Trudy L. Reid, Town Clerk

Office:
Town Hall
138 Main Street
Wenham, MA  01984
Phone:  978-468-5520 ext. 1
Fax:  978-468-8014
Email:  treid@wenhamma.gov

• Elections
• Licenses/Certificates
• Vital Records
• Raffle Permits
• Other Services
• Forms
• Notices

ELECTIONS
Voting takes place at The Bessie Buker School, 1 School Street.  Polls are open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM, unless otherwise noted.  The school is handicapped accessible, and a voting machine is available for the hearing/seeing impaired.

Voter Registration:  All Citizens of the United States are eligible to vote in Town, State, and Federal Elections if they are 18 years of age on or before the next election.  The registration deadline is twenty days before each election or Town Meeting.  Residents wishing to register to vote may do so at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Registry of  Motor Vehicles.  You may also register to vote by calling 617-727-2828 or 1-800-462-VOTE and a form will be mailed to you.

Absentee Ballots:  Election Laws require that Absentee Ballots be available to Registered voters who meet one of the following three criteria:

1.  Absent from the Town during hours the polls are open

2.  Physical disability which would prevent voting at the polling place

3.  Religious beliefs that would prevent participation on the day of the election

An application must be completed and received by the Town Clerk by noon on the day before the election.  You can call the Town Clerk’s office to request an application, or click on “Forms” to go to a link at the bottom of this page to download a copy. 

Absentee Ballots must be delivered through the US Mail to each requester, or they may be voted at the Town Clerk’s Office.  Voted ballots may be hand delivered to the Town Clerk.

Board of Registrars:  The Board of Registrars operate out of and in conjunction with the Town Clerk’s office and oversee certification of signatures on both local and state Nomination Papers as well as Initiative Petition Papers. The Registrars are also responsible for keeping the Voter Registration list up to date and accurate through the Annual Town Census.  Members of the Board of Registrars are:  Trudy Reid (Town Clerk), David Lund, and Helen Mulry.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES
Business Certificates:  Business Certificates (DBA/Doing Business As) must be filed by an unincorporated business located in Wenham that is operating under a name other than one’s own.  The fee for a Business Certificate is $20.00 and is valid for four (4) years.  To process a Business Certificate by mail, please click on “Forms” to go to a link on the bottom of this page to download a copy.  Please note:  a notary must sign your certificate if you are doing it by mail.  A check should be made payable to “The Town of Wenham”.

Dog Licenses:  Massachusetts General Law 140, Section 137 requires that all dogs six months of age or older must be licensed.  Evidence of a current rabies vaccination must be provided.  Licenses are $10.00 each and run from January 1^st through December 31^st.  Licenses must be renewed by January 31^st in order to avoid late fees.  Kennel Permits are available at the discretion of the Board of Selectman and The Animal Control Officer.  Kennel Fees are $200.00 for four (4) or more dogs, up to fifty (50) dogs. 

Dog licenses can be requested by mail.  To do so, please send a letter indicating the dog’s name, breed, sex, and color.  As well as a copy of the rabies certificate, and a self-addressed stamp envelope.  Make the check payable to the “Town of Wenham”.  Once the letter is received, a dog license application will be completed and returned to you with the dog tag.

Marriage License:  To apply for a Mass Marriage License, both parties must come into the Town Clerk’s office together to file a Marriage Intention.  Both must be at least 18 years old or must obtain a court waiver from the district court.  Premarital blood work is no longer required by the state.    Marriage Licenses are valid for 60 days and may be used to marry in any Massachusetts city or town.  There is a mandatory three-day waiting period from the application date to the date the license is issued.  This can be waived only through a court order.  The fee for a marriage license is $15.00.

VITAL RECORDS
Certified copies of Birth, Death and Marriage records are available at $5.00 each.  Copies may be obtained by mail by submitting a written request with a check payable to the “Town of Wenham” and a self-addressed stamped envelope, or by appearing in person at the Town Clerk’s office during office hours.

RAFFLE PERMITS
A Raffle Permit is needed by any organization that intends to run a raffle.  Only Non-Profit organizations that have been in existence for at least two (2) years qualify for a raffle permit.  Permits are $10.00 each and are good for one (1) year.  To apply for a raffle permit by mail, please click on "Forms" or go to the link at the bottom of this page to download the application.

OTHER SERVICES
Street Listing:  The annual publication, mandated by Massachusetts General Laws, lists all persons seventeen years of age and older, giving address, year of birth, occupation and voter status. Booklets are printed up for the use of town officials, fire/police depts. and any and all other town committees or boards.  Copies are available to Wenham residents at $10.00 each, $20.00 non residents, as available.

Notary Public Services:  Notary Public Services are available in the office of the Town Clerk.  The individual who is having his or her signature notarized must provide proper identification.  Reminder:  Document MUST BE signed in the presence of the Notary – DO NOT SIGN IT AHEAD OF TIME!!