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1. How do I license my dog?

Dogs that are six months of age or older that reside in the Town of Grafton must be licensed by June 1st. A $10 late fee (per dog) will be applied for licenses obtained on or after June 1st (other than for new dogs).

There are three ways to obtain your dog's license:

• In person at the Town Clerk's office. Be sure to bring a current rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spaying/neutering. The Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm; Tuesdays nights until 7 pm.
• By mail. Just complete and mail this form to the Clerk's office. Along with the form, we need a current rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spaying/neutering. Be sure to enclose a check made payable to the Town of Grafton for the proper fee with your request. We will process your request and mail the license back to you. 
• Online. Access the online payment center. This option can be used to license or relicense your dog only if you know that the Clerk has the current rabies certificate, as well as proper spay/neuter information, for your dog.

The license fees are as follows: 

• Neutered/Spayed dogs, $10 
• Male/Female (Unaltered) dogs, $15

Please note: A copy of a current rabies vaccination certificate is required for all dog licenses.

2. Where do I get a copy of my birth certificate?

All birth certificates prior to 1915 are public records. Most birth certificates after 1915 are public records, but there are a few exceptions (i.e., your parents were not married at the time of your birth). If you question whether your birth record is a public record or not, call the Town Clerk's office at 508-839-5335, ext. 1195 and we will be happy to check the status of your birth record. If your record is restricted, you will need to show ID when retrieving your birth certificate.

If you were born in Grafton or your parents were residents of Grafton at the time of your birth, you may obtain your birth certificate at the Town Clerk's Office. You can obtain your birth certificate three ways:

• Come to the Town Clerk's office (if you call ahead at 508-839-5335, ext. 1195, we can have it ready for your pickup). The fee is $10 per copy, cash, check or credit card (there is a slight fee when using a credit card).
• Request by mail. Please send your completed application, a check for $10 payable to the Town of Grafton and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Order and pay online using your credit card. Visit our online payment center.

Your birth certificate is also available in the city or town where the hospital you were born in is located, or at the State Department of Vital Statistics:
Registry of Vital Records
Department of Public Health
150 Mt. Vernon Street
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105

3. Where are the precinct locations for voting?

We have two voting locations. Precincts 1, 2 and 3 are at the Grafton Middle School (22 Providence Road) and Precincts 4 and 5 are at Millbury Street Elementary School (105 Millbury Street).

4. Who may register to vote?

Only a person who is:

• A U.S. citizen, and
• A resident of Grafton, and
• 18 years old on or before election day

(They must still meet registration deadlines.)

5. When may I register to vote?

There is no waiting period to be eligible to register to vote. If you move, you may register to vote as soon as you move into your new home.

6. How can I register to vote?

Online

Massachusetts citizens can apply online at Secretary Galvin's website. Any Massachusetts citizen who has a valid identification card issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be able to use the online system to apply to register to vote, update their address or change their party enrollment. Massachusetts citizens who do not have identification issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles can still complete an application online which they can print, sign and mail or hand-deliver to their local election official.

By Mail

Mail-in registration forms are widely available. To obtain a mail-in registration form, please call the Town Clerk's office at 508-839-5335, ext. 1195, and a form will be sent to you. Or you can download a voter registration form. Mail the completed form to the Town Clerk's office, 30 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. You should receive a confirmation notice in 2 to 3 weeks. If you do not, please contact us to verify your voting status.

In Person

Go to any registration location and complete an affidavit of registration, which must be answered truthfully under the penalty of perjury. The questions on the affidavit will include your name, residence, date of birth, and the last four digits of your social security number or your driver's license number.

At the Registry of Motor Vehicles

Keep your motor voter receipt until you receive confirmation from the Town Clerk's office. If you do not receive any confirmation, please contact us at 508-839-5535, ext. 1195 to verify your voting status.

7. What must I do if I've changed my address since I registered to vote?

If you have moved within Grafton, notify the Town Clerk’s office of your new address in writing. If you have moved to a new city or town, you must register in the new city or town.

8. Can I register to vote before I turn eighteen?

Yes, as long as you will be 18 on or before the next election or town meeting. However, please note that you must still register by the deadline for that meeting or election.

9. Are there deadlines for voter registration?

Yes. In order to vote you must be registered:

• 20 days before all primaries and elections, and/or
• 10 days before a special town meeting

10. Do I need to attach identification to my voter registration form?

Yes, if you are registering to vote for the first time in Massachusetts. Because of a new federal law, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 passed by Congress, if you registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, you will be required to show identification when you vote for the first time in a federal election since registering by mail in 2003, or you can send in a copy of your identification with your voter registration form.

Acceptable identification must include your name and the address at which you are registered to vote, for example: a current and valid driver's license, photo identification, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document showing your name and address. If you send in a copy of your identification with your mail-in voter registration form, it may not be returned to you.

If you do not provide such identification, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires that you may only cast a provisional ballot which will be counted later, but only after your eligibility to vote has been determined.

Voters can now check their registration status through the State's Voter Registration Status Website. This tool is designed to provide up-to-date information on voter registration status and information for voters so they can register to vote.

11. How do I obtain a marriage license?

Information about Massachusetts Marriage Licenses

If you intend to marry within the state of Massachusetts, a certificate of marriage (the license) must be obtained prior to the marriage. You can apply (take out an Intention of Marriage) for a license in any Town or City Clerk's office in Massachusetts, regardless of where you live (residency of the state is not a requirement for marriage in Massachusetts; and you do not have to be a resident of the town in which you apply for the license).

Both parties to the marriage do have to apply for the license together, and both must sign the Intention paperwork under oath. Additionally, both parties to the marriage must be at least 18 years old to marry in Massachusetts. Although not a requirement, you may be asked to produce identification during the licensing process. (Note: There are exceptions to the parties applying together, as well as to the age requirement. These exceptions involve obtaining a court waiver.)

Applying for Your Marriage License

Marriage certificates (licenses) that are issued by a City or Town Clerk are valid for 60 days from the date the intentions are taken out by the couple. If your marriage does not take place within those 60 days, the certificate becomes invalid and you must file again. In Grafton, the fee for applying for a marriage license is $20 (license only).

Additionally, in Massachusetts there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period that must be met before the license can be issued to you. Therefore, 3 days must pass from the date you make out your intentions paperwork to the date you (or your designee) pick up your license (note: the certificate must be picked up in person; it cannot be mailed to you). Again, there are exceptions to this requirement and a court waiver may be necessary. If you fall into this category, you should contact the Clerk's office for further instructions.

Other Things You Should Know

Your completed marriage certificate will remain on file with the town or city in which you file your intentions.

Blood tests are no longer required for any couple applying for a Marriage License in Massachusetts due to a change in the state's General Laws, effective January, 2005.

If you live in Massachusetts but intend to marry in another state, you must file your marriage intentions in that state. The Massachusetts certificate is not valid outside of Massachusetts. We recommend you contact the local officials in the city/town of the state where your marriage will take place, as marriage laws vary from state to state.

Information that you should know before you apply for your license: your place of birth, your mother's maiden (birth) name, your social security number, your officiant's name and contact information.

Licenses can be picked up during our normal business hours. Grafton does not issue licenses on Saturdays or Sundays.

An appointment is not necessary to apply for your marriage license in Grafton, and you may do so any time during our regular office hours. We ask that you allow at least 20 minutes for completion of your application.

For your convenience, the Grafton Clerk's Office has a Justice of the Peace to serve couples who wish to marry. Please ask the Town Clerk for more information.

12. When is the next Town Meeting?

The Annual Town Meeting is held the 2nd Monday in May of each year.  The Semi-Annual Town Meeting is held the third Monday in October. 

13. How do I file for a business certificate?

Any person, whether individually or as a partnership, conducting business in Grafton under any title other than the true name of the owner(s) must obtain a business certificate. And any corporation doing business in Grafton under a name other than its corporate name must file for a business certificate. The certificate must be completed and filed by a corporate officer.

Filing a Doing-Business-As (DBA, another name for a business certificate) does not protect your name. If you wish to register a trademark or service mark with the State of Massachusetts, contact the Corporations Division, One Ashburton Place, 17th floor, Boston, MA 02108, phone 617-727-9640. General information concerning trademarks may be obtained from The Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231, phone 703-308-4368. Federal Information is available at 800-347-1997.

Complete the business certificate application. Mail or deliver the application to the Town Clerk, 30 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. If you do not appear in person at the Clerk's office to file, you must have your signature on the application notarized.

A Business Certificate is good for four years. The fee for filing a business certificate in Grafton is $50. To change or discontinue an active Business Certificate, the fee is $25. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Grafton. For more information, call the Clerk's office at 508-839-5335, ext. 1195.

14. Do I need a raffle permit?

If you are a non-profit organization in existence for two years or more, you are eligible to obtain a raffle permit. If you have never been issued a raffle permit from this office in the past, you must submit proof of organization for us to keep on file. You will need to complete the Raffle Permit Application (you can download the application from our webpage or pick one up at our office) showing the names and addresses of three officers in the organization and submit with the required fee of $10 (checks made payable to the Town of Grafton). If you have received raffle permits in the past, we will need you to complete and submit to us the Annual Report showing your earnings from the last event you held.

15. How can I get a copy of a death certificate?

Assuming the death certificate was recorded by the Grafton Town Clerk's Office, you can physically enter the office, request a copy by mail, or request online. If requesting by mail, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your request. The cost for a copy is $10.

16. How can I get a copy of my marriage certificate?

Assuming the license was issued by the Grafton Town Clerk's Office, you can physically enter the office, request a copy by mail, or request it online. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your request. The cost for a copy is $10.