Apply for A Marriage

Obtain a License

You may obtain a marriage license from the City Clerk's Office at the following address:
City Clerk's Office
Lowell City Hall, Room 31
375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
978-970-4161

Licensing Hours

The City Clerk's Office accepts marriage license applications Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m, Tuesday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m and Friday 8 a.m. -12 p.m.

Fee

The fee is $40. The City accepts checks, money orders or cash. Checks should be made payable to "City of Lowell."

Divorce Decrees

Divorce Decree is not necessary when filing an application, but divorce must be finalized at the time of filing application.

Marriage Restrictions

In addition, you may not marry certain relatives, as follows: no man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, stepmother, grandfather's wife, grandson's wife, wife's mother, wife's grandmother, wife's daughter, wife's granddaughter, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister or mother's sister, and no woman shall marry her father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, stepfather, grandmother's husband, daughter's husband, granddaughter's husband, husband's grandfather, husband's son, husband's grandson, brother's son, sister's son, father's brother or mother's brother.

How to Apply

To apply for a marriage license, both applicants must appear together at the City Clerk's Office and bring the following:

A photo ID for each applicant
The Social Security number for each applicant who has been issued one; Federal statutes require the collection of Social Security numbers at the time of application; you do not need to bring your Social Security Card; just have the number available
For each applicant under 18 years old, a Court Marriage of Minor Order must be obtained from the probate court or district court where the minor resides; the applicant must appear in court with his or her partner and his or her parent, and obtain a judge's permission to marry, before applying for the marriage license; for each such applicant, bring a certified birth record and the court order showing the judge's permission to marry

Note: There is no longer a requirement for any blood work.

License Issuance Wait Period

Once the application for a marriage license is complete, the license will be issued 3 days later (licenses applied for Monday can be picked up Thursday; licenses applied for Friday can be picked up Monday).

Waiving the Wait Period

If you want to waive the 3 day waiting period, you must bring an approved Court Order for a Marriage Without Delay showing a judge's permission to waive the waiting period. The Lowell District Court is one court that issues these Orders for a fee, and is located at 41 Hurd Street, Lowell, 978-459-4101.

Validity

The license is valid for 60 days from the day you originally apply and may be used in any city or town within the state. The license cannot be used outside of the state.

Validity of Ceremony

A Priest, Minister, Rabbi or Justice of the Peace may perform the ceremony. A Justice of the Peace will not require witnesses to the ceremony. Out of State clergy may perform the ceremony in Massachusetts if an authorization has been obtained prior to the ceremony from the Secretary of State's Office (McCormack Building, Public Records Division, Department of the State Secretary, One Ashburton Place, Room 1701, Boston, 617-727-2836). The marriage license will not be registered unless the required authorization is enclosed with the license.

The person who performs the ceremony must complete and sign the license in black ink only, and return it to the city or town where it was issued. That city or town is the only place where the certificate of marriage may be obtained.

Marriage License Form
View or download the Marriage License Application (PDF).