Obtaining a marriage license is one of the most important legal tasks on your wedding-planning checklist. Without a valid license, your ceremony will not create a legally recognized marriage.
Fortunately, applying for a marriage license in New Hampshire or Massachusetts is generally straightforward. The two states have different waiting periods, expiration dates, fees, and application procedures, so make sure you follow the requirements for the state where your ceremony will take place.
Here is what couples planning a New Hampshire or Massachusetts wedding should know.
The following information was reviewed in August 2026. Marriage laws and municipal procedures can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the city or town clerk where you plan to apply.
Where Should You Get Your Marriage License?
Your marriage license must come from the state where your wedding ceremony will physically take place.
If you live in Massachusetts but are getting married in New Hampshire, you need a New Hampshire marriage license. If you live in New Hampshire but are holding your ceremony in Massachusetts, you need a Massachusetts marriage license.
You do not need to be a resident of either state to obtain a marriage license there.
Massachusetts Marriage License Requirements
Couples getting married in Massachusetts may apply for a marriage license through a Massachusetts city or town clerk’s office.
Both applicants generally need to appear together to complete and sign the Notice of Intention of Marriage. Some clerk’s offices require appointments, while others accept walk-ins during designated hours.
Check the municipality’s website or call the clerk before visiting.
What to Bring in Massachusetts
Requirements can vary by municipality, but couples should be prepared to provide:
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Legal names and dates of birth
- Current addresses
- Places of birth
- Social Security numbers, if applicable
- Information about previous marriages
- Payment for the application fee
If either applicant was previously married, ask the clerk whether documentation related to the divorce, annulment, or former spouse’s death is required.
Individual clerk’s offices may request additional information or documentation.
Massachusetts Marriage License Fee
Massachusetts does not have one uniform statewide marriage-license fee. The amount is established by the city or town where you apply.
Contact that clerk’s office to confirm the current cost and accepted forms of payment.
Massachusetts Waiting Period
Massachusetts has a three-day waiting period after the marriage-license application is completed.
Couples who need to marry before the waiting period ends may be able to request a court-approved waiver, commonly called a Marriage Without Delay waiver. Approval is not automatic, and additional fees or court procedures may apply.
More information is available through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts marriage guide.
How Long Is a Massachusetts Marriage License Valid?
A Massachusetts marriage license is valid for 60 days.
Your wedding must take place within that period, and the license can only be used for a ceremony held in Massachusetts.
Because the exact expiration date will appear on the license, review it carefully before leaving the clerk’s office.
Do You Need Witnesses in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts does not require witnesses to sign the marriage license.
Your ceremony must be performed by someone legally authorized to solemnize a marriage in Massachusetts.
If you want a friend or relative to perform the ceremony, that person may need to obtain a One-Day Marriage Designation. The designation should be arranged in advance.
What Happens After a Massachusetts Wedding?
After the ceremony, the officiant completes the appropriate portion of the marriage license and returns it to the city or town where the license was issued.
The license must be filed before certified copies of the marriage certificate can be requested.
Ask the clerk how long processing typically takes and how you can order certified copies. You may need these copies for a legal name change, insurance, financial accounts, or other official records.
New Hampshire Marriage License Requirements
Couples getting married in New Hampshire may apply at any New Hampshire city or town clerk’s office, regardless of where within the state the ceremony will take place.
Both applicants generally appear together to complete the application. Some municipalities require appointments or stop processing applications before the clerk’s office closes, so confirm local procedures before arriving.
What to Bring in New Hampshire
Couples should be prepared to provide:
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Legal names and dates of birth
- Current addresses
- Places of birth
- Social Security numbers
- Parents’ legal names and places of birth
- Information about previous marriages
- Payment for the license fee
If either applicant was previously married, the clerk may require a certified divorce decree, annulment decree, or death certificate establishing how the previous marriage ended.
Documentation requirements can vary based on the circumstances. Contact the clerk’s office before your appointment to confirm exactly what you need.
New Hampshire Marriage License Fee
The New Hampshire marriage-license fee is currently $50.
Accepted forms of payment and card-processing charges vary by municipality. Confirm those details with the clerk’s office before applying.
The statewide fee is established under New Hampshire RSA 457:29.
Is There a Waiting Period in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire does not have a waiting period.
Once the license has been issued, it may be used immediately. This makes New Hampshire comparatively convenient for couples planning an elopement or a wedding on a shorter timeline.
However, you should not wait until the wedding day to apply. Appointments, office schedules, missing documents, and holiday closures can still create unnecessary complications.
How Long Is a New Hampshire Marriage License Valid?
A New Hampshire marriage license is valid for 90 days.
Your ceremony must take place in New Hampshire within that period. If the license expires before the wedding, you will need to apply and pay for a new one.
Do You Need Witnesses in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire does not require witnesses at the wedding ceremony.
The ceremony must still be performed by an officiant who is legally authorized to solemnize marriages in the state.
If your chosen officiant lives outside New Hampshire or is not otherwise authorized to perform marriages there, additional registration or licensing may be required. Confirm the officiant’s legal status well before the wedding.
The New Hampshire Secretary of State provides information about special marriage officiant licenses.
What Happens After a New Hampshire Wedding?
Following the ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage license and returns it to the city or town where it was issued.
A certified marriage certificate is not necessarily included in the original $50 application fee. Ask the clerk how and when to order certified copies after the marriage has been recorded.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | New Hampshire | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Residency required | No | No |
| Where to apply | Any NH city or town clerk | A Massachusetts city or town clerk |
| Both applicants appear | Generally yes | Generally yes |
| Waiting period | None | Three days |
| License validity | 90 days | 60 days |
| License fee | $50 | Varies by municipality |
| Witnesses required | No | No |
| Where license may be used | New Hampshire only | Massachusetts only |
When Should You Apply?
Do not apply so early that the license could expire before the ceremony. You should also avoid waiting until the final day or two.
A reasonable approach is to contact your chosen clerk’s office approximately two months before the wedding. Confirm the current requirements, decide when to apply based on the expiration period, and schedule an appointment if one is needed.
Massachusetts couples must also account for the three-day waiting period.
Marriage-License Planning Tips
Before visiting the clerk’s office:
- Confirm the wedding’s exact city, town, and state
- Check whether an appointment is required
- Verify the office’s marriage-license hours
- Ask which identification and documents are accepted
- Confirm the fee and accepted payment methods
- Review the waiting period and expiration date
- Confirm that your officiant is legally authorized
- Decide how many certified marriage certificates you will need
- Keep the license somewhere secure before the ceremony
- Assign responsibility for giving it to the officiant
Do Not Pack the License Away After the Ceremony
Before the wedding, confirm that your officiant understands where the completed license must be returned and when it is due.
The marriage cannot be officially recorded until the completed paperwork has been filed. Follow up after the wedding and order certified copies once the record is available.
If you plan to change your name, certified copies may be required by the Social Security Administration, Registry or Department of Motor Vehicles, banks, insurance providers, and other institutions.
Planning a Wedding in New Hampshire or Massachusetts?
Inked Events plans and coordinates weddings throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and across New England. We help couples manage the legal and logistical details alongside vendor communication, timelines, ceremony planning, and wedding-day coordination.
Schedule your complimentary consultation →
Inked Events is a New Hampshire wedding planning and design company serving couples throughout New England. NH Union Leader Readers’ Choice Winner, 2025 and 2026.
Legal information confirmed through current Massachusetts and New Hampshire government resources. Couples should verify all requirements with their city or town clerk before applying.
