Doug Johnstone Town Clerk

Susy Fults Asst. TownClerk

260 Commercial St.

Provincetown, MA  02657

Ph: (508) 487-7013

Fax: (508) 487-9560

That's right, Town Hall is up and going strong at the original 

location of  260 Commercial Street. After two years wait, all 

the renovations, painting and carpentry are done. You have

 to come see it! It's one of the oldest in the country. For those 

of you that live in the Boston, New Hampshire and New york City 

areas, our Town hall is that big, bright, glowing spot, on your 

horizon! Our friends in Europe should stand on a fairly tall ladder, 

and look towards us. . . See you soon!!

* In Massachusetts, a couple first files their intentions to 

marry.

• Then there is a mandatory three day waiting period before 

  a marriage license is issued.

• If you filed your intentions on a Monday for example, Doug 

  or Suzy could issue you your marriage license any time after

   8 am on a Thursday.

• You would then take that marriage license to Dr. Cleveland, 

  and have your wedding ceremony performed.

• The marriage is not considered a legal union until your 

  Officiant conducts your wedding and signs the marriage 

  license.

• The marriage license then becomes a legal document and 

  the original is returned to its point of origin (where you filed 

  your intentions) by the officiant.

• A copy is forever kept as a part of the town's vital records.

• The original is sent to the State Department of Public Health 

  to be recorded in the State's vital records statistics.

* Your Marriage intentions filing (not the ceremony) must be 

filled out in the Town Clerk's office, with both parties present, 

and cannot be done through the mail or over the Internet.

Please note that as of January 28, 2005, a pre-marital blood 

test is no longer required in Massachusetts.

* Once you have filed your marriage intentions, you have 60 

days to have your Ceremony and be married, or the intention 

becomes invalid and you have to start the whole process over 

again. “Yikes! Don't do that”!

* No appointments with the Clerks Office are necessary to file 

 marriage intentions. Everyone who arrives during business hours 

 will be able to file their intentions, no one is turned away.

No Residency Requirement for Marriage License

* The 1913 law restricting marriage of same sex couples to those 

who reside in Massachusetts, or those who intend to reside in the 

 Commonwealth, was repealed on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 

 * Therefore, same sex couples who are not residents of 

 Massachusetts, no longer need to declare an intention to reside 

 here in order to obtain a marriage license. All couples, same sex 

 and opposite sex, are now treated equally!

Hours for the Town Clerk's Office

Town Hall is now open Monday through Thursday from 8 am 

- 6 pm.

While Town Hall is closed on Fridays, the Town Clerk's Office 

will be open on Fridays from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. These Friday 

hours start in Spring on Friday, May 20, 2011 and continue 

through Friday, October 14, 2011.