The City Clerk is responsible for the maintenance of factual public records and
the fair administration of elections. The Clerk attends and keeps records of all
meetings of the City Council. The Clerk and all members of his staff are Notary
Publics and have the authority to notarize documents signed in their presence, as
well as swear in Notary Publics. The department is responsible for completing a
yearly City Census and publishing a pollbook, available for $10.00. The Clerk issues
residency, birth, death and marriage certificates and is the official keeper of
the City Seal.
Q: How can I
obtain a copy of vital record (birth certificate, death certificate, marriage license)?
A: Certified copies of birth, death and marriage records may be
obtained from the Office of the City Clerk in person, during regular business hours
or by mail.
The fee for short records is $2; the fee for long records is $7.
The birth record will be on file only if the child was born in Peabody or the parents
were residing in Peabody at the time of the birth. In some cases, picture identification
may be required to obtain a certified copy the the record.
The death record will be on file if the person died in Peabody or lived in Peabody
at the time of death.
The marriage record will be available as follows: If the marriage occurred prior
to 1980, the record will be on file only if the person lived in Peabody at the time
of marriage. After 1980, the record will be on file only if the parties filed their
intention of marriage in Peabody.
Q: How can I
obtain a proof of residency certificate?
A: Proof of Residency Certificates are available in person at the
City Clerk's Office. Residency is verified by the most recent City Census. If you
did not respond to the most recent City Census, we will not be able to verify your
residency. The fee for a proof of residency certificate is $7.
Q: How do I change my address for voting?
A: You may call the City Clerk’s Office or notify the City Clerk by
e-mail of your change of address. Please indicate both your old address and new address,
and all occupants that have moved. It is important to notify the City Clerk of your
address change to insure that you are properly entered onto the voting list at your
current address. Once your address is changed by the City Clerk’s Office, a confirmation
will be mailed to the voter indicating the new address and what polling place you will
vote at.
Q: Can I do
genealogical research at the City Clerk's Office?
A: Yes. The Office of the City Clerk provides genealogical researchers
access to certain indexes, records and information. This access is available during
regular business hours. Further research may be conducted at:
- Vital Records Division of the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health
- Massachusetts State Archives
- National Archives-New England Region
- www.PeabodyMassArchives.org
Q: How do I
register to vote?
A: To be eligible to register to vote in Massachusetts you must
be a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Massachusetts, and 18 years old on or before
the next election.
You may register to vote in person at any local City Clerk or Election Commission
office or at any registration event or at a number of state agencies, including
the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
You may also vote by mail by completing, signing, and mailing a voter registration
form to the Office of the City Clerk. Voter registration forms may be requested
online at
www.ma.gov/sec/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm.
The completed form should then be mailed to:
City Clerk's Office
24 Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Q:
Where do
I vote?
A: The City of Peabody is divided into six (6) wards, each containing
three (3) precincts. After you register to vote you will be sent a confirmation
notice which indicates your ward, precinct and polling location.
Helpful Link:
wheredoivotema.com
Q:
Who are my
representatives??
A:
United States Senators in Congress:
The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy (D)
2400 John F. Kennedy Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3170
SR-315 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, 20510
(202 224-4543) (
www.senate.gov/~kennedy)
The Honorable John Kerry
1 Bowdoin Square
Boston MA 02114
(617) 565-8519
SR-421 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC, 20510
(202) 224-2742 (
www.senate.gov/~kerry)
Representatives in Congress, 6th Congressional District
The Honorable John F. Tierney (D)
17 Peabody Square
Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 531-1669
Washington office:
120 Cannon House Office Building
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-8020
Massachusetts State
Senate Frederick E. Berry (D)
8 Crowninshield St. Unit 410
Peabody, MA 01960
Office: State House
Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1410
Massachusetts House of Representatives
12th District
Joyce Spiliotis (D)
85 Gardner Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Office: State House, Rm. 540
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2090
Rep.JoyceSpiliotis@hou.state.ma.us
13th District
Theodore C. Speliotis (D)
4 Ardmore Drive
Danvers, MA 01923
Office: State House
Rm. 238
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2380
Rep.TheodoreSpeliotis@hou.state.ma.us
Governor Deval Patrick (D)
Office: State House, Room 360
Boston, MA 02133
Q:
How do we
obtain a marriage license?
A: Except for a few exceptional circumstances, you and your fiancée
must appear in person at the Office of the City Clerk in order to obtain a marriage
license. The couple must complete and sign under oath an Intention of Marriage.
Information that is essential in completing this form is your social security number,
your place of birth and your mother's maiden name. The fee for filing the Intention
of Marriage is $25.00.
A pre-marital blood test is no-longer required in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts requires a mandatory three-day waiting period from the time the Intention
of Marriage is filed before a Marriage License can be issued. A waiver from this
period may be obtained from the Municipal Court. A marriage license must be used
within 60 days from the date of filing the Intention of Marriage.
Q:
How do I
file for a Business Certificate?
A: Massachusetts requires anyone who is conducting business under
an alias (i.e. any other name than their own), including corporations, to file a
business certificate in the community where their business is principally headquartered.
This form, also called a "DBA" which stands for "doing business as", contains the
name and address of the business and the names and residences of the principals
of the business. This certificate must be signed in the presence of a designated
clerk in the Office of the City Clerk or a Notary Public. The certificate is effective
for four years and the filing fee is $20.00. The fee for filing an amendment is
$10.00. (
Business Certificate Form)
Q:
How do I
protect my business name?
A: Filing a business certificate at the local level does not protect
your name. If you have a business name or a symbol that you consider unique and
valuable you may want to register it as a trademark or a service mark. Trademarks
are any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination of these used to identify
the goods of a business and distinguish those goods from the goods of others. Similarly,
there are service marks that may be used to identify and distinguish a business
which provides a service rather than goods. You are not required to register your
trademark or service mark with any governmental agency. Trademarks are protected
under common law. However, by registering your mark, you may gain certain exclusive
ownership benefits under statutory law. You should contact the Specialized Section
in the Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
for further information (
www.ma.gov/sec/cor/coridx.htm)
Q:
Where can
my child obtain a work permit??
A: Work permits for children, ages 14 through 17, may be obtained
at the School Department. (978) 531-1600.
Q:
Where do
I pay my parking fines??
A: Parking fines may be paid at the Police Department,
http://www.peabodypolice.org/special/parkclerk/.