office, hours, and marriage license services.
The official New Bedford site is the best place to confirm current hours and any updated requirements before your visit to the clerk's office.
What to Bring to the New Bedford Marriage License Office
New Bedford requires birth certificates from both applicants as part of the marriage license application. This is in addition to the standard Massachusetts proof-of-age requirement. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, acceptable forms of proof of age include a birth certificate, a valid passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). A driver's license or state ID is not accepted as proof of age in Massachusetts. Bring a certified copy of your birth certificate, not just a photocopy.
If you were born outside the United States and do not have a U.S. birth certificate, a valid passport or an I-94 or I-551 will satisfy the proof-of-age requirement. Make sure these documents are current and not expired. The clerk will check the document and may make a copy for the file. Expired documents are not accepted.
Both applicants must know their Social Security number. You do not need to bring the card. The clerk records the number on the marriage intentions form. If either partner was previously married, be ready to explain how it ended. A divorce decree or a death certificate may be requested. Bring these documents if they apply to you. It saves time and avoids a second visit.
Both partners must appear at the office together. You sign the application in front of the clerk at the same time. One person cannot file and come back later with the other partner. The clerk witnesses both signatures as part of the official process.
The New Bedford Marriage License Process
You visit the clerk's office together, fill out the marriage intentions form, show your documents, and pay the $40 fee. After you file, the 3-day waiting period begins. This wait is required by Massachusetts law and applies to all couples in the state. The day you file is not counted. Sundays and legal holidays do count. File on a Monday and you can pick up your license Thursday at the earliest.
Once the waiting period passes, you go back to the clerk's office to pick up the license. You do not need to make an appointment for the pickup; just return during regular business hours. From the day you pick up the license, you have 60 days to hold your ceremony. If the 60 days pass and no ceremony has taken place, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the $40 fee a second time. Set your ceremony date before you file so you are sure the timeline works.
If a medical emergency or other urgent situation makes waiting 3 days impossible, you can apply to a Probate or District Court for a waiver. The process is outlined at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay. The waiver costs around $195 and must be approved by a judge. Start that process as early as possible if you think you need it. The city clerk cannot grant the waiver.
Note: The $40 fee in New Bedford reflects the typical range for Massachusetts cities. Some towns charge as little as $35, while others may charge more.
Who Can Apply for a New Bedford Marriage License
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Massachusetts changed the minimum age to 18 in 2022. There are no exceptions for younger applicants, even with parental consent. If either person is under 18, a license cannot be issued anywhere in the state.
Both partners must be legally free to marry. That means any prior marriages must have ended by divorce, annulment, or the death of the former spouse. The clerk may ask for proof. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate is the standard documentation. If you have any questions about whether your prior marriage was legally dissolved, consult an attorney before you visit the clerk's office.
Massachusetts law under MGL Chapter 207 also prohibits marriage between close relatives. These include a parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, and siblings. These restrictions apply regardless of gender. Most couples are not affected by these rules, but they are worth knowing about.
There is no residency requirement to apply in New Bedford specifically. The state allows you to apply in any Massachusetts city or town where either partner lives. Couples who do not live in New Bedford but want to marry there may still need to apply where they live, depending on the city or town's own requirements. Check with the clerk's office if you have questions about where to file.
Getting Married in New Bedford
Massachusetts allows several types of officiants to perform marriage ceremonies. Judges, justices of the peace, and ordained clergy are all authorized. As noted earlier, the New Bedford City Clerk also serves as a Justice of the Peace, so a ceremony at City Hall may be an option for couples who prefer a simple civil ceremony without an outside officiant.
If you want to have a friend or family member officiate, the One-Day Marriage Designation lets a specific person perform one ceremony on one date. The Secretary of the Commonwealth handles these designations through an online application at the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage Designation page. The authorization is issued for a specific event and cannot be reused. Apply several weeks before your ceremony to avoid any timing issues.
For couples who prefer a justice of the peace outside the city clerk's office, the state directory at mass.gov's justice of the peace page lets you search by region. Many justices of the peace in southeastern Massachusetts are available for ceremonies in New Bedford and the surrounding area.
Note: Whoever officiates must return the signed license to the issuing clerk after the ceremony, as required by MGL c. 207 § 40.
Certified Copies After Your New Bedford Wedding
After the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk and it is recorded, the marriage becomes part of New Bedford's vital records. You can request certified copies from the city clerk. Certified copies are the official documents that prove you are married. They look different from a photocopy. Banks, the Social Security Administration, the passport office, and most government agencies require a certified copy, not a photocopy or a photo of the document.
You can also get certified copies from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS). The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester and can be reached at 617-740-2600. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. The RVRS has records from every city and town in Massachusetts, so you are not limited to going back to New Bedford if you move. Visit mass.gov's RVRS page for more information on how to request state copies.
Most people need certified copies for a name change on a Social Security record, for updating a passport, for changing a name on a bank account, and for listing a spouse on insurance. Get two or three copies when you first order. Ordering more at once is usually cheaper per copy than coming back for one more later.
Massachusetts Marriage Resources for New Bedford Couples
The state's guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts covers the entire process from the first visit to the clerk through post-ceremony record-keeping. It's a well-organized resource that answers most common questions. The guide is maintained by the state and reflects current law and procedures.
The full Massachusetts marriage statute at MGL Chapter 207 is the legal foundation for everything the New Bedford City Clerk does. The statute defines who can marry, what documents are required, how the waiting period works, who may officiate, and how the records must be kept and filed. All Massachusetts clerks follow this same law, which is why the process in New Bedford is broadly similar to what you would find in Fall River, Boston, or any other city in the state.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Massachusetts cities have their own marriage license pages with local clerk information.
Bristol County Marriage License
New Bedford is located in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. The Bristol County page covers all the cities and towns in the county, explains the clerk-based system, and provides resources for other Bristol County communities including Fall River and Taunton.