Somerville Marriage Records

Somerville marriage records go back to 1842 and are kept at the Somerville City Clerk's office at City Hall. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records completed ceremonies, and provides certified copies of marriage certificates for couples who married in the city. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the city's online ordering system. State records from 1931 onward are also available through the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics in Dorchester.

Somerville City Clerk Marriage Records Office

The Somerville City Clerk is the main office for marriage records in the city. Kimberly Wells serves as City Clerk, with John Doyle as Assistant City Clerk. The office is at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. It handles all vital records for the city, including marriage licenses, certificates, and certified copies. Records in this office go back to 1842. If you need something older than 1842, the State Archives or NEHGS may have earlier historical data.

Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. The office is open Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to noon. Thursday's extended hours make it easier for people who can't get there during a standard workday. Call ahead at 617-625-6600, extension 4100, before making a trip, especially on Fridays since the office closes at noon.

For mailed requests, write to the clerk at 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA 02143. Include the names of both parties, the date of the ceremony, and a check or money order for the correct amount. Attach a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return the copies to you. Processing times for mail requests vary, so allow extra time if the record is needed for a deadline.

The Somerville marriage page on the city website has current information on fees, hours, and what to bring when you apply. The screenshot below shows what that page looks like.

The Somerville marriage page at somervillema.gov is the starting point for license applications and certified copy requests.

Check this page for any updates to hours or fees before visiting the office in person.

Getting a Somerville Marriage License

To apply for a marriage license in Somerville, both parties must come to the City Clerk's office at the same time. You do not need to be a Somerville resident. Any couple can apply here, regardless of where they live. The license fee is $50. Bring valid photo ID for both applicants. The clerk will take your information, and you will pay the fee at the time of application.

Massachusetts law requires a 3-day waiting period under MGL c. 207, § 28. The license does not become active until three days after you apply. Once active, it is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not occur within that window, the license expires and you must start over. Plan your application date accordingly so the waiting period ends before your wedding day.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old under MGL c. 207, § 7. There is no residency requirement under Massachusetts law, which means couples from anywhere in the state or country can apply in Somerville. If you need to waive the 3-day waiting period, you must apply to a Probate or District Court under MGL c. 207, § 30. The waiver costs $195 and is not guaranteed.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the City Clerk. The clerk records it and sends a report to the state. Once filed, you can request certified copies from the clerk's office or from the state, depending on the year of the marriage.

Somerville Marriage Certificate Copies

Certified copies of Somerville marriage certificates cost $15 each. You can get copies in person at the clerk's office, by mail, or online through the city's ordering system. For in-person requests, bring a valid photo ID. Staff can usually produce copies the same day. For mail requests, include the names of both parties, the marriage date, your contact information, and payment by check or money order made out to the City of Somerville.

Somerville also offers online certificate ordering through epay.cityhallsystems.com. The online certificates page on the city site explains how to use the system and what identification you will need to submit. This is the easiest option if you cannot visit during office hours or prefer not to mail a request. Processing times for online orders vary.

The screenshot below shows the city's online certificate purchase page, which covers birth, marriage, and death records.

The Somerville online certificate system at somervillema.gov lets you order marriage records without visiting City Hall.

Online orders go through the city's epay portal and are processed during business hours.

If you need a correction to a Somerville marriage record, the clerk charges a $50 correction fee. Bring documentation that supports the change, such as a legal name change order or an official document showing the correct information. The clerk reviews correction requests and submits them to the state as needed.

State Archives and Historical Somerville Marriage Records

The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) holds statewide marriage records from 1931 onward. The RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. Phone is 617-740-2600. Certified copies cost $20 in person or $32 by mail. Their ordering page is at mass.gov certificate ordering. If your Somerville marriage took place after 1930, you can get copies from the state as well as from the city clerk.

For records from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston is the place to go. Phone is 617-727-2816. Certified copies from the Archives cost $3. The online search database at sec.state.ma.us vital records search covers many years in this range. FamilySearch has a free index at Massachusetts vital records 1841-1915 that can help identify which records exist before you request certified copies.

Somerville Public Library has an extensive local history room with city directories going back to 1851. These directories can help place a family in Somerville during a given year, which is useful when looking for a marriage record if you are unsure of the exact date. The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org also holds early Massachusetts vital records that may include Somerville entries from before civil registration began in 1842.

Massachusetts Marriage Law Overview

Massachusetts marriage law sits in MGL Chapter 207. The basic rules apply statewide. Both parties must be 18 or older, appear in person to apply, and wait three days before the license becomes active. The license is good for 60 days. No residency is required. These rules apply in Somerville the same as anywhere else in the state.

Once a ceremony takes place, the officiant must return the signed license to the City Clerk within the time required by law. The clerk records it, and the record is transmitted to the state. That signed, returned license becomes the official marriage record. Certified copies issued from that record carry the same legal weight as any other government document. Employers, banks, and courts all accept them as proof of marriage.

The full text of Chapter 207 and related marriage statutes is at malegislature.gov. The state's guide to getting married in Massachusetts is at mass.gov getting married guide, and it links to individual town and city clerk offices for local fee and hours information.

Middlesex County Marriage Records

Somerville is in Middlesex County. Marriage licenses are issued at the city level, but the Middlesex County page covers the broader court system and historical resources that serve the county, including records offices near Somerville.

View Middlesex County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities have their own marriage records pages with local clerk office details and search options.