Find Marriage Records in Worcester County
Worcester County marriage records are kept at the city and town clerk offices across the county's 60 municipalities. County government was abolished here in 1998, so there is no single central office. The Worcester City Clerk, the state Registry of Vital Records, and the Massachusetts State Archives are the main access points depending on when and where the marriage took place.
Worcester County Overview
Worcester County Marriage Records Overview
Worcester County is the second most populous county in Massachusetts. It was established on April 5, 1731, and covers a large swath of central Massachusetts. The county government was abolished in 1998. Since then, individual cities and towns have held their own vital records, including marriage records. There is no county clerk office to contact.
The county has 60 cities and towns in total. The city of Worcester is the county seat and largest city. Worcester's records go back to 1686 when it was organized as a town, with town records from 1686 to 1847 and city records from 1848 to the present. Most other towns in the county have records from the 1700s and 1800s. Some of those older records have been indexed and digitized.
When a marriage takes place in Worcester County, the officiant files the signed license with the clerk of the city or town where the ceremony occurred. That office keeps the original. State copies go to the Registry of Vital Records. If you need to find a record, knowing the town or city where the ceremony took place narrows your search considerably.
Worcester City Clerk Marriage Records
The Worcester City Clerk is the primary source for marriage records in the city of Worcester. The office has records from 1686 to the present. An online searchable database covers marriages from 1978 to 2021. This is a good first stop if the marriage took place in Worcester city.
| Office | Worcester City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Room 206, 455 Main Street, Worcester MA 01608 |
| Phone | 508-799-1121 |
| clerk@worcesterma.gov | |
| Hours | Monday 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday through Friday 8:45 AM to 4:15 PM |
| Website | worcesterma.gov/city-clerk |
| Marriage License Fee | $40 |
| Certified Copies | $12 in person; $14 by mail or online |
The city clerk handles both marriage intentions and marriage certificates. If you want to order a copy of a marriage certificate from the city, you can do it in person, by mail, or through the city's online request system. The online searchable database for 1978 through 2021 can help you confirm whether a record exists before you order.
State Resources for Worcester County Records
The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics holds state copies of all Massachusetts marriage records from 1931 to the present. If you need a certified copy of a Worcester County marriage record from that era, RVRS is a reliable option. In-person copies cost $20, mail requests cost $32, and VitalChek online orders cost $54. The office is at 150 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:45 AM to 4:45 PM. Phone: 617-740-2600.
Below is an image from the RVRS homepage at mass.gov, the central hub for ordering vital records from the state.
The RVRS is the fastest way to get a certified copy if you are not sure which town in Worcester County held the ceremony, since state records cover all municipalities. You can also use the general state ordering page at mass.gov/how-to/order-a-birth-marriage-or-death-certificate.
State Archives for Worcester County Historical Records
The Massachusetts State Archives holds marriage records from 1841 to 1930 for all counties, including Worcester. These are the records filed by town and city clerks with the state. Certified copies cost $3 each and take four to six weeks. The Archives is at 220 Morrissey Boulevard in Boston. Phone: 617-727-2816.
The Archives online search database at sec.state.ma.us/vitalrecordssearch lets you search by name for records in that 1841 to 1930 window. Results show both party names, the town of record, and the year. This is the best free online tool for pre-1931 Worcester County marriages.
For records before 1841, the town clerks and published vital records collections are the main sources. The American Antiquarian Society at 185 Salisbury Street in Worcester holds one of the largest collections of pre-1876 American printed records. Their holdings include Worcester County town histories, genealogies, and vital records books at americanancestors.org. This is a strong resource for early Worcester County research.
Dissolved Towns in the Quabbin Reservoir Area
One unique aspect of Worcester County history affects some marriage records research. In 1938, four towns in the Swift River Valley were dissolved to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Those towns were Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott. Their records were not simply absorbed into a neighboring town's files.
Marriage and vital records from those dissolved towns are held at the Massachusetts State Archives and, in part, at the Swift River Valley Historical Society. If you are researching a family with roots in those towns, the Archives is the right place to look. The FamilySearch Worcester County genealogy guide at familysearch.org covers this in more detail and lists which specific collections cover the dissolved towns.
Getting a Marriage License in Worcester County
To get a marriage license in Worcester County, both parties must appear in person at any city or town clerk's office in Massachusetts to file a Notice of Intention to Marry. Under MGL Chapter 207, Section 19, the clerk records the intention. The license is issued after the mandatory waiting period. Worcester City charges $40 for a marriage license; other towns set their own fees, which often run between $25 and $50.
The three-day waiting period under MGL Chapter 207, Section 28 starts from the day you file. The license is valid for 60 days. Both parties must be 18 or older under MGL Chapter 207, Section 7. There is no residency requirement. You can file in any Massachusetts city or town even if you live elsewhere. If you need to waive the waiting period, a court can grant one under MGL Chapter 207, Section 30. Full waiver instructions are at mass.gov. The state's complete guide to getting married is at mass.gov/guides/getting-married-in-massachusetts-before-the-wedding.
Worcester County Probate and Family Court
The Worcester County Probate and Family Court handles legal matters related to marriage, including annulments and divorce. It does not hold marriage license records, but its case files are relevant if a marriage was later ended through a court proceeding. The court is located at 225 Main Street, Worcester MA 01608. Phone: 508-831-2200. You can search divorce and probate case records through the MassCourts system online.
Cities in Worcester County
Worcester County has 11 cities and 49 towns. The following qualifying city has its own marriage records page with detailed local information.
Other cities and towns in Worcester County include Athol, Auburn, Barre, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Fitchburg, Gardner, Grafton, Hardwick, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Milford, Millbury, Millville, New Braintree, Northborough, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, Westminster, Winchendon, and Worcester. Each has a local clerk who holds marriage records for ceremonies in that community.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Worcester County. If the marriage happened near a county line, check both county resources to find the right clerk.