Hampshire County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Hampshire County, you visit the city or town clerk where you or your partner lives. Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton, and every other community in the county each manage their own clerk office. This page covers the full process, what you need to bring, how the 3-day wait works, and where to go for the key towns in Hampshire County, Massachusetts.

How Marriage Licenses Work in Hampshire County

County government was abolished in Massachusetts long ago. There is no single Hampshire County office that issues marriage licenses. The process is decentralized: each city and town in the county runs its own clerk office, and that is where you apply. Northampton, as the county seat, has a busy city clerk that handles applications for city residents. Amherst, South Hadley, Belchertown, and the other towns each have their own separate offices.

You apply in the town or city where you or your partner lives. If both of you live in Hampshire County but in different towns, you pick one of those towns. You cannot apply in a random town because it is more convenient. The clerk will check that at least one of you has a local address. For out-of-state residents who want to marry in Massachusetts, the process differs slightly. The state guide at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts covers that scenario.

Both people must appear in person together. The only exceptions are active military duty, incarceration, or imminent death. Outside of those cases, both partners sign the application at the same time in front of the clerk. After filing, a 3-day waiting period begins. The day you apply does not count. File on a Monday, and the earliest date for your ceremony is Thursday. The license stays valid for 60 days from the application date.

Documents Required for a Hampshire County License

Proof of age is required for both applicants. This is one rule that trips people up. A driver's license is not accepted under MGL c. 207 § 33A. You must bring a birth certificate, a valid passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (green card). Any one of those works. A state ID card does not. Bring your document for each partner, or you will need to reschedule.

Both people also need to provide their Social Security numbers. The card itself is not required. You just need to know the number. The clerk puts it on the application. If either of you was previously married, come ready to state how that marriage ended. Some clerks ask for documentation. A divorce decree or death certificate is the right document to bring if that applies to you. It is much easier to have it on hand than to make a second trip because you did not bring it the first time.

Age is also a consideration. Massachusetts raised the minimum marriage age to 18 as of July 2022. There are no exceptions. No parental consent. No court approval for younger applicants. If either person is under 18, the license cannot be issued. This applies to every clerk in Hampshire County.

Note: Northampton City Clerk does not accept personal checks for in-person payments. Confirm accepted payment methods when you call ahead.

Northampton City Clerk Office

Northampton is the county seat and the most populous city in Hampshire County. The City Clerk's office handles marriage license applications for Northampton residents. The clerk is Pamela L. Powers, and the office has set weekday hours. Northampton's office has a clear fee structure: $40 for filing the intention to marry, and $15 for each certified copy of the marriage certificate.

Northampton does not accept personal checks in person. The office handles online payments as an option, which can be useful for residents who want to pay in advance or avoid bringing cash. No refunds are issued once the application is processed, so be sure you have all your documents in order before you file. Vital records from before 1970 may require extra processing time if you need historical records from Northampton.

The city clerk's office also handles birth and death records, voter registration, and other vital functions. During busy periods, wait times can be longer. The birth, marriage, and death records page on the city's website has additional detail on requesting records. The services and fees page lists the current fee schedule for all clerk services.

Amherst Marriage License Applications

Amherst is home to the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, which makes it one of the more active towns in the county. The Amherst Town Clerk handles marriage licenses for Amherst residents. The office has an online form center that helps residents start the process or get information before visiting in person.

Amherst's online form center lets residents review what is needed before coming in, which can save time on the day of the appointment.

Amherst draws students, faculty, and long-term residents from across the region. If you live in town and plan to marry, the process is the same as everywhere else in Hampshire County. You both go in person, bring proof of age (not a driver's license), and file your intentions. The 3-day wait applies here just as it does in Northampton and every other town in the county.

Skipping the 3-Day Wait in Hampshire County

The 3-day waiting period is set by state law. It applies to every town and city in Hampshire County. But there is a way around it. If you need to marry sooner, you can petition the Probate or District Court for a waiver under MGL c. 207 § 30. The waiver costs around $195. A judge reviews the request and decides whether to grant it.

Not every petition is approved. Judges look for genuine urgency, not just scheduling preferences. If you have a real reason, file as early as you can. The guide at mass.gov/guides/marriage-without-delay has step-by-step information on how the waiver process works and where to file. Hampshire County's Probate Court handles waivers for residents of this county.

After the Ceremony and Getting Your Certificate

Your officiant is responsible for returning the completed marriage license to the town clerk after the ceremony. This is required under MGL c. 207 § 40. The clerk records the marriage and files the original. Once it is recorded, you can request a certified copy. You can get it from the same clerk's office where you filed, or from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester, open Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM, at 617-740-2600.

For instructions on requesting a copy from the state, visit mass.gov's marriage certificate request page. The state holds records from all towns across Massachusetts, which is useful if you later move away from Hampshire County. Order at least two certified copies when you first request them. Name changes, insurance updates, and joint tax filings all require a certified copy, and getting extras upfront is easier than requesting them again later.

Note: Northampton residents can also request records directly through the city's online portal, which the clerk's website links to from the birth, marriage, and death records section.

Communities in Hampshire County

Hampshire County has no cities that qualify for dedicated pages on this site based on population. The county includes Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton, Ware, Belchertown, Hadley, Granby, Pelham, South Hadley, Williamsburg, Chesterfield, Goshen, Cummington, Plainfield, Westhampton, Middlefield, and Huntington. Each has its own town or city clerk who issues marriage licenses for local residents.

If you live in any of these communities, contact that town's clerk office directly. State law sets the same core requirements everywhere, but hours, fees, and appointment policies differ by location.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County borders four other Massachusetts counties. If you live close to a county line, make sure you apply in the town where you actually reside, not just the nearest clerk's office. Marriage licenses must be issued by the clerk in your home town.