General Information

Copies of birth, marriage and death records can be obtained in person, by mail or online. The fee for each certified copy is $10.00.

To obtain the record online, see Online Services. You will need to register to receive records this way and pay by debit or credit card.

If requesting a record by mail, please send a letter with the date of birth, marriage or death, along with a check or money order, a self addressed stamped envelope and a photo copy of your I.D. Please provide a telephone number so we may contact you with any questions we may have.

If coming into the City Clerk’s office, you may obtain the record immediately.

Access to restricted birth and marriage records are limited by §2A, Chapter 46, M.G.L. For those persons with access to restricted records, proof of identity (a photo ID) is necessary, and in some cases additional documentation is also necessary. Access to persons other than listed below require a court order.

Out-of-Wedlock Births: Access to non-marital (out-of-wedlock) births is limited by §2A, Chapter 46, M.G.L. to the following:

• A person seeking their own birth record or their attorney
• Parent listed on the record
• Legal Guardian (original court document must be presented)

Marriages of Person Born Out-of-Wedlock: Access to marriage certificates when the bride or groom was born out-of-wedlock is limited by §2A, Chapter 46, M.G.L. to the following:

• Bride or groom
• Legal representative of the bride or groom
• Parent or guardian of the bride or groom

Both parties need to be present, except when serving in the military, incarcerated or when hospitalized when death is eminent. Parties must be 18 years of age or Court Waiver is needed.

The fee for filing your marriage intentions is $15.00. License is available after three (3) days for pick up. A court waiver must be obtained if parties want to be married sooner. The license must be used within sixty (60) days of applying.

Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 110, the City Clerk’s Office accepts filing of Business Certificates. Before filing with the City Clerk you must contact the Building Department to obtain the necessary forms. Those forms, plus one additional form which you will be given by City Clerk’s office, will be filed.

There is a $25.00 fee and signature must be notarized. If filing in person, we will notarize your signature in the office. If filing by mail you will need to have your signature notarized before mailing the forms in.

Dog licenses can be obtained online, by mail or in person. Dogs must be licensed between March 1st and April 30th. Beginning May 1st an additional $10.00 late fee per year plus the license fee for each year a dog was not licensed will be charge.

We can only license dogs online if their rabies is current and no late fees are due. Please go to the “Online Services” section of the website. Please call the office (978-534-7536) if you are not sure if your rabies and license is current and we can check it for you.

To license by mail you will need to send us a copy of the current rabies certificate, proof of spaying or neutering and a self addressed stamped envelope. You may license your dog immediately in person but please remember to bring in the current rabies certificate unless you know the one on file here is up to date.

Fees for dog licenses are $10.00 for neutered/spayed dogs and $15.00 if not.