Find Marriage Records in Medford

Medford marriage records are kept by the City Clerk in Room 103 at 85 George P. Hassett Drive. The office issues marriage licenses, records completed ceremonies, and provides certified copies to anyone who needs them. You can visit in person, call, or email the office. For marriages from 1931 onward, the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester also holds copies. The Medford Historical Society and local library add further resources for genealogical research.

Medford City Clerk Office

The Acting City Clerk in Medford is Rich Eliseo. The office is in Room 103 at 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155. Phone is 781-393-2426. Email is reliseo@medford-ma.gov. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The office is closed on Fridays. The Wednesday evening hours are helpful for people who cannot get to the office before 4:30 PM on a regular weekday. The clerk handles marriage licenses, certified copies of marriage records, and other vital records for Medford residents and researchers.

For mail requests, write to the City Clerk at Room 103, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155. Include both parties' full names, the marriage date, your contact information, and a check or money order for the applicable fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the copies. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits. Email the office first if you have questions about what to include or how long mail processing takes.

The Medford City Clerk page at the city website lists all services, contact details, and office hours.

Check this page before visiting to confirm current hours and any documentation requirements for your specific request.

Marriage License Process in Medford

To get a marriage license in Medford, both applicants must appear at the City Clerk's office together. No Medford residency is required. The license fee is $30. Bring valid photo ID for each person. Staff record the required information and issue the application while you wait.

Massachusetts law under MGL Chapter 207 requires a 3-day waiting period before the license becomes valid. Once active, the license is good for 60 days. The ceremony must happen within that window or the license expires. Plan the application date so the waiting period clears before the wedding day. Both applicants must be 18 or older. If you need to waive the wait, apply to a Probate or District Court. The court charges $195 and does not grant waivers automatically.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk. The clerk records it and submits a report to the state. That becomes the official marriage certificate. Certified copies can be ordered once the record is on file. The fee for a certified copy is approximately $20; call the office to confirm the current rate before visiting.

Getting Certified Copies

Certified copies of Medford marriage certificates cost approximately $20. Call the office at 781-393-2426 to confirm the current fee before visiting. In-person requests are the fastest option. Bring a photo ID and know the full names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. Staff can usually provide copies the same day during regular office hours.

For mail requests, include both parties' names, the marriage date, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing time for mail is longer than in person. If you need the copy by a specific date, visiting in person or emailing the office first is the smarter move.

Certified copies work as legal proof of marriage for name changes, joint tax filings, insurance updates, and other official purposes. Copies from the Medford City Clerk and from the state RVRS both carry legal weight and are accepted by courts and government offices.

Historical Marriage Records

For Medford marriages from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston holds the statewide vital records. Phone is 617-727-2816. Certified copies cost $3. The Secretary of State's online search tool is a good first step before ordering. It can confirm whether a record exists and save time if you are unsure the marriage was filed in the state system.

The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester, MA 02125 holds all Massachusetts marriages from 1931 to the present. Phone is 617-740-2600. Certified copies cost $20 in person or $32 by mail. The RVRS accepts orders through VitalChek online. FamilySearch at familysearch.org provides free access to many Massachusetts vital records from the 1800s and early 1900s. American Ancestors at americanancestors.org has extensive early New England marriage records as well.

Medford Historical Society

The Medford Historical Society is at 10 Governors Avenue, Medford, MA 02155. Phone is 781-391-8739. Hours are Sundays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and the first Thursday of each month from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The society holds local history materials useful for tracing Medford families, including records from before the modern vital records system. If you are researching a Medford family and need to go beyond what the clerk's office holds, the historical society is a useful resource.

The Medford Historical Society website provides details on the collection, hours, and how to contact staff for research assistance.

The society's collection includes items from the 1600s onward, making it a key resource for researchers working on early Medford families and marriages that predate the state records system.

Medford Public Library

The Medford Public Library holds local history and genealogy resources that can supplement what the clerk's office and historical society provide. The library offers access to online genealogy databases and local print collections. Staff can help researchers identify which materials are most relevant for a specific family line or time period. This is especially useful for records from before 1841, when the state vital records system began, and for materials not held by the city clerk or the state archives.

Middlesex County Marriage Records

Medford is in Middlesex County. Marriage licenses are issued at the city level, but the county page covers Probate Court records and broader resources for the county.

View Middlesex County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities have their own marriage records pages with local clerk details and how to request certified copies.