Bill > S1074

This bill updates the documentation requirements for proving age when applying for a marriage certificate in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill amends Section 33A of Chapter 207 of the General Laws to establish a clear hierarchy of acceptable proof of age documents for marriage applicants. The documents are ranked from most to least preferred, starting with a U.S. passport as the top-tier document and ending with court records as the lowest acceptable form of identification. The clerk or registrar must verify that both parties are at least 18 years old before issuing a marriage certificate and cannot accept lower-grade documentation if higher-grade documents are reasonably obtainable. The list of acceptable documents includes passports, driver's licenses, birth records, baptismal records, life insurance policies, employment certificates, school records, immigration records, naturalization records, and court records. This change aims to standardize and clarify the process of verifying age for marriage applicants, ensuring that only individuals who have reached the legal age of 18 can obtain a marriage certificate.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1074