Search Haverhill Marriage Records
Haverhill marriage records go back to the 1640s, reflecting the city's colonial-era origins in Essex County. The Haverhill City Clerk's office in Room 118 at City Hall is where couples apply for marriage licenses and where certified copies of marriage certificates can be requested. You can visit in person, mail a request, or use the city's online ordering option. For records after 1930, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester also holds statewide copies.
Haverhill Overview
Haverhill City Clerk Marriage Records Office
The Haverhill City Clerk is Kaitlin M. Wright. Her office is in Room 118 at City Hall, 4 Summer Street in Haverhill. This office handles all vital records for the city, including marriage licenses, completed marriage certificates, and certified copies. Records here go back to the 1640s, making Haverhill one of the older Massachusetts cities with a long unbroken vital records archive. Staff can assist with requests for current records as well as older historical data held in the clerk's files.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. On Thursdays the office stays open until 6:30 PM, which is useful for people who cannot visit during a standard workday. Phone is 978-374-2312. The fax number is 978-374-8490 for written requests sent that way. If you are driving to City Hall, confirm the exact room before your visit since some city hall buildings can be confusing for first-time visitors.
Mail requests should go to Room 118, City Hall, 4 Summer Street, Haverhill MA 01830. Include both parties' names, the date of the marriage, your mailing address, and payment by check or money order. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests are processed in the order they arrive, so allow extra time if you need the copy by a specific date.
The screenshot below shows the Haverhill City Clerk page, which has links to vital records information and contact details.
The Haverhill City Clerk page at haverhillma.gov covers all city vital records, including marriage licenses and certified copies.
Use this page to find current hours, fee information, and links to marriage-specific record pages.
| Office | Haverhill City Clerk |
|---|---|
| City Clerk | Kaitlin M. Wright |
| Address | Room 118, City Hall, 4 Summer Street, Haverhill MA 01830 |
| Phone | 978-374-2312 |
| Fax | 978-374-8490 |
| Hours | Mon-Thu 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Thu until 6:30 PM); Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Records Start | 1640s |
| Website | haverhillma.gov/government/city-clerk |
Applying for a Haverhill Marriage License
Both parties must appear in person at the Haverhill City Clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. There is no residency requirement. Any couple can apply in Haverhill, regardless of where they live. The license fee is $40. Bring a valid photo ID for each applicant. The clerk will take your information and collect the fee at the time of application.
Massachusetts law requires a 3-day waiting period under MGL c. 207, § 28. Three days must pass from the date of application before the license becomes active. Once active, the license is valid for 60 days. If you do not have the ceremony within 60 days, the license expires and you must apply again and pay again. Plan the application date so the waiting period ends before the wedding day.
Both applicants must be 18 or older under MGL c. 207, § 7. If you need to skip the waiting period, you can petition a Probate or District Court for a waiver under MGL c. 207, § 30. The waiver fee is $195. Courts look at the reason for the request and do not automatically approve waivers. The city's vital records page at haverhillma.gov vital records has more information on the application process.
The screenshot below shows the Haverhill vital records page covering birth, marriage, and death records.
The Haverhill vital records page explains how to apply for a marriage license and what documents are required.
Check this page for any changes to fees or documentation requirements before your visit.
Haverhill Marriage Record Copies and Fees
Certified copies of Haverhill marriage certificates cost $10 each for in-person requests. Mail and online requests cost $15 per copy. This pricing structure rewards in-person visits with a lower fee. If you need the copy quickly, an in-person visit during office hours is the fastest option. The city offers online ordering as well, which is convenient but costs slightly more per copy than coming in person.
If you need to amend or correct a Haverhill marriage record, the fee is $35. Amendments require documentation that supports the change. Bring the original record and any supporting documents that show the correct information. The clerk reviews the request and, if approved, submits the correction to the state. Corrected records take some time to process, so do not wait until the last minute if you need a corrected certificate for a legal or official purpose.
The screenshot below shows the Haverhill marriages page with specific information on marriage records.
The Haverhill marriages page focuses specifically on marriage records and covers fees, procedures, and online ordering options.
Review this page for the most current fee schedule and instructions before sending a mail request.
In-person certified copies cost $10. Mail and online copies cost $15. Record amendments cost $35. Bring documentation for any amendment request.
Historical Haverhill Marriage Records
Haverhill's marriage records start in the 1640s, which puts this city among the oldest in the state for vital records research. The local genealogy website rocksvillage.org maintains extensive genealogy databases focused on the Haverhill and Merrimack Valley area. This site is a strong resource for pre-civil registration records that are not part of any state database. It is free to use and regularly updated by local genealogy volunteers.
For records from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston holds the statewide collection. Phone is 617-727-2816. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3. The online search tool at sec.state.ma.us vital records search covers much of this range. FamilySearch has a free index at Massachusetts vital records 1841-1915 that can help you verify whether a record exists before requesting a copy.
For records from 1931 onward, the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester holds statewide copies. Phone is 617-740-2600. Certified copies cost $20 in person or $32 by mail. Their page is at mass.gov RVRS. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org holds early Essex County vital records that may include Haverhill entries from the colonial period and early statehood years.
Massachusetts Marriage Law
All Massachusetts cities follow the same marriage law under MGL Chapter 207. Both parties must be 18 or older, appear in person, and wait three days before the license becomes active. The license is valid for 60 days. No residency is required. These rules apply in Haverhill the same as in every other city in the state.
After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the issuing clerk. The clerk records it and submits the data to the state. That completed record is then the official marriage certificate. You can get certified copies from the Haverhill City Clerk or from the state, depending on the year the marriage took place. Both sources produce legally valid certified copies with the appropriate seal.
The state's guide at mass.gov getting married guide walks through the entire process from application to certificate. It includes links to individual city clerk offices and explains how the 3-day waiting period works in practice. The full text of Chapter 207 is at malegislature.gov.
Essex County Marriage Records
Haverhill is in Essex County. Marriage licenses are issued through the city clerk, but the Essex County page covers the broader court and historical records network that serves the county, including resources useful for older marriage record research.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities have their own marriage records pages with local clerk office details and search options.