Obtaining Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates

If the marriage record subject to your request is on file in the Lawrence City Clerk's Office.

Request a copy by mail [see below for mail request requirements and instructions]. 

*PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES ARE RECORDED ONLY WITH THE CITY OR TOWN CLERK WHERE THE ORIGINAL LICENSE WAS ISSUED AND NOT WHERE THE PARTIES WERE MARRIED.  

I.  Access Policy:

Access to restricted marriage records may be limited by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A.  Access to marriage records that contain information pertaining to non-marital (out-of-wedlock) births is limited by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A to the following:

• Parties subject of the marriage record;
• Parents of the parties subject to the marriage;
• Legal Guardian of the parties subject to the marriage record (Court certified copy of such appointment);
• Legal Representative of the parties subject to the marriage record;

For those persons with restricted access to marriage records, proof of identity (a photo ID) is necessary and in some cases additional documentation is also necessary.  Access by persons other than those listed above may require other documentation or a court order for production of such records.

Access to records not restricted by G.L. c. 46, sec. 2A are available to the public. 

II.  Obtaining a Certified Copy of Marriage Records by Mail:

Please provide the following information with each request for a certified copy of your Marriage Certificate:

1. A signed letter providing the name of the parties to the marriage;
2. Proof of identity of the person requesting the record (copy of photo ID);
3. The date of marriage for each record requested;
4. Proof of identity (copy of photo ID) of the person requesting the record;
5. A check or money order in the full amount charged for each certificate [current  charges: $10.00 for each certificate] [please do not send cash by mail][checks or money orders payable to The City of Lawrence];
6. A pre-stamped envelope with the address of the location where the documents are to be sent [please be sure to provide sufficient postage for multiple document orders]; 

If you are requesting a marriage record for someone other than yourself and access to the record is limited [ie:  impounded]:

1.  A letter authorizing you to obtain the marriage record signed by the person eligible to access the record must be provided;
2. The letter authorizing you to obtain a certified copy of the record(s) signed by the person eligible to access the record must be notarized.  COPIES OF SIGNATURES AND/OR COPIES OF NOTARIZATIONS WILL NOT BE HONORED.
3. Proof of identity of the person requesting the record (copy of photo ID);
4.  A check or money order in the full amount charged for each certificate [current charges:  $10.00 for each certificate][please do not send cash by mail][checks or money orders payable to The City of Lawrence]
5. A self-addressed, pre-stamped envelope with the address where the documents are to be sent [please be sure to provide sufficient postage to mail your documents];

Special Mail Arrangements:

Any special mail arrangements [ie: overnight mailing, two day mail, return receipt mail] must be pre-paid in advance.  Otherwise, all completed requests will be sent by regular mail.

Mail all requests to:  

City of Lawrence, MA
Attn: Office of the City Clerk
200 Common Street
Room 107
 Lawrence, MA 01840

For your safety and for the protection of sensitive records, the Office of the City Clerk will not respond to requests for specific information regarding any record by telephone, e-mail, or fax.  

[updated: 02-18-21]