Getting a Marriage License on Nantucket
Nantucket County is a single consolidated town-and-county government, which means one clerk office handles all marriage license applications for the entire island. The Nantucket Town Clerk requires an appointment and does not accept walk-ins. This guide explains what you need, how the process works, what fees to bring, and how to plan around the 3-day waiting period for your Nantucket County marriage license.
Nantucket County Overview
How Marriage Licenses Work in Nantucket County
Nantucket is unique in Massachusetts. The town and county governments are consolidated into one. That means the Nantucket Town Clerk serves as the only marriage license office for the entire county. There is no separate county clerk, and there are no other town offices to choose from. If you are getting married on Nantucket or you live there, this is the only office that handles your marriage license application.
The office does not accept walk-ins. You must call to schedule an appointment before you come in. This is different from most Massachusetts towns, where walk-in service is standard. On Nantucket, skipping the appointment step means you will be turned away when you arrive. Call 508-228-7216 to set up your appointment. Do this before you book your ferry or flight if the license visit is the main reason for your trip.
Both partners must appear in person together at the appointment. Under MGL Chapter 207, the exceptions are narrow: one partner may be excused if they are on active military duty, are incarcerated, or face imminent death. Outside of those situations, both people must show up at the same time. Neither partner can sign on behalf of the other, and the clerk will not process an incomplete application.
Massachusetts law also sets the minimum age at 18 under MGL c. 207 § 7. This was updated in July 2022. There are no longer any exceptions, even with parental consent. If either person is under 18, the clerk cannot issue a license.
Nantucket Town Clerk Office
The Nantucket Town Clerk is located at 16 Broad Street in Nantucket Town, on the first floor of the building. The clerk's office handles all marriage intentions for the island. The Probate Court, where you would go if you need a waiting period waiver, is on the second floor of the same building. That's a useful detail if you need both offices during the same visit.
| Office | Nantucket Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 16 Broad Street, First Floor, Nantucket, MA 02554 |
| Phone | 508-228-7216 |
| Hours | By appointment only |
| Fee | $50 (cash or check only) |
| Website | nantucket-ma.gov - Marriage Intentions |
The fee is $50. The office accepts cash or check only. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Come prepared with exact payment. If you need a waiver of the 3-day waiting period, go upstairs to the Probate Court at the same address. The waiver costs approximately $195 under MGL c. 207 § 30 and requires a judge to approve it.
The clerk's marriage intentions page has current information on what to bring and how the appointment process works. Check it before your visit to make sure nothing has changed. The main Nantucket town website also covers other local services you may need during a visit to the island.
Note: The Probate Court for the waiver is on the second floor of 16 Broad Street, the same building as the Town Clerk, which is helpful if you are handling both in one trip.
Documents You Need for Your Nantucket Marriage License
The Nantucket Town Clerk follows the same state document rules as every other clerk in Massachusetts. You need to prove your age, but a driver's license or state ID will not work. Under MGL c. 207 § 33A, the accepted forms of age documentation are a birth certificate, a U.S. passport, an I-94, or an I-551 (permanent resident card). Bring one of those. The rule catches a lot of people off guard, so plan ahead before you get on the ferry.
You will also need your Social Security number. You do not need the physical card. Just know the number. If either partner was previously married, be ready to tell the clerk how that marriage ended. You may be asked to show a divorce decree or a death certificate. It is always better to bring that paperwork along and not need it than to need it and not have it. Making a second ferry trip to hand over a document is not a good use of your time.
The state's full requirements are also outlined at mass.gov/getting-married-in-massachusetts. That guide covers what every couple in Massachusetts needs when applying for a marriage license, and it is a reliable reference to use alongside the local clerk's instructions.
Reaching Nantucket Island
There is no bridge or road connection to Nantucket. The island sits about 30 miles south of Cape Cod, and the only ways to get there are by ferry or by air. The Steamship Authority runs ferries from Hyannis year-round. The traditional ferry takes about two hours and fifteen minutes. A high-speed ferry option takes about one hour. Hy-Line Cruises also runs seasonal service from Hyannis. Nantucket Memorial Airport handles scheduled flights from Boston, New York, and other regional destinations.
If your license visit is part of a larger wedding planning trip, keep the 3-day wait in mind. You file the application on day one, and the license is not available until after three full days have passed, not counting the day you filed. So a same-day-in-same-day-out trip will not work if you need to pick up the license on that visit. Many couples file on arrival and pick up before the ceremony later in the week, or they plan two separate island trips. The license stays valid for 60 days, so there is room to work with. Plan your ferry bookings around that window.
Massachusetts Marriage License Resources
The state maintains several resources that apply to Nantucket couples as much as they do to anyone getting married in Massachusetts. The main guide walks through the full process from filing to getting a certified copy after the ceremony. The Nantucket clerk follows the same state law framework, so the state guidance is directly useful for island residents and visitors alike.
The Massachusetts marriage guide on mass.gov covers the full application process, required documents, and post-ceremony steps for couples across the state.
The state guide is the best starting reference before you call the Nantucket clerk to book your appointment.
If you need to skip or shorten the 3-day waiting period, the state has a specific guide for that process. The emergency waiver route goes through the Probate Court, which on Nantucket is located on the second floor of the same building as the Town Clerk at 16 Broad Street. The waiver costs around $195 and is not guaranteed. Apply as soon as you know you need it.
The marriage-without-delay guide explains how to request a court waiver of the 3-day waiting period in Massachusetts.
Read this before scheduling your Probate Court appointment if a waiver is something you are considering.
The full text of Massachusetts marriage law is available at MGL Chapter 207. That statute covers age requirements, waiting periods, officiant rules, and what happens after the ceremony. All Nantucket marriage licenses are issued under that law. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is also worth bookmarking. After the clerk records your marriage, you can order certified copies from the RVRS if you have moved off the island or prefer to deal with the state office directly.
After the Ceremony
Once your ceremony is complete, the officiant must return the signed marriage license to the Nantucket Town Clerk. This is required by MGL c. 207 § 40. Do not keep the license. It goes back to the clerk, who records the marriage and files the original. After that step is done, you can order certified copies from the clerk's office or from the state RVRS. Get at least two copies. You will use them for name changes, tax filings, insurance updates, and other legal paperwork.
If you need someone to perform your ceremony, Massachusetts recognizes judges, justices of the peace, and ordained clergy. A family member or friend can also officiate under the One-Day Marriage Designation process. That is handled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth at sec.state.ma.us. The state also keeps a searchable directory of justices of the peace at mass.gov/info-details/justice-of-the-peace. For certified copies later on, visit mass.gov/how-to/request-a-marriage-certificate for instructions.
Towns in Nantucket County
Nantucket County consists of a single consolidated town-and-county government. There is only one municipality: Nantucket Town. All marriage license applications for residents of the island go through the Nantucket Town Clerk at 16 Broad Street. There are no other town offices within the county to visit.
Nantucket Town does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, but the town clerk contact details and appointment process are fully covered in the sections above.
Nearby Counties
Barnstable County on the Cape Cod mainland is the nearest county to Nantucket. If you live in Hyannis or elsewhere on Cape Cod, the clerks in Barnstable County towns handle your marriage license application there.