Marriage Certificates
Marriages are recorded in the city or town where the couple applies for the marriage license. If you applied for a marriage license in Gardner, you can obtain a certified marriage certificate here after the wedding takes place.
The cost for a certified marriage certificate is $10.00 for each copy.
To pick up certificates in person: Walk-in requests are accepted and you may wait while the certificates are prepared.
To receive certificates by mail: Please fill out the attached Application for Vital Record and return with a check or money order payable to the "City of Gardner".
Marriage Licenses
When are you open?
Monday through Thursday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Friday
Closed Saturday and Sunday
Where are you located?
The Gardner City Hall is located at 95 Pleasant Street. The City Clerk’s Office is on the first floor, Room 121. On-street parking is available.
When should we apply?
The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the day you apply (after the 3-day waiting period). Apply for your license no sooner than 60 days before your planned wedding date.
Do I have to apply where I live?
If the marriage is to take place in Massachusetts, you may apply for your license at any City or Town Clerk’s Office in Massachusetts regardless of where you live. Fees and hours vary from office to office. Information on offices in other cities and towns can be obtained from the Commonwealth Communities page on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.
If your marriage is going to take place outside of Massachusetts, you must contact the local officials in the jurisdiction where the marriage will take place. Marriage laws vary from state to state.
Do I need an appointment to apply for a marriage license?
No appointment is necessary. A couple must appear at the City Clerk’s Office together, in person, to file a “Notice of Intention to Marry” and must present valid photo identification. This can be done any time during our regular office hours. Please allow approximately fifteen minutes for completion of your application.
Is there a waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued?
Yes, there is a three-day waiting period. Your license will be available on the third calendar day after the day that you apply. For example, if you apply on a Thursday, your license can be issued on or after Monday. Please note that licenses are not issued on Saturday or Sunday (when we are closed).
Is a waiver of the three-day waiting period available?
If there is reason to dispense with the three day waiting period, a couple may apply to the judge of a Massachusetts Probate or District Court to have the license issued without delay. Applicants can proceed to the courthouse after filing the “Notice of Intention to Marry” with the City Clerk.
The Gardner District Court is located at 108 Matthews Street and can be reached at 978-632-4276. The fee for the waiver at District Courts in Massachusetts is currently $195, payable by either cash or check. The Courthouse staff recommends that applicants for waivers arrive at the Courthouse no later than 3:00 pm to assure ample time for consideration of the waiver prior to closing time.
Is a blood test required before a license can be issued?
No. On October 29, 2004, the Governor signed a law eliminating the premarital medical certificate requirement in Massachusetts. This law went into effect on January 28, 2005.
What is the fee for obtaining a marriage license in Gardner?
The fee is $25. This fee includes the license only.
How do I find a Justice of the Peace?
Is Massachusetts residency required to obtain a marriage license in Massachusetts?
No. Residence is not a requirement for marriage in Massachusetts.
What if one or both of us has been divorced?
You are not required to present a divorce certificate when filing intentions to marry. However, it is extremely important that an individual who has been divorced be certain that his/her divorce is absolute. In Massachusetts, a divorce does not become absolute until 90 days after the divorce nisi has been granted, regardless of the grounds for divorce.
Are witnesses required to be present at the ceremony?
Massachusetts statute does not require that witnesses be present at your ceremony. The officiant serves as the witness.
What if I have further questions?
You may contact the City Clerk’s Office by telephone during the office hours (978-630-4058), or via e-mail at aagnelli@gardner-ma.gov. Our mailing address is: City Clerk, 95 Pleasant Street, Room 121, Gardner, MA 01440.
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