Massachusetts ranks 16th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#30 (tie)of 51
Speed#31of 51
Ease of ordering#8of 51
Birth certificates #14 (tie) of 51
Cost
$20 per copy in person; $32 per copy by mail; online or by phone, $54 first copy and $42 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: within 10 business days; mail: 15–20 business days; in person: same day
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–7 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or the city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1936 (1931–1935 at the Massachusetts State Archives); also from the city or town clerk
Marriage records #14 of 51
Cost
$20 per copy in person; $32 per copy by mail; online or by phone, $54 first copy and $42 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: within 10 business days; mail: 15–20 business days; in person: same day
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–7 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or the city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1936 (1931–1935 at the Massachusetts State Archives); also from the city or town clerk
Divorce records #27 (tie) of 51
Cost
$20 per certified Certificate of Divorce Absolute from the court
Processing time
Varies by county
Time until the copy is in hand
Varies by county
Where to order
County only: the Probate and Family Court in the county where the divorce was granted
Order online
No statewide online ordering
Death certificates #13 of 51
Cost
$20 per copy in person; $32 per copy by mail; online or by phone, $54 first copy and $42 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: within 10 business days; mail: 15–20 business days; in person: same day
Time until the copy is in hand
About 4–7 weeks by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or the city or town clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from 1936 (1931–1935 at the Massachusetts State Archives); also from the city or town clerk
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Massachusetts birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Massachusetts birth certificate?
A certified Massachusetts birth certificate from the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) costs $20 per copy in person in Dorchester, $32 per copy by mail, or $54 for the first copy ($42 each extra) online or by phone through VitalChek. You can also order from the city or town clerk where the birth happened. RVRS says most orders are filled within 2–3 weeks.
Massachusetts birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Most Massachusetts birth records can be ordered with ID and the name, date and place of birth. Records of births to unwed parents are restricted to the person named, the parents, a father not listed (with proof of paternity), a legal guardian or a legal representative (with documents). Pre-adoption birth records have their own rules. You may be asked for proof of your relationship.
Fee
In person: $20 per copy. By mail: $32 per copy (standard) or $42 per copy (expedited). Online or by phone (VitalChek): $54 for the first copy and $42 for each extra; expedited online: $62.50 first copy and $50.50 each extra. Each fee covers a 10-year record search and one certified copy, or a “Negative Statement” if no record is found. Extras (online/phone): USPS first-class mail is included; UPS second day $12.50, UPS next day $19.50. City and town clerk fees vary.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or (866) 300-8535 (card). By mail: the RVRS vital records mail order form (on the ordering page) with a check or money order payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” to Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. Mark the envelope “Expedited Mail Service” for the faster option. In person: the Registry counter, 150 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester (Mon–Fri, 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; check or money order), or the city or town clerk.
ID needed
Preferably a driver’s license (an expired one is accepted) or another government-issued photo ID. Guardians and representatives also need documents showing their authority.
Processing time
In person: processed right away in most cases. Online: 7–10 business days, or next business day if expedited (plus shipping). Mail: RVRS’s fee schedule says standard mail orders are processed and shipped within 15–20 business days and expedited within 10; its ordering page says up to 30 business days standard and 7–10 expedited. Estimate: plan on about 4–7 weeks for a standard mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
RVRS has birth records from 1936 on; records from 1931–1935 were recently moved to the Massachusetts State Archives (archives@sec.state.ma.us, 617-727-2816). Pre-1936 births may also be on file with the city or town clerk where the birth happened. RVRS offers on-site genealogy research for $4.50 per person per half hour.
Tip: Price depends on how you order: walking in to the Registry in Dorchester or your city or town clerk usually costs far less than ordering online.
A certified Massachusetts death certificate from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics costs $20 per copy in person, $32 per copy by mail, or $54 for the first copy ($42 each extra) online or by phone through VitalChek. You can also order from the city or town clerk where the death happened.
Massachusetts death records: ordering details
Who can order
Most death records can be ordered with ID. Since July 1, 2026, the full Social Security number on a death record is released only to people with a legitimate need, such as the spouse or domestic partner, parent, child, grandchild, grandparent or sibling, the informant or funeral director listed, or the estate’s representative. Required documents differ by relationship.
Fee
In person: $20 per copy. Mail: $32 per copy standard, $42 expedited. Online or phone (VitalChek): $54 first copy, $42 each extra; expedited $62.50 first, $50.50 each extra. Each fee includes a 10-year search; if no record is found you get a Negative Statement. Extras (online/phone): UPS second day $12.50, next day $19.50. City and town clerk fees vary.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or (866) 300-8535. By mail: the RVRS mail order form (on the ordering page) with a check or money order payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” to Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. In person: the Registry counter in Dorchester (Mon–Fri, 8:45 a.m.–4:45 p.m.), or the city or town clerk.
ID needed
A driver’s license (even expired) or other government-issued photo ID, plus documents showing your relationship if you need the version with the Social Security number.
Processing time
In person: processed right away in most cases. Online: 7–10 business days (next business day if expedited), plus shipping. Mail: 15–20 business days per the fee schedule (the ordering page says up to 30); expedited mail 7–10 business days. Estimate: plan on about 4–7 weeks for a standard mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
RVRS has death records from 1936 on. Records from 1931–1935 are now at the Massachusetts State Archives, and pre-1936 deaths may also be on file with the city or town clerk where the death happened.
Tip: Handling an estate? Ask whether the bank or agency needs the version showing the Social Security number, and bring proof of your relationship if so.
How do I get a Massachusetts marriage certificate?
A certified Massachusetts marriage certificate from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics costs $20 per copy in person, $32 per copy by mail, or $54 for the first copy ($42 each extra) online or by phone. You can also order from the city or town clerk where the marriage intentions were filed.
Massachusetts marriage records: ordering details
Who can order
Most marriage records can be ordered with ID. Marriage records of a person born to unwed parents are restricted to the spouses, their parents, legal guardians or legal representatives (with documents).
Fee
In person: $20 per copy. Mail: $32 standard or $42 expedited per copy. Online or phone (VitalChek): $54 first copy, $42 each extra; expedited $62.50 first, $50.50 each extra. UPS shipping for online orders: $12.50 second day, $19.50 next day. City and town clerk fees vary.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek or (866) 300-8535. By mail: the RVRS mail order form (on the ordering page) with a check or money order payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” to Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon St., 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125. In person: the Registry counter in Dorchester, or the city or town clerk where the intentions were filed.
ID needed
A driver’s license (even expired) or other government-issued photo ID.
Processing time
In person: processed right away in most cases. Online: 7–10 business days (next business day if expedited). Mail: 15–20 business days per the fee schedule (up to 30 per the ordering page); expedited 7–10. Estimate: plan on about 4–7 weeks for a standard mail order to arrive.
Older and local records
RVRS has marriage records from 1936 on; 1931–1935 records are now at the Massachusetts State Archives. Pre-1936 marriages may also be on file with the city or town clerk where the intentions were filed.
Tip: Your city or town clerk keeps the record from when you filed your marriage intentions, so it can be the quickest place to get a copy.
Massachusetts divorce records come from the Probate and Family Court in the county where you got divorced, not the state vital records registry. A certified Certificate of Divorce Absolute costs $20, and a certified copy of the judgment of divorce nisi is also $20.
Massachusetts divorce records: ordering details
Who can order
Ask the Probate and Family Court that handled the case. You’ll need the docket number.
Fee
Certificate of Divorce Absolute: $20 each. Certified copy of the judgment of divorce nisi: $20 each. Certified copy of the separation agreement: $20 for the first page plus 5 cents for each extra page. Pay by attorney’s check, money order, or bank certified or cashier’s check payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
How to order
Fill out the Probate and Family Court Request for Copies form (PFC 18) and mail it or bring it, with payment, to the Probate and Family Court in the county where the case was filed.
ID needed
Ask the court. You’ll need the docket number; to find it, search masscourts.org, call the court, or use the county’s Probate and Family Court Virtual Registry.
Processing time
Varies by court. Call the Probate and Family Court to ask how long it will take.
Older records
For historic divorce records, see the Trial Court’s court archives. If you aren’t sure which county, any Probate and Family Court can search for the case by name.
Tip: Find your docket number first. It’s required for a certified copy and saves a call to the court.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Massachusetts records people search for
Official Massachusetts sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Massachusetts public records
Certificate Information
The state of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services maintains the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.
Certified copies of vital records can be ordred directly from the department by fax, mail, telephone or online. The department
sells only certified copies for a fee of $45 dollars and $37 dollars each additional copy. Rush orders have a $15 dollar surcharge.
Heirloom certificates are also available for $60 dollars, but can only be ordered by mail.
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
Dorchester, MA 02125
(617) 740-2600
The state maintains an index of divorce records from 1952 to present, but all official certified copies must be obtained from
the Clerk of Probate Court in the county the divorce was filed. All geneology searches and search for records before 1920 should
first check the Massachusetts State Archives.
Adoption and original birth records are available to adult age adoptees and to the guardians of adoptees with a certified
copy of a court order. By mail applications have a $28 dollar fee while in person appointments have an $18 dollar fee. Using
the research facility has a fee of $9 dollar/hour.
Property Records
Find basic mapping information, tax valuations and parcel records by searching city assessor's databases and local GIS department
online tools.
