Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates

Vital Records:

Certified Copy of Birth, Death, or Marriage Certificate:

The Town Clerk's Office is able to provide certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. We will have a copy of persons' birth certificate if they were born in Ayer, or their parents were living in Ayer at the time of the child's birth. We will have a copy of a persons’ death certificate if the death occurred in Ayer and/or if the decedent was a resident of Ayer. We will have a copy of a marriage certificate if the couple filed their marriage intention paperwork in Ayer.

You may order Vital Records Documents here

You may request a certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate in-person during business hours at the Town Clerk’s Office.

There is no fee for burial permits

To receive a certified copy of a birth, marriage, or death, send the request along with a stamped self-addressed envelope and $10.00 to:

Town Clerk
1 Main Street
Ayer, MA 01432

Before sending a request, please feel free to contact us at 978-772-8220 ext. 153 or via e-mail at clerk@ayer.ma.us to confirm that we have your record on file.

  • Certified copies of Fort Devens births from the U.S. Army Hospitals on Fort Devens for July 1944 - Jan. 1946 and April 1950 - Nov. 1971 can be obtained from the Shirley Town Clerk’s office – 978-425-2600 X1.
  • Certified copies of Fort Devens births from other years in the 1940's can be obtained from the Ayer Town Clerk's Office - (978) 772-8220 ext. 153
  • Certified copies of Fort Devens births from Dec. 1971 to 1979 can be obtained from the Harvard Town Clerk's Office - 978-456-4100 x16.

The State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
 

If you are not sure where the record you seek is filed locally, you may contact the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The Registry maintains a central index and has copies of records for all births, deaths and marriages which occurred in the state.

Certified copies may be obtained through the Registry in person, by mail or by phone. Regardless of how you request copies, you should be prepared to provide the name of the subject(s) of the record, the date of the event and, if known, the city or town where the event occurred.

Information about the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics

The mailing address for the Registry is:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
1st Floor 150 Mt. Vernon Street
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105

For phone orders, call (617) 740-2600.

Order online, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics | Mass.gov

Restricted/Impounded Records:

If the record is restricted/impounded, the record can only be released to the names listed on the record. Birth records can be restricted/impounded if parents were not married at the time birth or if only one parent is listed on the Birth Certificate. Marriage records can be restricted/impounded if it is missing parent information. If this is the case and your name is on the record, please have your photo-ID ready when you come in-person. If you complete a mail request, you must have your signature notarized in order for us to release the record to you. For more information on restricted/impounded records, please review Massachusetts General Law – Chapter 46: Section 2A Disclosure of information about vital statistics; conditions.
 

Filing for a Marriage License

Click here for frequently asked questions on marriage Intentions and getting married in Massachusetts.

The first step in the process is for the couple to make an appointment to come together, in-person to the Town Clerk's Office to complete the "Notice of Intention of Marriage" form. The couple must be getting married within 60 days of filing the marriage intention in Massachusetts and must be 18 years or older. To complete the marriage intention form, the couple must be prepared to answer the following:

  • Your legal name and, if applicable, your surname to be used after marriage
  • Date of birth and where you were born
  • Names of your parents, including their birth surnames, as they appear on your Birth Certificate
  • If you were previously married, the number of times
  • Your social security number or a reason that you do not have a social security number
  • You must a bring a current photo-ID with you i.e., license or a passport

The fee is $25.00 paid by exact cash or check.

After completing the marriage intention form, the couple must wait three (3) days before they can pick up their marriage license.