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The Town Clerk is the official keeper of records for the Town of Dover. The Office handles the recording and preservation of vital records, including:

• CODES of the Town of Dover (formerly called By-Laws);
  
• Birth, death, marriage certificates;
  
• State tax liens;
  
• Board of Appeals filings
  

The Town Clerk's responsibilities also include:

• Certification of candidates' nomination papers;
  
• Supervision of voter registration;
  
• Conduct of all elections (Town, State, Federal);
  
• Issuing of absentee ballots;
  
• Recording the annual town census, jury list, and street list;
  
• Posting notification of all meetings of all town governmental bodies, and keeping of the resulting meeting minutes thereof;
  
• Town Meeting Minutes;
  
• Certification of all actions voted at Town Meetings (The Town Clerk forwards these to the Attorney General's Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Department of Taxation for approval);
  
• Issuing of state licenses and permits including:
  Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping licenses;
  Marriage Licenses;
  Permits for Raffles and Bazaars
• Issuing of Local Licenses including
  Business Certificates;
  Dog Licenses;
  Fuel Storage Permits

Information relating to the items listed above can be found by clicking on the text containing the item or items of interest.

Requests for information:

The Public Records Law allows ten (10) days to fulfill a request for a public record. However, in most cases we are able to accommodate your request within a day. There is a one day turn around time for certified copies of birth, death and marriage records on file in the office.

To request copies of records or any research of documents you may write to us at the address above. If there is a cost for a document, it is noted in the related material in this website. Your check should be included with your request, and should be made payable to the Town of Dover.

If you are not sure where the record you seek is filed locally, you may contact the State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

How do I obtain a Marriage License? How do I obtain a Birth Certificate? How do I obtain a Death Certificate? How do I obtain a Marriage Certificate? How do I obtain a Dog License? How do I obtain a Hunting or Fishing or Trapping License? How do I obtain a Business Certificate? How do I file a Uniform Commercial Code? How and when and where do I Register to Vote? How and when and where do I Vote? How do I get an Absentee Ballot? What is the Form of Government in Dover? What is the Town Meeting all about, and when and where does it take place? How do I obtain a Raffle Permit ?

To obtain a Marriage License

Persons wishing to obtain a license to marry in Massachusetts must file their intentions to marry with any Massachusetts City or Town Clerk in person (except for in cases where one person is in the military or incarcerated) at least three days before the ceremony. When applying for the marriage license you must provide the following:

• A picture ID and proof of residency

In Dover, the cost of filing for a marriage license is $15.00, and $5.00 for a certified copy. The license is valid for sixty days, and may be used for a ceremony conducted in any Massachusetts city or town. The member of the clergy or Justice of the Peace who performs the ceremony must sign the license and return it to the city or town where it was issued.

For further information contact the Dover Town Clerk's Office at (508) 785-0032 ext. 226, or the Mass. Secretary of State's Commissions Section at (617) 727-2836.

To obtain a copy of a BIRTH, DEATH OR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

Certified copies of birth, death and marriage records are available from the Town Clerk's Office in Dover Town Hall and the state Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Copies of vital records may be obtained in person or by mail. Cash and checks are accepted for payment.

Marriage Certificates

The Clerk's Office will also have marriage records of any couple who filed their marriage intentions in Dover. A certified copy of a marriage certificate is available for $5.00. The marriage certificate contains the couples' parents' names and is required for most legal purposes.

Death Certificates

The Clerk's Office will have death records of any death that occurred in Dover and copies of records of Dover residents whose death has occurred within the State of Massachusetts. The fee for a certified copy of a death certificate is $5.00.

Birth Certificates

The Dover Town Clerk will have birth records of anyone whose parents lived in Dover at the time of the birth. A birth certificate is available for $5.00.

To obtain a Dog License

All dog owners in Dover must obtain a license for their dog(s) each year. Please note these important dates:

• March 1: Expiration of prior year's license
  
• April 15: All licenses renewed after this date subject to $25.00 late fee.
  
• May 15: Names of owners of unlicensed dogs are turned over to the Board of Selectmen and to the Police Department's Animal Control Officer for further action.  

You may obtain a license application at the Town Clerk's Office in the Dover Town House, or you may call the office (508-785-0032 ext. 226) to have it mailed to you.   You may also click here to download a Dog License application and the related information form.    To obtain a license, you may bring or mail the completed application, together with proof of up to date rabies vaccination and the appropriate fee, to the Town Clerk's office (P.O. Box 250, Dover, MA 02030).

The fee schedule for a dog license in Dover is as follows:

• 1-2 dogs: $15 each dog
  
• Seniors (65+): $10 each dog
  
• Kennel Licenses:
     3-5 dogs: $45 total fee
     6-10 dogs: $60 total fee
     11 or more dogs: $75 total fee

How to obtain a Business Certificate (d/b/a)

Whenever you are conducting business under a name other than your own or the corporation's, you must obtain a "doing business as" (dba) certificate from the Town Clerk in the Town where the business is located. The d/b/a/ certificate is maintained in a public file and allows consumers to identify and locate the proprietor.

In Dover, the filing fee for a d/b/a/ certificate is $20.00. The certificate may be filed in person or by mail. The certificate must be re-filed every four years.    Click here to download a Business Certificate application .

For further information, call the Town Clerk's Office at (508) 785-0032 ext. 226.

How to file a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)

When someone offers property as collateral for a debt, the creditor may have the arrangement committed to writing and filed as a lien. The filing must be on a UCC form and should include the names of the debtor and creditor, the amount of the lien and the location and description of the property.

The place where the lien should be filed depends on the type of property offered as collateral. In deciding where to file, remember that the purpose of the lien is to put future creditors on notice of your claim to the property. So, file the lien where future creditors are most likely to look.

If the property offered as collateral is real estate, the lien should be filed in the county registry of deeds. Liens on Dover real estate should be filed with the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds.

If personal property such as a car, jewelry or musical instrument is offered as collateral, the lien should be filed with the Secretary of State.

For additional information, call the Dover Town Clerk's Office at (508) 785-0032 ext. 226, or the Office of the Secretary of State at (617) 727-2860.

How to obtain Hunting and Fishing and Trapping Licenses

Hunting, fishing and trapping licenses may be purchased from most Massachusetts City and Town Clerks, the Offices of the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and many sporting goods stores.

In Dover, licenses may be obtained in person from the Town Clerk's Office.

The fee schedule set by the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is as follows:

CLASS	LICENSE	2005 FEES
F1	Resident Citizen/Alien Fishing	$28.50
F2	Resident Citizen Minor Fishing (ages 15-17)	$12.50
F3	Resident Citizen Fishing (ages 65-69)	$17.25
F4	Resident Citizen (Paraplegic, Blind, Mentally Retarded or over 70)	Free
F6	Non-Resident Citizen/Alien Fishing	$38.50
F7	Non-Resident Citizen/Alien Fishing (3-day)	$24.50
F8	Resident Citizen Fishing (3-day)	$13.50
F9	Non-Resident Citizen Minor Fishing	$12.50
T1	Resident Citizen Trapping	$36.50
T2	Resident Citizen Minor Trapping	$12.50
T3	Resident Citizen Trapping (age 65-69)	$21.25
H1	Resident Citizen Hunting	$28.50
H2	Resident Citizen Hunting (age 65-69)	$17.25
H3	Resident Citizen Hunting (Paraplegic)	Free
H4	Resident Citizen Alien Hunting	$28.50
H5	Non-Resident Citizen/Alien Hunting (Big Game)	$100.50
H6	Non-Resident Citizen/Alien Hunting (Small Game)	$66.50
H7	Non-resident Commercial Shooting Preserve (1 day)	$11.00
H8	Resident Citizen Minor Hunting (ages 15-17)	$12.50
H9	Resident Commercial Shooting Preserve (1 day)	$11.00
S1	Resident Citizen Sporting	$46.00
S2	Resident Citizen Sporting (age 65-69)	$26.00
S3	Resident Citizen Sporting (age 70)	Free
DF	Duplicate Fishing	$2.50
DT	Duplicate Trapping	$2.50
DH	Duplicate Hunting	$2.50
DS	Duplicate Sporting	$2.50
M1	Archery Stamp	$5.10
M2	Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp	$5.00
M3	Primitive Firearms Stamp	$5.10
W1	Resident Wildlands Conservation Stamp	$5.00
W2	Non-Resident Wildlands Conservation Stamp	$5.00

Licenses may be obtained from the regional offices of the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (978) 263-4347. Licenses also may be obtained from many sporting goods stores. For a list of agent stores, contact the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at (617) 727-3152.

Town Meeting

The Town Clerk is the chief election official, custodian of the Town's records, and recording secretary of the meeting. Click on either of the highlighted items below for Town Meeting related information:

        Town Meeting   or     DOVER YOUR TOWN Chapter 3

VOTING IN DOVER

REGISTERING TO VOTE

How to Register

You may visit the Town Clerk's Office in Dover Town House and complete a voter registration form in person. Or, you may obtain a mail-in voter registration form from any United States Post Office, Library and various other locations throughout the state. Mail-in forms may be obtained also by calling the State Elections Division at (800) 462-VOTE or by clicking here to visit mass.gov. Additionally, the state registries of motor vehicles, social service agencies and military recruitment offices provide voter registration services.

When you register to vote you may choose to register in a state political party, select a political designation (become affiliated with a political organization which has not received party status in Massachusetts) or choose no affiliation and become unenrolled (commonly referred to as an independent). If you choose a political designation, you will not be able to vote in a primary.

If you choose to register with a political party, you will be able to receive the ballot only of your selected party in a primary election. Your registration status also affects your ability to run for office in a partisan election.

Who May Register?

Any person who is a Massachusetts resident, a United States citizen and will be eighteen years old as of the next election, is eligible to register to vote. You do not need a drivers license or any other form of identification to register. However, when you sign the registration form, you must attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that you are legally eligible to register and that the information you provide is accurate and truthful. The penalty for fraudulent registration increased recently to a fine of ten thousand dollars or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

You will remain on the list of voters so long as you vote regularly and complete and return the annual municipal census. If you move to another city or town, you must re-register in your new community.

Registration Deadlines

Be aware that there are voter registration deadlines. You must register to vote at least twenty days before any Town or State election or the Presidential Primary. Call our office for registration deadlines. For additional information call the Town Clerk at (508) 785-0032 ext. 226.

The Voting Process

The polls are open in Dover on election day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For all elections, voting is at the Dover Town House in the Great Hall.

When you approach the check-in tables, seek the table that displays the alphabet sequence that includes the first letter of your street. First tell the poll worker the name of street where you live, then the number of your residence, and finally your name and your party. As the voters list is arranged by street, this is the quickest way to receive your ballot and keep any lines moving.

In a primary election, voters who are registered in a political party may only obtain a ballot for that party. If you are an unenrolled voter (commonly referred to as an independent voter), you may request the ballot of any party participating in the primary election. You will not become registered in a political party because of your participation in a state primary.

What to Do If Your Name Is not on the Voters List

If your name does not appear on the list of voters, the Warden should contact the Town Clerk to determine if you are considered an inactive voter. If you cannot be qualified to vote but believe you are registered, you may request an provisional ballot. The provisional ballot allows you to cast your vote. It will at a later date be researched and if you are determined to be a valid voter your vote will be counted.

Casting Your Votes

Once you receive a ballot, you cast your votes in the privacy of the voting booth. You may vote for the choices available on the ballot or, if you prefer, write-in the name of a candidate in the space provided on the ballot. If you mismark your ballot, you must return it to the poll worker to have it marked as spoiled so that you may receive a new ballot.* If you are disabled and need assistance, you may be accompanied by someone who can provide the needed assistance, or you may request a poll worker to provide you with confidential, nonpartisan help.

When you have finished voting, you must proceed to the check-out table and again state the street where you live, the number of your residence and your name. (The check-in/check-out procedure allows for a full accounting of all ballots to reduce the chance of fraud). After you have checked-out, you deposit your ballot in the ballot box.

*You are limited to 3 ballots.

Prohibited Activities

State law prohibits the display of political paraphernalia within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling location. Signs, stickers and even lapel buttons are not permitted within this restricted zone.

Absentee Voting Requirements

Voters who are unable to vote on election day because of physical disability, religious beliefs or travel may vote by absentee ballot. State law limits the availability of absentee ballots to those three listed circumstances only. Absentee ballots are not available for mere convenience, or because of ordinary commuting-related difficulties. If you will be absent from Dover for an extended period of time, you may submit a single application for all elections occurring within the year the application is accepted.

Obtaining an Application for an Absentee Ballot
Print the following applications out, fill them in, and mail them to the Town Clerk's office (P.O. Box 250 Dover, MA 02030)

Absentee Ballot Application (56K)
Absentee Ballot Application by a Family Member (75K)

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the Town Clerk or the Office of the Secretary of State. Applications may be submitted in person and by mail. The voter, or a family member (father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, grandparent, grandchild, a spouse or person residing in the same household, in-laws, adopting parent or adopted child, stepparent or stepchild, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew), may submit an application. All applications must be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury by the voter, or a family member, before a ballot will be made available. State law requires that we must have a signature of the applicant on file with the request.

In a primary election, a voter who is not registered in a political party must specify the ballot of the party of choice in the application. You will not become registered in a political party because of your participation in a state primary.

Returning the Application for an Absentee Ballot

Applications for absentee ballots must be applied for from the Town Clerk before 12:00 noon the day before an election. (A voter who is admitted to a health care facility after noon of the fifth day before an election may apply for a ballot up until the close of the polls and may request to have the ballot delivered.) Absentee ballots generally are available three weeks before an election.

If the voter submits the application in person, he may obtain the ballot and vote over-the-counter . The voter should first check with the office to see if the ballots are available. If the ballot is not available, it will be sent to the voter by mail. When the application is submitted in person by a family member, the ballot must be sent by mail to the voter. And in all other cases, the ballot is sent by mail.

A list of all voters who obtained absentee ballots is sent to the poll locations to prevent an absentee voter from voting a second time.

Permanently Disabled Voters

A voter who is permanently disabled need not submit a request for an absentee ballot for every election. If such a voter submits a note from a registered physician indicating that the voter is permanently disabled, the Town Clerk will send the voter an application for an absentee ballot twenty-eight days before the first election each year. The application will be as complete as the Town Clerk can make it. The voter in most cases will only have to sign the application, return it, and indicate that the voter would like an absentee ballot for every election in that year. Upon the Town Clerk's receipt of the signed application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot.

Specially Qualified Voters

In addition to registered voters, certain specially qualified voters may vote by absentee ballot. A specially qualified voter is a person who is a Massachusetts citizen, living outside of the United States, who is at least eighteen years old and whose last residence in the United States was Massachusetts. You also may be a specially qualified voter if you are otherwise eligible to be a registered voter, and your present domicile (a place where you live and plan to remain) is Massachusetts and you are: out of town because you are in the active service of the armed forces or merchant marine of the United States, or a spouse or dependent of such person; absent from the Commonwealth; or confined in a correctional facility or jail.

When the Name of an Applicant Does Not Appear on the Voters List

In the event that the Town Clerk cannot find the name of a voter requesting an absentee ballot, the voter must be sent an escrow ballot with a letter explaining the reason. The escrow ballot allows you to cast your votes. Escrow ballots will not be counted in the tally of votes unless any race is close enough that the number of escrow ballots could affect the outcome. In such cases, the Registrars of Voters will review each of the escrow ballots individually to determine which should be counted.

Return of Ballots

If the voter submits the application in person, he may obtain the ballot (call first to see if it is available) and vote over-the-counter. Ballots may be returned by mail or in person by the voter or a family member. All ballots and envelopes must be signed by the voter, or if the voter is unable to sign, by an assisting person.

In general, in order to be counted , absentee ballots must be received before the polls close on election day. However, absentee ballots for the state general election that are completed outside the United States will be counted if received by 5:00 p.m. on the tenth day following the election. This exception does not apply to Dover Town elections or state primaries.

The State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics

The Massachusetts State Registry maintains a central index and has copies of records for all births, deaths and marriages which occurred in the state of Massachusetts.

Certified copies may be obtained through the Registry in person, by mail or by phone. To order using a credit card call (617) 740-2606. Regardless of how you request copies, you should be prepared to provide the name of the subject(s) of the record, the date of the event and, if known, the city or town where the event occurred.

The Registry is located at 150 Mt. Vernon Street, 1st floor, in Dorchester. For further information regarding operating hours and fees of records please call (617) 740-2600. Their mailing address is:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, Massachusetts 02125-3105