Search Essex County Marriage Records
Essex County marriage records are maintained by the individual city and town clerk offices in each of the county's 34 municipalities. County government was abolished in 1999, so there is no central county clerk for these records. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, the State Archives, and local city clerk offices are the main places to find and request marriage records in Essex County.
Essex County Overview
Essex County Marriage Records: What You Need to Know
Essex County is one of the four original counties established in Massachusetts in 1643. It has eight cities and 27 towns spread across the northeastern corner of the state. The county government was abolished on July 1, 1999. With no county clerk office, marriage records stay at the local level in each municipality.
When a couple gets married in Essex County, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the clerk of the city or town where the ceremony occurred. That local clerk keeps the original. The state gets a copy. If you need the record, you go to the clerk in the right city or town. If you do not know where the ceremony took place, the state records at RVRS or the Archives can help you locate the right jurisdiction.
Essex County has some of the oldest records in the country. Salem, the county seat, was settled in 1626. Many towns in the county have marriage records dating back to the 1600s. Several towns' vital records have been published and are available at libraries, genealogy centers, and online databases.
City Clerk Offices in Essex County
The following are the main city clerk offices in Essex County where you can request marriage records. Each handles records for marriages that took place within its jurisdiction. Hours and fees vary by office, so call ahead before sending a mail request or planning an in-person visit.
| City | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrence City Clerk | 978-620-3230 | cityoflawrence.com |
| Lynn City Clerk | 781-598-4000 | lynnma.gov |
| Haverhill City Clerk | 978-374-2312 | haverhillma.gov |
| Salem City Clerk | 978-619-5600 | |
| Peabody City Clerk | 978-538-5756 |
In addition to these cities, 27 towns each have their own town clerk. Towns in Essex County include Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Rockport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham. Contact the town clerk directly for marriages that occurred in any of these communities.
Essex County Registry of Deeds (Not Marriage Records)
Essex County has two Registry of Deeds offices. These registries handle land records only, not marriage records. They are sometimes confused with vital records offices, but they serve a different purpose. The two offices are listed below for reference.
| Registry | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Southern Registry of Deeds | 36 Federal Street, Salem MA 01970 | 978-542-1700 |
| Essex Northern Registry of Deeds | 360 Merrimack Street, Lawrence MA 01843 | 978-557-1900 |
The Southern Registry website is at salemdeeds.com. The Northern Registry information is at massrods.com/essexnorth. If you need to search property records in connection with a family history or estate research, these are the right offices. For marriage records, go to the local city or town clerk instead.
The lead-in below links to the Salem Deeds website for Essex County land research.
The Salem Deeds site covers the southern district of Essex County and is a useful reference for understanding the county's two-district structure, even though it does not hold marriage records.
Essex County Probate and Family Court
The Essex County Probate and Family Court handles legal matters tied to marriage, including annulments and divorce cases. It does not hold original marriage licenses, but its records are important if a marriage was later ended or contested through the court system. The court operates at two locations.
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | 36 Federal Street, Salem MA 01970 | 978-744-1020 |
| Lawrence satellite | 2 Appleton Street, Lawrence MA 01840 | 978-686-9692 |
Probate and Family Court case records are searchable through the MassCourts online system. If you are looking for an annulment or divorce record in Essex County, that is the right place to search. Certified copies of court orders cost a small fee and can be obtained from the Register of Probate at either location.
State Resources for Essex County Marriage Records
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds all Massachusetts marriage records from 1931 to the present, including those from Essex County. RVRS is at 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. Phone: 617-740-2600. In-person copies cost $20. Mail requests cost $32. VitalChek online orders cost $54.
For marriages from 1841 to 1930 in Essex County, the Massachusetts State Archives is the right source. The Archives is at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston. Phone: 617-727-2816. Certified copies cost $3 and take four to six weeks. The online search at the vital records search portal covers this era and is free to use. You can search by name and narrow results by town within Essex County. The state ordering page at mass.gov lists all current options for getting a certified copy.
Historical and Genealogy Resources for Essex County
Essex County has deep roots in New England history, and marriage records from the 1600s and 1700s are well documented. Published vital records for many Essex County towns are available at public and genealogy libraries across the state. The FamilySearch collection at familysearch.org lists specific databases for Essex County towns and covers marriages from 1841 to 1915 through their indexed collection at familysearch.org/search/collection/1469062. These are free to search.
The Peabody Essex Museum's Phillips Library at 161 Essex Street in Salem holds extensive maritime and Essex County historical collections. These include genealogical records, town histories, and church records that can supplement official vital records. The library is one of the better resources for deep historical research in Essex County going back several generations.
The New England Historic Genealogical Society at americanancestors.org is strong for Essex County. Their databases include indexed vital records and church records for many towns in the county. Some content is free; a membership is needed for full access. If you are tracing a family with roots in towns like Andover, Ipswich, Salem, or Newburyport, the NEHGS collection is worth checking.
Essex County was one of the four original Massachusetts counties formed in 1643. Marriage records for some towns date back more than 350 years and have been transcribed into published vital records volumes available at libraries statewide.
Getting a Marriage License in Essex County
Both parties must appear in person at a city or town clerk's office to file a Notice of Intention to Marry. Under MGL Chapter 207, Section 19, the clerk records the intention. You can file in any Massachusetts city or town regardless of where you live. There is no residency requirement.
Under MGL Chapter 207, Section 28, a three-day waiting period applies from the date you file the intention. The license is valid for 60 days and can be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state. Both parties must be 18 or older under MGL Chapter 207, Section 7. You need a photo ID at the time you file. Some offices also ask for a birth certificate or divorce decree depending on the circumstances.
If you need to skip the waiting period, a judge can grant a waiver under MGL Chapter 207, Section 30. The instructions for the court waiver form are at mass.gov. For couples who want a friend or family member to perform the ceremony, Massachusetts has a one-day marriage designation process explained at mass.gov/one-day-marriage-designation. The state's full guide to getting married is at mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding. The governing statute, MGL Chapter 207, covers all marriage law in Massachusetts.
Cities in Essex County
Essex County has eight cities and 27 towns. The following qualifying cities have their own marriage records pages with local clerk details and search resources.
Other communities in Essex County include Salem, Beverly, Gloucester, Methuen, Newburyport, Amesbury, Andover, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Merrimac, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, North Andover, Rockport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham. Each of these communities has a town or city clerk who holds marriage records for ceremonies that took place there.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Essex County. If the marriage took place near a county line, check the correct county's local clerk to find the record.