Vital Records - Births, Marriages, Death

As the Town Registrar of Vital Records and Statistics:

• maintains records of all births, deaths and marriages that occur in Lexington
• issue certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records 
• administers adoption and record-change depositions

Fee for obtaining a certified copy of a vital record is $15.00.  Acceptable forms of payment are cash or personal checks.

To order a certified copy of a vital record:

• for pick up at the Town Clerk's Office, email request including date to be picked up to:

townclerk@lexingtonma.gov

• for return by mail, send request, check or money order and self addressed stamped envelope to:

Town of Lexington
Town Clerk's Office
1625 Massachusetts Avenue 
Lexington, MA  02420

• for online ordering and payment:
                                                   
                                                    - Birth Certificate
  
                                                    - Marriage Certificate
  
                                                    - Death Certificate

 Include the following information:  

Date of Occurrence
Name(s) on Record
Number of Copies

 Certificate of Birth

Records of birth on file with the Town Clerk are of those children whose parents were residing in Lexington at the time of the child's birth, and those children who were physically born in Lexington. 

Certificate of Marriage & Obtaining a Marriage License 

All persons wishing to marry in Massachusetts must obtain a marriage license issued from a Massachusetts City or Town Clerk.  The two parties to the marriage must jointly apply for the license (file intentions) in person at the Clerk's Office.  Marriage licenses are permanently maintained on file at the Clerk's Office where the marriage intention is filed. 

There is a 3-day waiting period between when the Intentions are filed and when the marriage license may be issued. A marriage license, once obtained, is valid for 60 days from the date intentions are filed and may be used anywhere in Massachusetts.  The marriage license is not valid outside of the Commonwealth.

Marriage Intentions may be filed at the Lexington Town Clerk's Office, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  Filing fee: $40.00. 

A Massachusetts resident may marry if 18 years of age or older.  A birth certificate may be required to show proof or age.  If either party is under 18, a court order from a probate or district court where the minor resides must be obtained before the marriage intentions can be filed.

Previously Married

Massachusetts divorce decrees do not become absolute until 90 days after the divorce nisi has been granted, regardless of the grounds for divorce.  Neither party is required to present a divorce certificate when filing intentions to marry.  However, it is extremely important that divorced individuals be certain the divorce is absolute before filing intentions to marry.

Ceremony, Solemnizer/Clergy

Massachusetts statute does not require that witnesses be present at civil ceremonies.

If an out-of-state member of the clergy is to perform the marriage, the clergy-person must obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to the ceremony. This certificate, must be attached to the original license and returned to the Town Clerk.  For further information, contact:

Division of Public Records
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2836

If a person other than a member of the clergy is designated as "Solemnizer" or Justice of the Peace for the Ceremony, further information can be obtained from:

Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-5787

 

Justices of the Peace Residing in Lexington

David J. Buczkowski            781-863-8298
23 Downing Rd., Lexington
exp.  August 2016

Bernice H. Fallick                 781-862-7208
4 Diehl Rd., Lexington
exp.  November 2014

Donna M. Hooper           (h) 781-861-0096
14 Lois Ln., Lexington   (w) 781-862-0500 x273
exp.  February 2018

William Murphy                    781-861-6392
20 Robinson Rd., Lexington
exp.  July 2016

Les Wallerstein                   781-862-1099
47 Rindge Ave., Lexington     
exp.  March 2015                           

Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Licenses

• Is there a waiting period from the date of application to the date the license is issued?
  
  Yes, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period.
   
• May we marry before the three days for good reason?
  
  Yes, if you can obtain a court waiver after filing intentions. You should file your intentions first with any city or town clerk. Then, we suggest calling:
                                                    Concord District Court, Clerk's Office (978) 369-0500
   
• What is the cost of a marriage license?
  
  Individual communities set the fee for a marriage license. The fee in Lexington is $40 which includes the issuance of one certified copy of the Certificate of Marriage once the marriage has occurred and the Certificate has been recorded with the Office of the Town Clerk.

•  Is a medical certificate required before a license can be issued?
  
  A medical certificate is not required to be married in Massachusetts.
   
•  What are the responsibilities of the member of the clergy or justice of the peace?
  
  The member of the clergy or justice of the peace authorized to solemnize marriages in Massachusetts must  complete and sign the original license and return it to the clerk of the city or town where the license was issued. A marriage is not deemed valid until the license has been returned and recorded with the Town Clerk where the intention was filed and that office has filed the marriage with the Massachusetts Department of Vital Records and Statistics.

Certificate of Death

The Town Clerk is the custodian of death records of those persons who physically die in Lexington and those who were legal residents of the town at the time of their death.  Copies of the Certificate of Death are also maintained by the community in which the death occurred and by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health - Registry of Vital Records.

Additional assistance

You may contact the Town Clerk’s office at (781) 862-0500 x-270, or:

Department of Public Health
Registry of Vital Records & Statistics 
150 Mt. Vernon Street
Dorchester, MA   02125-3100

(617) 740-2600

 

Department of Public Health - Registry of Vital Records