FAQs • Lincoln, MA • CivicEngage

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Marriage License FAQs

1. Do I need an appointment to apply for a marriage license?: No appointment is necessary. A couple must appear at the Town Clerk's Office together, in person, to file a "Notice of Intention to Marry." This can be done any time during our regular office hours. Please allow approximately fifteen minutes for completion of your application.

2. 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 Monday, your license can be issued on or after Thursday. Please note that licenses are not issued on Saturday or Sunday (when we are closed) unless special arrangements are made with the Town Clerk.

3. 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 Town Clerk.

The Concord District Court is located on Walden Street (Route 126) and can be reached at 978-369-0500. Courthouse hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. 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 pm to assure ample time for consideration of the waiver prior to closing time.

The Middlesex County Probate Court is located at 208 Cambridge St. in Cambridge and can be reached at 617-768-5800. Courthouse hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday Through Friday. The fee for the waiver at Probate Courts in Massachusetts is currently $85.

4. 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.