Certified Copies in Massachusetts: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Massachusetts
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Massachusetts, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail, $3.00 from the State Archives
- Death certificate
- $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail
- Marriage
- $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail
- Divorce
- No fee; index only since 1952
Vital records
Issued by: Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
Post to: Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
Verify current fees: (617) 740-2600
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail, $3.00 from the State Archives |
| Death | $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail |
| Marriage | $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail |
| Divorce | No fee; index only since 1952 |
What Massachusetts requires
- Ordering by post costs $12 more than in person, which is unusual and worth knowing.
- The state holds records from 1931; anything earlier is at the Massachusetts Archives, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston.
- Certified divorce copies are NOT available from the state; use the county Register of Probate.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Massachusetts entity come from Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Commissions Section, normally online and often the same day.
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Commissions Section
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Massachusetts goes through Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Commissions Section, at $6.00 per document.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Massachusetts birth certificate?
From Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Post to Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125-3105. A certified copy is $20.00 in person, $32.00 by mail, $3.00 from the State Archives.
Does the Massachusetts Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Massachusetts reject?
Ordering by post costs $12 more than in person, which is unusual and worth knowing.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
