Find Marriage Records in Dukes County

Dukes County covers Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, and marriage records here are held by each of the 7 individual town clerk offices rather than any central county agency. This page explains which office to contact, how to get a license or certified copy, and where to find older historical records for the island communities.

How Marriage Records Work in Dukes County

There is no central Dukes County office that stores marriage records. The county does have a Registry of Deeds at 81 Main Street, Edgartown (508-627-4025), and a Superior Court at the same address, but neither holds vital records. Marriage records in Massachusetts are a town function, not a county function. Each of the 7 towns in Dukes County keeps its own record of marriage intentions filed and licenses issued.

When a couple files their intentions, the record stays with the town clerk in that town. After the ceremony, the officiant sends a completed marriage return back to the same clerk. So to find a Dukes County marriage record, you need to know which town the couple used when they filed. For most marriages on Martha's Vineyard, that town is Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, or Tisbury (Vineyard Haven). Couples who live in smaller towns like Chilmark or West Tisbury often file there instead.

The islands that make up Gosnold are in Dukes County too, though they are part of the Elizabeth Islands chain off the coast of Falmouth. Gosnold's town office is on Cuttyhunk Island. Very few marriages are filed there each year, but the clerk does maintain records when needed.

The 7 Town Clerk Offices in Dukes County

The 7 towns in Dukes County each maintain their own marriage records. Contact the clerk in the town where the marriage was filed. Hours vary, and island offices can have limited schedules in the off-season, so call ahead before you visit in person.

Edgartown is the county seat and tends to have the most robust clerk operation. Oak Bluffs and Tisbury are the next largest towns by population. If you are not sure which town a couple filed in, start with the town where they lived or where the ceremony was held, since those are the most common choices. Town clerk staff can often help you figure out whether they have the record or point you to the right office.

Getting a Marriage License in Dukes County

To get a marriage license anywhere in Dukes County, both parties must appear in person at the town clerk's office in the town where they want to file. You cannot send one person alone or file by mail. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. If either party was previously married, you may need to bring a divorce decree or death certificate for the prior spouse. Clerk staff will tell you what documents are required when you call to confirm.

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207, there is a three-day waiting period after you file your intentions. The clerk cannot issue the license until those three days pass. The license is then valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The ceremony can take place anywhere in Massachusetts, not just in Dukes County. Both parties must be at least 18 to marry without court approval.

Each town sets its own fees for marriage licenses, so the cost can vary. Call the specific clerk's office to confirm the current fee before you go. Fees for certified copies also vary by town, though most charge a small per-copy fee. Some clerks accept credit cards; others prefer cash or check. A quick call ahead saves you a wasted trip.

The Chilmark Town Clerk's marriage licenses page shows the process for filing marriage intentions at one of Martha's Vineyard's smaller town clerk offices, including what to bring and what the fee covers.

Chilmark handles licenses for couples who plan to file in that town; the other six towns have their own offices with similar procedures under the same state law.

Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates

To get a certified copy of a Dukes County marriage record, you have two main options: go to the local town clerk where the record was filed, or request a copy from the state.

At the town clerk level, you can request in person or by mail. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, your contact information, a check or money order for the fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Response times vary by town. Smaller offices may take a few weeks, especially during busy summer periods on the Vineyard. Call first to confirm the mailing address and current fee before sending a mail request.

For records from 1931 to the present, the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) in Dorchester holds a state copy. Their address is 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, phone 617-740-2600. In-person copies cost $20 each. Mail orders cost $32 and can be initiated through the mass.gov vital records ordering page. The state copy and the town clerk copy carry equal legal weight for all purposes.

For older records from 1841 to 1930, the Massachusetts State Archives at 220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125 (617-727-2816) holds the copies. Certified copies from the State Archives cost $3 each and can be found through the state Vital Records Search database. This is often the fastest path to older island records, since many Dukes County town clerks have limited staffing for historical research requests.

Historical Records for Martha's Vineyard

Dukes County has a long documented history, and marriage records going back to the 1600s survive in various forms. The State Archives holds indexed records from 1841 to 1930, and many of these are searchable for free through the state Vital Records Search tool. FamilySearch has a Dukes County Genealogy page with links to digitized collections and research guidance. Many early Martha's Vineyard vital records have been indexed and are free to search on FamilySearch, with some original document images available as well.

For records before 1841, you will need to rely on church registers, town meeting records, and family papers. The Martha's Vineyard towns kept their own registers going back to the 17th century in some cases. These older records are not centrally indexed, but the Martha's Vineyard Museum is the best single place to start for pre-statehood research on the island.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society at AmericanAncestors.org also holds Massachusetts vital records transcriptions, including some from Dukes County. A paid membership gives full access to their database, which covers early church and town records from island communities.

Martha's Vineyard Museum Genealogy Resources

The Martha's Vineyard Museum at 59 School Street, Edgartown, MA 02539 (508-627-4441) holds one of the most important genealogical collections for Dukes County research. The museum's library and archives contain family papers, town records, church registers, photographs, and documents that span the entire recorded history of the island. For anyone researching Martha's Vineyard families, this is the first stop after the official vital records sources.

The museum's collection is particularly strong for 18th and 19th century island families. Many of these families have no surviving records outside what the museum holds. Staff there are experienced with genealogical inquiries and can help direct researchers to the right materials. The museum's website has information on access and research services. Some research can be done remotely by request; in-person access is available during regular museum hours.

Beyond official vital records, the museum holds deeds, wills, and probate documents that can fill gaps when a marriage record itself is missing or damaged. Cross-referencing these sources is often necessary for older Dukes County family research, especially for families who predated systematic vital records registration in Massachusetts.

Dukes County Superior Court

The Dukes County Superior Court is located at 81 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539. Phone: 508-627-4668. This court handles civil and criminal cases at the Superior Court level for the county. It does not store marriage licenses or marriage returns; those stay with the individual town clerks. If you are searching for marriage records, the Superior Court is not the right office.

Court records can still be useful in family research. Probate proceedings, estate filings, and certain civil cases may reference marriages, spouses, and family relationships. If you are building a family history and need records beyond what the town clerks hold, the Superior Court clerk can explain what civil records are available and how to access them. Name change petitions and adoption decrees, for example, may be held here.

The Dukes County Superior Court listing on mass.gov provides current contact details, directions, and hours for the Edgartown courthouse.

The Superior Court page on mass.gov confirms current hours and contact information for the Edgartown courthouse, which houses several Dukes County government offices at 81 Main Street.

Massachusetts Marriage Law in Dukes County

All 7 towns in Dukes County follow Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207. There are no local variations for Martha's Vineyard or the Elizabeth Islands. The state sets the rules: both parties must be at least 18, both must appear in person, there is a three-day waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days.

After the ceremony, the person who performs it must complete the marriage return and send it back to the clerk who issued the license. The clerk then registers the record. A copy goes to the state as well. This dual filing is why both the local town and the state can issue certified copies of the same record. Either copy is equally valid for legal use.

The Getting Married in Massachusetts guide on mass.gov walks through the full process. It is a good resource for anyone planning to marry on the Vineyard who is not familiar with Massachusetts rules. The complete statute text is at malegislature.gov.

What a Dukes County Marriage Record Contains

A standard Massachusetts marriage record includes the full names of both parties, their ages, places of residence at the time of filing, parents' names and birthplaces, the date intentions were filed, and the date and place of the ceremony. The officiant's name and the witnesses are also listed. For records filed since the mid-20th century, some internal copies at the state may include Social Security numbers, but these are not typically included on certified copies issued to the public.

Older records from the 1800s often include occupation, the number of times each person was previously married, and notes on prior marriages or deaths of former spouses. Dukes County records from the 19th century are often detailed for well-known island families. These older records can be very useful for tracing family trees and confirming relationships across several generations.

Certified copies carry an official seal and are accepted for legal purposes such as name changes, passport applications, insurance claims, and estate matters. A plain copy without a seal is fine for genealogical work and costs less. When you contact the clerk's office, be clear about which type of copy you need so they can tell you the correct fee.

Towns in Dukes County

No communities in Dukes County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The seven towns are Edgartown (county seat), Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and Gosnold (Cuttyhunk Island). Each has its own town clerk for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

Dukes County is an island county, but the nearest mainland counties are accessible by ferry from Martha's Vineyard.