Search Hampshire County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Hampshire County are maintained by individual city and town clerks, with the county itself holding no vital records. This guide covers how to find records at the local level in Northampton, Amherst, and all 23 communities, as well as through the Massachusetts State Archives and Registry of Vital Records.

Where Hampshire County Marriage Records Are Held

Hampshire County is one of the oldest counties in Massachusetts, established in 1662. It covers 23 cities and towns in the central Connecticut River Valley. The county seat is Northampton. Like all Massachusetts counties, Hampshire does not maintain a central repository for marriage records. Each town and city keeps its own vital records at the town clerk's office.

When a couple files marriage intentions in Hampshire County, the record stays with the clerk in the town where they filed. If you need a marriage record, start by identifying the town where the couple filed their intentions. That town's clerk holds the original record and can issue a certified copy.

Hampshire County includes a mix of urban and rural communities. Northampton is the county seat and the largest city. Amherst is home to the University of Massachusetts and several other colleges. Smaller towns include Belchertown, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Pelham, Plainfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington.

Northampton City Clerk - Marriage Records

Northampton is the county seat and the largest city in Hampshire County. The City Clerk handles all marriage licenses and returns filed by residents or couples choosing to marry in Northampton. The office is in City Hall at 210 Main Street, Room 4, Northampton, MA 01060. The phone is 413-587-1223. You can also reach the clerk by email at cityclerk@northamptonma.gov.

The Northampton Birth, Marriage, and Death Records page explains how to request a certified copy. You can also visit the Getting Married in Northampton page for details on how to file intentions and what to expect. The city clerk's office can search for records by name and year, and they can produce certified copies for legal use.

To apply for a marriage license in Northampton, both parties must appear in person. Bring valid photo ID for each person. Under M.G.L. c. 207, Section 28, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period after you file your intentions before the license can be issued. The license is then valid for 60 days.

For records from older years, the Northampton clerk can advise whether the record is still on file locally or has been transferred to the State Archives. Many 19th-century records from Northampton have been indexed by the state and are searchable through the Archives database.

Amherst Town Clerk - Marriage Records

Amherst is one of the busiest towns in Hampshire County for marriage filings, in part because of the large university population. The Amherst Town Clerk is at Town Hall, Amherst, MA 01002. The phone is 413-259-3035. The town's website at amherstma.gov has current information on how to request records and schedule appointments.

Amherst handles a mix of longtime residents and people connected to the university community. If you need a marriage record from Amherst, start with the town clerk. For older records from the 1800s, the Amherst records may be accessible through the State Archives database online. The town also has a local history collection at the Jones Library that may be helpful for genealogical research.

The process for applying for a license in Amherst is the same as in any Massachusetts town. Both parties appear in person, present valid ID, and file their intentions. After the three-day wait, the license is ready. Fees vary slightly by town, so confirm the current fee when you call.

Hampshire County Courts

The Hampshire County Registry of Deeds is at 60 Railroad Avenue, Northampton, MA 01060. Phone: 413-584-3637. The registry's website is at massrods.com/hampshire. The Registry handles land records for the county, not marriage records. You would go there for deeds, mortgages, and liens, not vital records.

The Hampshire County Superior Court is at 15 Gothic Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Phone: 413-584-7400. The Superior Court handles major civil and criminal cases. It does not store marriage licenses. If a court proceeding involves a marriage, such as an annulment or a legal matter tied to a ceremony, the Probate and Family Court handles those cases in western Massachusetts.

For any family law or probate matter in Hampshire County, the nearest Probate and Family Court serving this region is in Northampton. Check mass.gov for current contact details and hearing schedules for the Hampshire Probate and Family Court.

Getting State Copies of Hampshire County Records

The state holds copies of all Massachusetts marriage records sent in by town clerks after each filing. These come in two sets based on time period, and knowing which set you need makes the search faster.

Records from 1841 through 1930 are at the Massachusetts State Archives, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125. Phone: 617-727-2816. The free online search tool is at sec.state.ma.us. You can search by name, year, and county. Certified copies cost $3 per certificate. This is particularly useful for Hampshire County because the county has many small towns with old records that may be easier to find through the centralized state database.

Records from 1931 to the present are at the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mount Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Phone: 617-740-2600. In-person copies are $20. Mail orders are $32. The state ordering page at mass.gov has the form and current instructions.

The RVRS homepage is the best starting point for ordering a Hampshire County marriage record from the state for any year after 1930.

The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics provides certified copies of Hampshire County marriage records from 1931 to present.

The RVRS processes mail and in-person requests for certified marriage record copies covering all Hampshire County towns from 1931 onward.

Massachusetts Marriage Law Requirements

All 23 cities and towns in Hampshire County follow the same state rules for marriage. The main statute is M.G.L. Chapter 207. It sets the requirements for who can marry, how intentions are filed, and what happens if the license is not used in time.

Under M.G.L. c. 207, Section 7, both parties must be at least 18 years old. A three-day waiting period applies after filing intentions, as set by M.G.L. c. 207, Section 28. The license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, you need to file new intentions and start over. There is no state residency requirement to get married in Massachusetts. Any couple can file in any Massachusetts town.

The Getting Married in Massachusetts guide on mass.gov explains the process in plain language. It also lists what to bring to the clerk's office and answers common questions about the ceremony and the return filing afterward.

The Massachusetts law about marriage page on mass.gov gives a broader overview of state statutes and legal requirements for marriage in Hampshire County and across the state.

Genealogy Resources for Hampshire County

Hampshire County has deep historical roots. Records from some towns go back to the 1600s. Several resources can help you find old marriage records beyond the official clerk offices and state archives.

FamilySearch has a Hampshire County Massachusetts Genealogy page with links to indexed records and research guides. FamilySearch has digitized many Massachusetts vital records including marriage intentions and returns from Hampshire County towns. These are free to search and include images of some original documents.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society at AmericanAncestors.org holds a large database of Massachusetts vital records. Hampshire County records are well represented in their collection, including transcriptions of early town records and church registers. Their research staff can assist with complex searches for older family lines in the Pioneer Valley.

Local historical societies in Northampton, Amherst, and other Hampshire County towns hold original documents, town histories, and family papers. The Forbes Library in Northampton has a strong local history and genealogy collection. The Jones Library in Amherst also holds some local historical materials. For very old records, these local sources may fill gaps that the official archives do not cover.

The Getting Married guide also links to the state Archives database, which is often the fastest starting point for Hampshire County records from the 19th century.

What the Records Contain

A Hampshire County marriage record typically includes the names of both parties, their ages, residences, parents' names and birthplaces, the date intentions were filed, the date of the ceremony, and the name of the officiant. Records from the 1800s often include occupation and the number of prior marriages.

The marriage return, which the officiant completes after the ceremony, is part of the official record. Together, the intentions and the return form the full marriage record. Certified copies issued by town clerks or the state combine this information into a single certificate with an official seal.

Certified copies are needed for legal purposes. Plain copies may be enough for personal research. When you contact a clerk's office to request a copy, specify whether you need certified or uncertified, as the fees are different.

The state ordering page at mass.gov also explains what information appears on state-issued certificates versus locally issued copies from Hampshire County town clerks.

The State Archives Vital Records Search lets you preview what information is available before ordering a certified copy.

The Archives database is a free way to search for Hampshire County marriage records from 1841 to 1930 before paying for a certified copy.

Cities and Towns in Hampshire County

No cities in Hampshire County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. The largest communities are Northampton (county seat) and Amherst. Other towns include Belchertown, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Ware, and Williamsburg. Each has its own clerk office for marriage records.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County borders four counties in western and central Massachusetts. If you are researching a family that moved between counties, these pages may also be useful.