Getting a Marriage License in Taunton MA

Taunton residents apply for a marriage license at the City Clerk's office on the first floor of City Hall at 15 Summer Street. The office accepts cash only, so come prepared with the right amount before you visit. Both partners must appear in person together. Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County, and the clerk follows state law under MGL Chapter 207 for all marriage license applications. This page covers the office details, what you need to bring, the cash-only payment policy, and the city hall ceremony option.

Taunton City Clerk Marriage License Office

The City Clerk's office is on the first floor of City Hall at 15 Summer Street. This is the only office in Taunton that issues marriage licenses. Jennifer Leger serves as City Clerk. The office handles all vital records for Taunton residents, including marriage license applications, certified copies, and related paperwork. Walk in during business hours with your partner and the required documents to start the process.

The city's page makes clear that cash is the only accepted payment method for both the license and any ceremony held at City Hall.

Tuesday hours extend to 7 PM, which is later than most Massachusetts clerk offices. This is the only night Taunton stays open late, so if your work schedule makes daytime visits hard, Tuesday is your best option. Friday closes at noon, so plan accordingly. Cash is the only accepted form of payment. No checks, no cards, no money orders. Come with exact cash or at least enough to cover the fees.

Note: The City Clerk's office at Taunton City Hall is also described on the City Clerk's main page at taunton-ma.gov, which covers all vital records services.

Cash Only: What That Means for Your Visit

Taunton's cash-only policy is strict. The office does not accept checks, credit cards, debit cards, or money orders. If you arrive without cash, you will need to leave, find an ATM, and come back. Plan ahead. There are ATMs in the area near City Hall, but building extra time into your visit is smarter than scrambling.

The license fee is $35. If you want to hold your ceremony at City Hall in the Council Chambers, that is another $100. Total for both: $135, all in cash. If you only need the license and have your own officiant, bring $35. If you are unsure, bring extra and get the rest back as change. The clerk's office will not hold applications while you go get money, so come prepared on your first visit.

City Hall Ceremony in Council Chambers

Taunton offers a civil ceremony option at City Hall. Ceremonies take place in the Council Chambers on the second floor. Each ceremony takes about 15 minutes. No witnesses are required. This is a practical choice for couples who want to get married without a lot of planning or expense. You pay $100 cash and the clerk's office handles the ceremony in the same building where you filed the application.

You still need to apply for the license first and wait the full 3 days before the ceremony can happen. The Council Chambers option does not skip or shorten the waiting period. Once the 3-day wait is done, contact the clerk's office to schedule your ceremony time. Having no witness requirement makes this easier to arrange, since you do not need to coordinate extra people for the event.

For couples who want a simple ceremony at low cost in a dignified setting, this is worth considering. City halls across Massachusetts offer this option, but not all of them are as straightforward as Taunton's. The $100 all-in cost is transparent, and the 15-minute format keeps things efficient.

Requirements for a Taunton Marriage License

Both partners must show up at the same time in person. This is not optional in Massachusetts. The clerk will have both of you sign the application together. Bring your proof of age. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, a driver's license is not accepted as proof of age for a marriage license application. You need a birth certificate, passport, I-94, or I-551 (green card). One of those documents, for each of you.

You also need your Social Security number. Know the number. You do not need the physical card. If either of you was previously married, the clerk will ask how that marriage ended. Have your divorce decree or death certificate with you if it applies. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Since July 2022, Massachusetts has had no exceptions to the age-18 minimum under any circumstances, including parental consent.

The full Massachusetts marriage process is covered at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts. That page goes through each step from filing the application to getting certified copies after the ceremony. It is useful background reading before you head to the City Hall on Summer Street.

Note: If you have any questions before visiting, you can email the City Clerk directly at jleger@taunton-ma.gov or call 508-821-1024.

The 3-Day Wait in Taunton

After you file at the City Clerk's office, you wait 3 days before the license is ready. The count starts the day after you apply and includes Sundays and holidays. File Monday, earliest ceremony is Thursday. File Tuesday, you are looking at Friday or later. Keep this in mind when you schedule your ceremony, especially if you are working around work schedules or out-of-town guests.

If you need to skip the wait, you can apply for a waiver through the Probate Court. For Taunton residents, that means Bristol County Probate and Family Court. The waiver costs around $195 under MGL c. 207 § 30 and requires a judge's approval. Details on how to apply are at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay. The waiver is meant for genuine emergency situations and is not guaranteed, so apply as early as you can if you think you need one.

The license is valid for 60 days once issued. Plan your ceremony within that window. If the date changes and you cannot hold the ceremony in time, the license will expire and you will need to apply again and pay a second $35 cash fee.

After the Ceremony: Copies and Records

Your officiant is required to return the signed marriage license to the Taunton City Clerk after the ceremony. This is the law under MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and keeps the original on file. Once recorded, you can get certified copies from the Taunton City Clerk's office or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester, reachable at 617-740-2600.

Certified copies are needed for name changes, updating your Social Security record, passport changes, insurance updates, and more. Order at least two when you first request them. You can find more information on ordering certified copies at mass.gov/how-to/request-a-marriage-certificate. If you later move away from Taunton, you can still order copies from the RVRS since the state keeps records from every city and town.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities have marriage license pages with local clerk information.

Bristol County Marriage Licenses

Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County. For information on other cities and towns in Bristol County and how the marriage license process works countywide, visit the Bristol County page.