Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Massachusetts began on May 17, 2004, as a result of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that it was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts constitution to allow only heterosexual couples to marry. Massachusetts became the sixth jurisdiction in the world (after the Netherlands, Belgium, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec) to legalize same-sex marriage. It was the first U.S. state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
OFFICIANTS
All Faiths Wedding Celebrants
We offer simple civil to complete Catholic sacramental ceremonies for all.
Ernest A. Chiaradonna – Wedding Officiant/Inter-Faith Minister
Your Wedding – Your Way – With My Help
Justice Wanda Ivette Ornelas
Massachusetts State Wedding Official
Liberal, Non-Denomiational Ministry
Liberal, Non-Denominational Minister available for your special day.
Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Alan Ulrich
Offering standard civil ceremonies as well as custom designed ceremonies to make Your Special Day truly memorable.
Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Rick Burtt
Billerica, Massachusetts. Justice of the Peace can officiate at your wedding or elopement, at your location of choice.
Michael Marram, Justice of the Peace
Affordable weddings tailored to your needs.
Rev. Michael J. Scarlett New England Minister
Our ministry is non-denominational serving all faiths.
Reverend T. S. Deacon Economos
Non-denominational Minister and registered wedding officiant serving all the citizens of the Commonwealth.
Wedding of Your Desire by Carol J. Merletti
Massachusetts Justice of the Peace
General Laws
PART II — REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS (Chapters 183 through 210)
TITLE III — DOMESTIC RELATIONS
CHAPTER 207 — MARRIAGE
Section 38 — Situs; persons authorized
Section 38. A marriage may be solemnized in any place within the commonwealth by the following persons who are residents of the commonwealth:
a duly ordained minister of the gospel in good and regular standing with his church or denomination, including an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church or in the Roman Catholic Church;
a commissioned cantor or duly ordained rabbi of the Jewish faith;
by a justice of the peace if he is also clerk or assistant clerk of a city or town, or a registrar or assistant registrar, or a clerk or assistant clerk of a court or a clerk or assistant clerk of the senate or house of representatives, by a justice of the peace if he has been designated as provided in the following section and has received a certificate of designation and has qualified thereunder;
an authorized representative of a Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is in accordance with the usage of their community;
a priest or minister of the Buddhist religion;
a minister in fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association and ordained by a local church;
a leader of an Ethical Culture Society which is duly established in the commonwealth and recognized by the American Ethical Union and who is duly appointed and in good and regular standing with the American Ethical Union;
the Imam of the Orthodox Islamic religion;
and, it may be solemnized in a regular or special meeting for worship conducted by or under the oversight of a Friends or Quaker Monthly Meeting in accordance with the usage of their Society;
and, it may be solemnized by a duly ordained nonresident minister of the gospel if he is a pastor of a church or denomination duly established in the commonwealth and who is in good and regular standing as a minister of such church or denomination, including an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church or in the Roman Catholic Church;
and, it may be solemnized according to the usage of any other church or religious organization which shall have complied with the provisions of the second paragraph of this section.
Churches and other religious organizations shall file in the office of the state secretary information relating to persons recognized or licensed as aforesaid, and relating to usages of such organizations, in such form and at such times as the secretary may require.