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Town Clerk - Frequently Asked Questions

Town Clerk
Town Hall
41 Highland Avenue
Cohasset, MA 02025
781-383-4100
781-383-1561 (fax)

How are vital records created?
The creation process varies by the type of records.
Birth records are created primarily within hospitals.
Death records are initiated by the certifying physician or medical examiner and completed by the funeral director.
Marriage records begin in the clerk’s office and are completed by the officiant.

Where can I get copies of a birth, marriage or death record?
You may obtain a copy of your birth certificate in the town where your parents were residing at the time of your birth. A marriage certificate may be obtained from the town where your intention/license was filled out. A copy of a death record may be obtained from the town a person died in or where that person resided at the time of his death. Copies of any certificates may also be obtained from the registry of vital records in Boston. Registry main telephone (617) 740-2623 and on the web: mass.gov/dph/bhsre/rvr/rvr/.htm

Is an I.D. necessary to get copies of certificates?
Usually identification is not necessary, however, in certain circumstances it is required. For example, if your parents were not married at the time of your birth – this birth is an impounded record without public access. However, the whole process is changing as Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states that has open access to birth certificates.

Are notary services available at the clerk’s office?
Yes.
Both the town clerk and the assistant town clerk are notaries.

How soon should I license my puppy?
Every dog six months old or over must be licensed.

Do I need to license my dog every single year?
Yes.
The license period each year is from January 1 to December 31.
After May 1st additional late fee of $25 may be charged. Rabies certificates are required.

Do I need to license my cat?
No.
Licenses for cats are not required at this time.

May I register to vote online?
No.
Voter registration may be done by mail, in any clerk’s office throughout the Commonwealth, and at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you register in Cohasset and live in “Ourtown”, the office forwards your registration to your hometown.

What is the function of town meeting?
The function of town meeting is to adopt laws (general and zoning), appropriate money and set the salaries for elected officials.

May I vote by absentee ballot for town meeting?
No.
There is no provision in the law for absentee voting at town meetings.

What county is Cohasset in?
Norfolk County.
We are different than the surrounding towns – they are in Plymouth County. The Massachusetts General Court, in 1643, established four counties then called shires, to settle legal cases in the county seats of Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex and Suffolk.

That first Norfolk County became part of Essex County in 1679 causing the farming towns south and west of Boston to petition the Legislature over a period of several years, for their own county seat in Dedham to avoid going to court in the city.

After many years of negotiations that considered various proposals for grouping towns, in 1792 a new Norfolk County was created by cutting it out of Suffolk and leaving only Boston and Chelsea in Suffolk County. The county line to the south followed the old boundary between Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth Colonies including Hingham and Cohasset as it continued toward the sea. At the north, it encompassed Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, all sections of Boston today, and Brookline to the northwest.

The new Norfolk County was to take effect in July of 1793. Just prior to that date, Hingham and Hull had legislation passed by the General Court, which excluded them from Norfolk citing the difficulty in traveling overland to the county seat in Dedham. They later had second thoughts as to their decision and remained Suffolk only until 1803 when they joined Plymouth County rather than appear indecisive. This left Cohasset still separated from the rest of its county.

One-by-one Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale and Hyde Park, the latter in 1915, rejoined Suffolk County with a promise of better roads, schools and other services. Brookline then had the option of joining either Suffolk or Middlesex Counties but elected to remain in Norfolk, leaving it detached like Cohasset.

Under Massachusetts General Law communities need not be contiguous within a county, which has permitted this unique situation to exist.

What is the name of the hall you can rent for weddings, showers, parties, etc. overlooking Cohasset Harbor?
Bancroft Hall (Lightkeepers House) on 15 Lighthouse Lane, 781-383-1433.
Call and leave a message. Someone will get back to you within a few days.

When will the “All Facility Stickers” be available?
New stickers will be issued starting the week of June 16th and current registrations are needed. Current “All Facility Stickers” will expire on June 30, 2009. This sticker will allow access to the Recycling Transfer Facility, Sandy Beach, as well as, include parking at all areas in town that require a sticker. In addition, residents will be required to purchase special bags in which to dispose of all trash that cannot be recycled. These bags will be offered at the Department of Public Works building and various locations throughout the town. Stickers will be sold at the Town Hall and at the DPW. Please be advised that all Commercial Contractors and vehicles registered in a business name should pick up their stickers at the Department of Public Works only. No stickers for these vehicles will be sold at the Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to purchase their sticker through the mail by providing the appropriate fee, a copy of your current registration and a self-addressed return envelope.

How much is a certified copy of a birth certificate?
Following is the fee schedule for the Clerk’s office.