Find Marriage Records in Brookline
Brookline marriage records are held by the Brookline Town Clerk, located at Town Hall on Washington Street. The clerk's office maintains vital records dating back to the colonial era, and can provide certified copies of marriage certificates for couples who filed their intention in Brookline. State records from 1931 onward are also available through the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, and older records from 1841 to 1930 can be found at the State Archives in Boston.
Brookline Overview
Brookline Town Clerk Marriage Records
The Brookline Town Clerk is the official keeper of vital records for the town. Marriage records, birth records, and death records are all filed here. The office sits on the first floor of Brookline Town Hall at 333 Washington Street. Staff can provide certified copies of marriage certificates and help you file new marriage intentions. They also handle domestic partnership registration, which is a separate process from marriage.
One key point: the Brookline Town Clerk only holds records for couples who filed their marriage intention in Brookline. If a couple applied elsewhere, even if the wedding took place in Brookline, the record lives with the clerk where the intention was filed. This is how Massachusetts vital records work statewide. Always start your search at the town or city where the couple intended to marry, not necessarily where the ceremony was held.
The clerk's office page at brooklinema.gov births, deaths, and marriages has current instructions for requesting certified copies, filing intentions, and getting other vital records. Check there before visiting to confirm current hours and any updated fee information.
The image below shows the Brookline Town Clerk's vital records page, which covers the process for obtaining certified copies of marriage certificates and other vital documents.
If you cannot find your record through Brookline directly, the state-level offices described below may have what you need.
| Office | Brookline Town Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1st Floor, Town Hall, 333 Washington Street, Brookline MA 02445 |
| Phone | 617-730-2010 |
| Fax | 617-730-2043 |
| townclerk@brooklinema.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
| Certified Copy Fee | $15 per copy |
| Amendment Fee | $50 |
| Website | brooklinema.gov vital records |
Filing Marriage Intentions in Brookline
Couples who plan to marry in Massachusetts must file a notice of intention with a city or town clerk before the ceremony. You do not have to file in your home city. You can file in any city or town in the state. But keep in mind: wherever you file is where your marriage record will live. Brookline accepts intentions from any couple, regardless of where they live.
The Brookline Town Clerk's office page for marriage intentions is at brooklinema.gov marriage intentions. This page covers both marriage intentions and domestic partnership registration. Domestic partnership is separate from marriage and has its own process and fees.
The screenshot below shows the Brookline marriage intentions page, which has instructions and forms for filing.
Both parties must appear in person to file. State law requires a 3-day waiting period under MGL c. 207, § 28 before the ceremony can take place. The license is valid for 60 days after the waiting period ends. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old under MGL c. 207, § 7. If you need to skip the waiting period, you can apply to a Probate or District Court for a waiver under MGL c. 207, § 30, which costs $195 and is not guaranteed.
The Brookline Town Clerk only holds marriage records for couples who filed their intention in Brookline. If the intention was filed in another town or city, the record is at that location, not in Brookline.
Getting Certified Copies of Brookline Marriage Records
Certified copies of Brookline marriage certificates cost $15 each. You can request them in person at the Town Clerk's office. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and the year. Staff will search the records and produce a copy while you wait in most cases.
For mail requests, write to the Town Clerk at 333 Washington Street, Brookline MA 02445. Include a check or money order for $15 per copy, the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and a return address. Allow extra time for mail processing. The office does not have a specific online ordering portal listed on the town site, so mail and in-person are the main options for Brookline records directly.
If you need to correct an error on a marriage record, the amendment fee is $50. Contact the clerk's office before submitting anything to get the current form and instructions for amendments. Changes to vital records require documentation and cannot be done informally.
For marriages from before the clerk's local records begin, or for older records that may not be in the town's files, check the state-level resources listed below.
State Resources for Brookline Marriage Records
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) holds statewide marriage records from 1931 to the present. The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. Certified copies cost $20 in person or $32 by mail. Call 617-740-2600 for more information. Their ordering page is at mass.gov certificate ordering. The RVRS is a good option if you are not sure which town the record is in, since they hold records from across the state.
For older records from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston is the right place. Certified copies cost $3 each there. Phone is 617-727-2816. You can also search the free online index at sec.state.ma.us vital records search. This database covers the period from 1841 to 1920 and is searchable by name.
FamilySearch offers a free index of Massachusetts vital records from 1841 to 1915, which can help you locate a record before ordering a certified copy. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org has additional genealogical databases and may have Brookline-specific records in their collection. A subscription may be needed for full access, though some databases are free. The Brookline Historical Society also maintains local history archives that may contain marriage-related documents predating state registration.
The state's guide on getting married is at mass.gov getting married guide. It covers the full process from filing intentions to getting the certificate after the ceremony.
Massachusetts Marriage Law and Brookline
Massachusetts marriage law falls under MGL Chapter 207. The rules are the same across the state. Both parties must be 18 or older. Both must appear in person to file the intention. The 3-day waiting period applies everywhere. The license is good for 60 days. No residency is required, so any couple can marry in Brookline regardless of where they live.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the issuing clerk. The clerk records the marriage and files it with the state. That completed document becomes the official marriage certificate. Certified copies can then be ordered from the Brookline Town Clerk or, for more recent records, from the RVRS.
Brookline also offers domestic partnership registration as a separate option. This is distinct from marriage and does not carry the same legal status. The process and fees are handled by the same clerk's office. Check the Brookline marriage intentions page for details on domestic partnership registration if that applies to your situation.
Norfolk County Marriage Records
Brookline sits in Norfolk County. Marriage records in Massachusetts are kept at the city or town level, not the county level. But the Norfolk County page has information on the court system, probate records, and other resources that cover the Brookline area. Some historical records may also be accessible through county-level archives.
Nearby Cities
These nearby qualifying cities also have marriage records pages with local clerk office details, fees, and search options.