Quincy Marriage License

Quincy residents apply for a marriage license at the Quincy City Clerk's office inside City Hall on Hancock Street. Both partners must appear in person together, show valid proof of age, and complete the application at the same visit. This page covers the office location, what documents are accepted, the waiting period, and how to get certified copies after your ceremony.

Quincy City Clerk Office

The Quincy City Clerk is located at City Hall, 1305 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169. The office handles vital records for the city, including marriage license applications. You can reach the clerk at 617-376-1132 or 617-376-1131. Email is cityclerk@quincyma.gov. For more details, visit the Quincy City Clerk's official page.

Quincy City Hall sits in downtown Quincy near the MBTA Red Line, which makes it easy to reach without a car. The Quincy Center stop puts you close to the building. If you drive, street parking and garages are available nearby. The clerk's office does not have dedicated marriage license appointment hours, so calling ahead before your visit is a smart move, especially around holidays when hours may shift.

Quincy is the largest city in Norfolk County, with roughly 101,000 residents. The clerk's office handles a high volume of requests across many vital record types. Arriving early in the day gives you the best chance of a short wait and plenty of time to work through the application if any questions come up.

Note: The City Clerk does not have a separate marriage license counter, so you will check in with the main office and staff will assist you from there.

Documents Needed for a Quincy Marriage License

Massachusetts law under MGL c. 207 § 33A is very specific about what counts as proof of age. A driver's license is not accepted. Many couples are caught off guard by this. The documents the clerk will accept are a birth certificate, a valid passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). One of these is required from each applicant. If you show up with only a license, you will not be able to complete your application that day.

You also need your Social Security number. You don't need to bring the physical card, but you must provide the number to the clerk when you fill out the marriage intentions form. The clerk records it as part of the official application. If either partner was previously married, be ready to explain how that marriage ended. Divorced applicants may be asked to show a divorce decree. Widowed applicants may need to provide a death certificate. Not every clerk asks for these, but having them ready prevents a second trip.

Both partners must sign the application in person at the office. You cannot sign at home and drop it off. The clerk witnesses both signatures. If there are any name or documentation issues, staff will let you know on the spot so you can address them before you leave.

The 3-Day Wait and License Validity

After you file your application at the Quincy City Clerk, a 3-day waiting period begins. This is required by Massachusetts state law and applies everywhere in the state. The day you file does not count. Sundays and legal holidays do count. So if you file on a Monday, you cannot use the license until Thursday at the earliest.

Once the waiting period is up, you return to the clerk's office to pick up the license. From that point, you have 60 days to hold your ceremony. The license expires after 60 days. If the 60 days pass and you haven't had the ceremony, the license is no longer valid. You would need to reapply and pay the fee again. Most couples avoid this by setting a firm wedding date before they file. That way they know the math works: file early enough to clear the 3 days, but not so early that the license expires before the event.

If you cannot wait 3 days due to a medical emergency or other urgent situation, you can petition a Probate or District Court for a waiver under MGL c. 207 § 30. The process costs about $195 and requires judicial approval. More information is at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay.

Note: Quincy City Clerk staff cannot waive the 3-day period. That authority rests with the courts only.

Ceremony Options for Quincy Couples

Several types of people may perform a marriage ceremony in Massachusetts. Judges and justices of the peace are authorized by the state. Ordained clergy may also officiate. If you want a justice of the peace in or near Quincy, the state keeps a searchable directory at mass.gov's justice of the peace page. You can filter by area and find someone available on your date.

The One-Day Marriage Designation is a popular option for couples who want a close friend or family member to officiate. A person applies to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for a one-time authorization that allows them to perform one specific ceremony. The application is handled online at the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage Designation page. Apply early. Processing takes time, and the designation is only valid for a single event on a specific date.

Wherever you hold the ceremony in Massachusetts, the same rules apply. The license must be in hand before the ceremony starts. The officiant signs the license and returns it to the city or town clerk under MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk then records the marriage and keeps the original on file. Couples do not keep the original license after the ceremony.

Norfolk County Marriage License Resources

Quincy is in Norfolk County, and the county page has useful information for residents across the area. While Massachusetts does not have a county-level marriage license office, the Norfolk County marriage license page covers all the towns and cities in the county, explains how the town-based system works, and lists resources for Brookline, Weymouth, and other Norfolk County communities.

Norfolk County towns each manage their own clerk offices, but the core state requirements are the same across all of them.

After Your Quincy Marriage Ceremony

Once the ceremony is complete, the officiant returns the signed license to the city or town clerk where it was issued. For Quincy couples who used the Quincy City Clerk, that means the officiant sends it back to the clerk at 1305 Hancock Street. The clerk records the marriage in the city's vital records system and files the original. This is how your marriage becomes an official record in Quincy.

Certified copies of the marriage record can be requested from the Quincy City Clerk after the marriage is recorded. You can also request copies from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester. The RVRS is open Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, and their number is 617-740-2600. Learn more about getting state copies at mass.gov's RVRS page.

Certified copies are needed for a name change on your Social Security record, updating a passport, changing your name on a bank account, or adjusting insurance beneficiaries. Plan to get two or three copies when you first order them. The per-copy cost is often lower when you order more than one at the same time, and you will likely need more than you expect.

Massachusetts Marriage License Information

The state's main page at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts is the best overall guide to the process. It explains every step from the initial application through the post-ceremony record filing. The page is updated when the law or procedures change, so it's a reliable source.

The complete marriage statute is at MGL Chapter 207. This covers age rules, prohibited relationships, the license application requirements, waiting periods, officiant qualifications, and record-keeping. Everything the Quincy City Clerk does when processing a marriage license application is based on this law. If you have a specific question about whether something is allowed under Massachusetts law, the statute is the right place to look.

This state guide applies uniformly across all Massachusetts cities and towns, including Quincy, and is the source all clerks reference when questions come up.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities have their own marriage license pages with local clerk details and requirements.

Norfolk County Marriage License

Quincy is the largest city in Norfolk County. The county page covers all the towns and cities in Norfolk County, explains how the town-based clerk system works in Massachusetts, and links to resources for other communities in the area.

View Norfolk County Marriage License