Birth and Death Certificates

The Town Clerk is the keeper of vital records, including birth and death certificates. According to the Registry of Vital Records, Massachusetts is one of just 5 "open data" states, but steps must nevertheless be taken to safeguard the records and protect residents from identity theft.

Birth Records (1925 - present)

Certified copies of birth records are available at the Hanover Town Clerk's Office if the parents were living in Hanover at the time of the child’s birth or if the child was actually born in Hanover. Please fill out a Birth Certificate Request Application and mail it in with the appropriate documentation, including a photocopy of a driver's license/governmental ID. The fee for a certified copy is $10 per copy. We will mail the certificate back to you. Please note that we strive for same-day turnarounds of your request, but very infrequently, the time to process the request may take up to 10 days.

If you need more immediate access to your birth record, the Registry of Vital Records can provide you with a certified copy if you order online and pay an additional fee. They also provide next-day delivery service for another additional fee. Further, they can provide in-person service over the counter at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Go to Mass.gov - Ordering a Birth, Marriage, or Death Certificate for more information.

In rare circumstances, issuance of a certified copy of a birth certificate may be restricted due to the child being born out of wedlock (non-marital birth).  In that case, only the following may receive a copy of the record: the subject of the record (child), parents listed on the record, the father not listed on the record with documentary proof that he is the father (such as a paternity adjudication, stipulation or properly completed Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage), the legal guardian of the child, or the legal representative of the child.  If you are unsure what documentation you need, please don't hesitate to contact us.

For records prior to 1925, please refer to the "Genealogical Research" section.

Death Records (1925 - present)

Certified copies of death records are available if the decedent resided in Hanover at the time of his or her death, or if he or she actually died in Hanover. Please fill out a Death Certificate Request Application and mail it in with the appropriate documentation, including a photocopy of a driver's license/governmental ID.  The fee for a certified copy is $10 per copy.  We will mail the certificate back to you.  Please note that we strive for same-day turnarounds of your request, but very infrequently, the time to process the request may take up to 10 days.

If you need more immediate access to a death record, the Registry of Vital Records can provide you with a certified copy if you order on-line and pay an additional fee.  They also provide next-day delivery service for another additional fee.  Further, they can provide in-person service over the counter at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester, MA 02125. Go to Mass.gov - Ordering a Birth, Marriage, or Death Certificate for more information.

For records prior to 1925, please refer to the "Genealogical Research" section.