Martha's Vineyard Marriage License

Getting a marriage license on Martha's Vineyard means working with the town clerk in the town where you or your partner lives on the island. Dukes County covers all of Martha's Vineyard, and each of the island's seven towns runs its own clerk office. This guide covers the process, the documents you need, the fees, and how to reach the right clerk for your Dukes County marriage license.

How Marriage Licenses Work in Dukes County

Dukes County is made up of the towns on Martha's Vineyard: Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (also called Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold. There is no single county clerk for marriage licenses. Massachusetts eliminated most active county government functions decades ago. Each town handles its own marriage license applications, which means the clerk you visit depends on where you live.

If you live on the Vineyard, go to the clerk in your town. If neither of you lives in Dukes County, you still have options. Massachusetts law allows couples to apply in any town in the state. You can choose any of the island towns if you are getting married here but live elsewhere. That said, you still have to appear in person together. There are no remote or mail-in applications for the initial filing.

Under MGL Chapter 207, both partners must be at least 18 years old. Massachusetts updated its minimum age law in July 2022. There are no longer any exceptions for younger applicants, even with parental or judicial approval. If either person is under 18, the clerk will not issue a license anywhere in the state.

One important thing to plan for on the Vineyard: most clerks keep limited hours, and some of the smaller offices in Chilmark and Aquinnah see far fewer applications than mainland offices. Call ahead before you make the trip. The 3-day waiting period still applies on the island. It does not include the day you file, but it does count Sundays and holidays. So if you apply on a Tuesday, you cannot pick up and use the license until Friday at the earliest.

What to Bring to a Dukes County Town Clerk

Proof of age is required, and the accepted documents are specific. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, a driver's license or state ID is not accepted as proof of age. You need a birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). Bring one of those. A license won't work even if it feels like obvious ID. This rule applies at every clerk in Dukes County.

You will also need to provide your Social Security number. You do not need the physical card, just the number. If either partner was previously married, be ready to explain how that marriage ended. The clerk will ask whether you are single, divorced, or widowed. In some cases you may be asked to show documentation, such as a divorce decree or a death certificate. It is better to bring those if they apply to you rather than have to come back a second time.

Note: Island clerks have the same state-law requirements as any mainland office, but some have fewer staff and shorter hours, so arriving prepared saves a lot of time.

Getting to Martha's Vineyard

There is no bridge to Martha's Vineyard. Getting to the island requires a ferry or a flight. The main ferry route is the Steamship Authority line from Woods Hole to either Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. The crossing takes about 45 minutes. Other ferry options run from Falmouth and New Bedford seasonally. Air travel is available year-round through Martha's Vineyard Airport in West Tisbury.

Peak season runs from June through September. During those months, ferry reservations fill up fast, especially on weekends. If you are planning a summer wedding and need to visit a town clerk, book your ferry well in advance. You do not want to miss your appointment or your 3-day window because a boat was full. Off-season travel is much easier. Spring and fall visits are generally low-stress, and wait times at clerk offices are shorter.

The Dukes County website has general island information, and the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce site covers travel planning and local resources. Neither site processes marriage license applications, but both are useful for getting oriented before your visit.

Dukes County Resources Online

The Dukes County government website provides background on island administration, local boards, and general government services for Martha's Vineyard residents.

The site is a starting point for island residents who want to understand which town office handles their needs.

For travel and logistical planning around a Vineyard wedding or marriage license trip, the Martha's Vineyard visitor site has details on getting to the island and moving between towns.

Use this resource to coordinate ferry timing and confirm access to the specific town on the island where you plan to file your marriage intentions.

Dukes County Town Clerk Offices

Each town on Martha's Vineyard has its own clerk. Your clerk is the one in the town where you live. If neither of you lives on the island, you may choose any town clerk to file your marriage intentions. Hours vary significantly, and the smaller offices in Chilmark and Aquinnah have very limited availability. Always call before visiting.

Edgartown is the county seat and has the most consistent service hours. If you are unsure which office to use, Edgartown or Oak Bluffs are the most accessible options for most visitors. Both run standard weekday hours and handle a higher volume of applications than the smaller up-island towns.

Note: Gosnold covers the Elizabeth Islands, which are privately held and not accessible to the public in the usual sense. If you are somehow a Gosnold resident, contact the town directly for guidance on the application process.

The 3-Day Wait and Waiver Option

After you file your marriage intentions with a Dukes County town clerk, there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period before the license is issued. This is set by state law under MGL Chapter 207. The day you apply does not count. The wait includes Sundays and holidays. So if you file on a Friday, the earliest you can pick up the license is Monday. If you file Wednesday, you pick it up Saturday.

This timing matters a lot on Martha's Vineyard if you are traveling from the mainland. You either need to make two ferry trips, or stay on the island long enough for the wait to clear. Some couples plan around this by filing early in the trip and picking up closer to the ceremony date. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of application, so there is flexibility once you have it in hand.

If you cannot wait 3 days, you can apply for a waiver through the Probate and Family Court. The waiver costs approximately $195 under MGL c. 207 § 30 and requires a judge's approval. The process is not guaranteed, so apply as early as possible if you need it. For more on the emergency process, see the state's guide at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay.

After Your Ceremony on Martha's Vineyard

When the ceremony is over, the officiant must return the signed marriage license to the town clerk where you filed. This is required by MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and keeps the original. Do not let anyone hold onto the license after the ceremony. It goes back to the clerk.

Once the clerk records the marriage, you can order certified copies. You can get them from the town clerk where you filed, or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The RVRS is located at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester and keeps records from all cities and towns in Massachusetts. If you moved off the island after your wedding, you can still request a copy from the state office. The state also has a process for requesting copies online at mass.gov.

If you need an officiant, Massachusetts has several options. Judges, justices of the peace, and ordained clergy can all perform marriages. A friend or family member can also officiate through the One-Day Marriage Designation process. That is handled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth at sec.state.ma.us. For a list of justices of the peace, see the state's directory at mass.gov/info-details/justice-of-the-peace.

Note: The state's main marriage guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts walks through the full process from start to certified copy.

Cities and Towns in Dukes County

Dukes County's seven towns each have their own town clerk who handles marriage licenses for local residents. None of the island towns meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, but each is listed in the town clerk table above with contact details.

Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold all fall within Dukes County. If you live in any of these towns, your town clerk is your starting point for a marriage license application.

Nearby Counties

Barnstable County is the nearest county on the mainland. If you live on Cape Cod or are planning to file your marriage intentions on the mainland instead, Barnstable has multiple town clerks that handle marriage licenses for Cape residents.