Find a Marriage License in Hampden County

Getting a marriage license in Hampden County means going to the city or town clerk where you or your partner lives. Springfield and Chicopee are the two largest offices in the county, but every community in western Massachusetts has its own clerk with its own hours and fees. This guide covers what you need to bring, how the 3-day waiting period works, and what to expect at the major offices in Hampden County, Massachusetts.

How Marriage Licenses Work in Hampden County

Hampden County sits in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. It borders Connecticut to the south and is one of the more rural counties in the state outside of the Springfield metro area. Like every county in Massachusetts, Hampden County does not operate a centralized clerk's office for marriage licenses. Each city and town has its own office. If you live in Springfield, you apply at the Springfield City Clerk. Chicopee residents use the Chicopee City Clerk. West Springfield has its own town clerk. The same structure applies throughout the county.

State law under MGL Chapter 207 requires both partners to appear in person at the same time. The clerk will not begin processing the application if only one person shows up. The limited exceptions to this rule are active military duty, incarceration, and imminent death. Absent one of those circumstances, plan to arrive together. You will both sign the application at the office before it is processed.

Massachusetts requires both parties to be at least 18 years old. The minimum age was set at 18 in July 2022 with no exceptions remaining for younger applicants. No parental consent, court approval, or judicial waiver changes this. Under MGL c. 207 § 7, the minimum age is 18, and every Hampden County clerk verifies that before moving forward with any application.

Required Documents for a Hampden County Marriage License

Proof of age is required, and the rules are strict. A driver's license or state-issued photo ID is not accepted under MGL c. 207 § 33A. You need a birth certificate, a valid passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). One of those documents must be presented for each applicant. This surprises a lot of people who expect their license to be sufficient. It is not. Make sure you have one of the approved documents before you go.

Both partners also need to provide their Social Security numbers. The clerk records them on the application. You do not need to bring the physical card, just know the number. If either of you has been married before, clerks may ask for documentation of how that marriage ended. A divorce decree or a certified death certificate covers this. Bringing those documents on your first visit is a good idea, even if you are not certain every office requires them.

The 3-day waiting period begins the day after you submit the application. It includes Sundays and holidays, but not the day you apply. File on a Monday and the earliest your ceremony can take place is Thursday. If you need to skip the wait, you can apply for a waiver at the Probate or District Court under MGL c. 207 § 30. That process costs roughly $195 and requires a judge to sign off. Not every request is approved. The state guide on this is at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay.

Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days from the date of the application. If you do not hold a ceremony within that window, the license expires and you would have to start the process over. Plan your ceremony date before you apply so you are confident it will fall within the 60-day period.

Springfield Marriage License Office

Springfield is the county seat and the largest city in Hampden County. The City Clerk's office is in Room 123 at City Hall on Court Street and processes all marriage license applications for Springfield residents. The fee is $40. Springfield extends its hours on Thursdays until 6 PM, which gives weekday workers more flexibility than the standard 8:30 AM to 4 PM schedule. For residents who need to get things done after normal business hours, Thursday is the best day to go.

Springfield also offers VitalChek for online ordering of vital records including certified marriage certificates. This is useful once your ceremony has been recorded and you need to order copies. The VitalChek portal for Springfield is linked directly from the city's official resources. If you need to order a certified copy remotely, the Springfield VitalChek page is where to start. The city clerk handles the initial application in person, but certified copies can often be requested without another in-person visit once the record is on file.

VitalChek gives Springfield residents a remote option for ordering certified marriage records once the clerk has recorded the original ceremony.

Note: The VitalChek service is for ordering certified copies of recorded documents, not for applying for a new marriage license. The application itself must be done in person at City Hall.

Chicopee Marriage License Office

Chicopee is one of the qualifying cities in Hampden County with its own marriage license page. The City Clerk's office is at 17 Springfield Street and handles all applications for Chicopee residents. The fee is $25, which is among the lowest in Hampden County and lower than most Massachusetts cities. If cost is a factor, Chicopee residents benefit from one of the more affordable rates in the region.

The Chicopee city site is the best place to confirm current hours and any updated information for the City Clerk's office before your visit.

Chicopee's office closes at 5 PM, but marriage license applications are accepted only until 4 PM. Do not plan to arrive close to closing time. Both partners need to be there together, documents in hand, with enough time for staff to process the application before the 4 PM cutoff. The 3-day waiting period still applies after you file here, the same as at every other office in Hampden County.

West Springfield Marriage License Office

West Springfield sits just across the Connecticut River from Springfield. The Town Clerk's office handles marriage licenses for West Springfield residents. The fee is $30. One important difference here is that West Springfield requires an appointment. You cannot walk in and expect to be served. Call or email ahead to schedule a time that works for both you and the clerk's office.

Otto Frizzell serves as the West Springfield Town Clerk and can be contacted by phone or email to set up a time to come in. Both partners must still appear together in person at the scheduled time. Bring all your documents to the appointment. The same state requirements apply: valid proof of age under MGL c. 207 § 33A, Social Security numbers, and any documentation of prior marriages if relevant. The 3-day wait begins the day after your appointment.

Note: Do not show up at the West Springfield Town Clerk's office without calling first. This office requires an appointment, and arriving without one may mean a wasted trip.

After Your Hampden County Ceremony

After the ceremony, your officiant must return the signed marriage license to the town or city clerk where it was issued. This is required under MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and keeps the original on file. You do not retain the license after the ceremony. The signed document belongs with the clerk, and your officiant is the one responsible for returning it.

Once the marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies. Go back to the clerk where you filed the application, or contact the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. The RVRS is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM and can be reached at 617-740-2600. Springfield residents can also use VitalChek for online ordering of certified records once the marriage has been recorded and entered into the state system. Details are at the RVRS website.

Certified copies are needed for many things after marriage. Name changes with the Social Security Administration, the RMV, and your employer require a certified copy. Banks and insurance companies often ask for one too. Order at least two when you first request them. Buying copies in bulk is typically cheaper per copy than ordering them one at a time over the following months.

For officiants, Massachusetts allows judges, justices of the peace, and ordained clergy to perform ceremonies. If you want someone close to you to officiate, the One-Day Marriage Designation is available at the Secretary of Commonwealth's One-Day Marriage portal. Non-resident clergy can also be authorized to officiate under state guidelines. Contact the Secretary of Commonwealth's office for the non-resident clergy application. A directory of justices of the peace is at mass.gov/info-details/justice-of-the-peace.

Massachusetts Marriage License Resources

The main state guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts is a good place to start before visiting any Hampden County clerk's office. It covers the complete process from start to finish, including what documents to bring, how the waiting period works, and how to get your certified copies after the ceremony is recorded.

The full text of Massachusetts marriage law is at MGL Chapter 207. This is the statute that every Hampden County clerk follows. It sets age requirements, defines the waiting period, lists who may perform ceremonies, and explains how officiants must handle the license after the ceremony. If you have a specific legal question about your situation, the statute is the most reliable source.

Note: Hampden County fees vary across offices, with Chicopee at $25 and Springfield and Fall River-area offices at $40, so check the specific office for your town before your visit.

Cities in Hampden County

These Hampden County cities have dedicated marriage license pages with local clerk office details.

Other communities in Hampden County include Agawam, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Southwick, Wilbraham, and West Springfield. Each has its own clerk who handles marriage license applications for local residents.

Nearby Counties

Hampden County borders several Massachusetts counties and the state of Connecticut. Confirm which county your town belongs to before visiting any clerk's office. Your license must come from the town where you or your partner lives.