Maine Marriage Records

Maine began collating the registration of births occurring within the state into a central repository on January 1, 1892, as part of its systematic preservation of vital records. Before the state mandated statewide registration, marriage records were kept at the municipal level; however, consistency varies across municipalities.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control show that Maine has a marriage rate of 7.0 marriages per 1,000 residents. When compared with the national average, the state marriage rate is 11% higher than the U.S. average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Maine marriage records consist of two documents:

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a document issued by the town or city clerk, granting two people the authority to get married. Marriage licenses, sometimes referred to as the pre-wedding document, contain information on the couple, including their full names, gender, ages, current addresses, and information and signature of the officiant. In addition, a marriage license also holds the certificate number, issue date, expiry date, and the signature of the issuing officer.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is a document issued to the couple, certifying that they have been legally joined together in marriage. After the wedding, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the town or city clerk's office within seven working days. The town or city clerk records the marriage and creates the marriage certificate to be forwarded to the state's central repository. Marriage certificates contain the full names of the couple, the marriage location, date, and place, and the witnesses' and officiant's signatures. In addition, the marriage certificate contains the certificate number, filing date, and the seal of the issuing office.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Maine?

Eligible persons may obtain certified copies of Maine marriage records from the following sources:

• The Maine Division of Public Health Systems Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics - (Vital Records Office) maintains statewide marriage certificates from 1892 to the present.
• The Municipal Clerk's Office across Maine provides access to marriage licenses and marriage certificates issued from 1892 to date.

You may order a certified copy of a Maine marriage certificate from the State Vital Records Office by mail or online. Online requests for marriage certificates are through an independent service provider who charges additional fees, besides the record cost, to ship and mail the document.

To order the document by mail or in person, download and complete the marriage record section of the Application for a Search and Certified Copy of a Vital Record form. Mail the request to:

Certified copies of marriage records are also accessible at the local town or city clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. Each municipality provides a record request form on its website or at its office. You may order the document by mail or in person. Marriage records before 1892 are accessible at the Maine State Archives.

Generally, all requests for Maine marriage records must include the following:

• Names of both parties
• Date of marriage
• City or town where the marriage occurred
• A copy of a valid government-issued ID
• A self-addressed, stamped envelope, if ordering the document by mail
• Proof of direct and legitimate interest in the record
• A daytime phone number
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Maine?

Maine treats marriage records as restricted per Title 22 Section 2706 of the Maine Statutes. It requires all persons requesting certified copies of marriage records to demonstrate a direct and legitimate interest in the document. Per the law, only the record holder, immediate family members, and legal representatives may obtain copies of marriage records. Marriage records become public records 50 years from the marriage date.

How Much Do Maine Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $15 to order a certified copy of a marriage certificate from the Maine DRVS Office. Extra copies of the document ordered at the same time are charged at $6. Informational copies are charged at $10. All clerks in Maine operate under state law and charge the same fee as the State DRVS Office.

The standard processing time for mail requests is 7-10 business days after the DVRS receives a complete application request. The processing times vary at the town and city levels. Expect to wait 2 business days to obtain the document if ordering by mail, or the same day if requesting in person.

Online requests are typically processed within 7 business days. The Maine DRVS Office does not offer expedited processing. For expedited processing, order the document online. Expedited requests are processed the next business day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Maine?

No. Although marriage records are restricted from the public, Maine does not provide confidential marriage licenses, which restricts public access to the marriage records to everyone but the couple. Couples in Maine cannot choose to keep their marriage records private indefinitely. In Maine, the marriage records become public records 50 years from the marriage date. Similarly, no provision permits couples to seal their marriage records in Maine.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Maine Marriage Records?

Individuals may need to verify the authenticity of a Maine marriage record for purposes ranging from insurance claims, immigration, genealogy research, name changes, tax benefits, Social Security benefits, divorce proceedings, and accessing inheritance rights.

Persons interested in authenticating their marriage records may contact the Maine Office of Vital Records or the town or city clerk's office where the license was issued. You may verify the legitimacy of your records by inspecting the official state seal and registrar's signature on your document and comparing the record to the master copy at any of the offices. You may also order certified copies of your marriage record.

Generally, certified copies of marriage certificates contain security features validating the document's authenticity. Usually, it includes the registrar or municipal clerk's signature, state file number, and an embossed seal of the issuing office. In addition, certified marriage certificates are printed on security paper and watermarked to prevent the document's duplication.

Can I Find Maine Marriage Records Online for Free?

Yes. Although official Maine marriage records require a fee and proof of eligibility, several non-governmental websites offer free online indexes and images of old and more recent marriage records in Maine.

FamilySearch.org has a free but comprehensive repository of marriage records across the U.S., including Maine. The platform provides free online indexes and digitized images of Maine marriages in several collections. The Maine marriage index from 1892 to 1966 and 1977 to 1996 provides a searchable database that includes couples' names, birthdates, and the place of marriage. In addition, the database contains images of early returns of Maine vital records from 1670 to 1921.

Ancestry.com is a subscription-based service that includes Maine marriage collections from 1713 to 1922. Marriage records on the platform include information on name, date, location, and parents' names.

PublicRecords.us provides a free name and date search for Maine marriage records. The platform aggregates public records from multiple governmental platforms to provide a comprehensive database of vital records. The web tool is ideal for accessing more current marriage records and provides basic information such as the couple's names, birthdate, and county of marriage. Detailed access may require a minimal fee.

What Is Required to Get a Maine Marriage License?

Before couples can legally get married in Maine, they must fulfill state requirements and submit appropriate documentation before the marriage license is issued. In Maine, it includes:

• Both parties must be present at the town or city clerk's office.
• Both parties complete and sign the Intention of Marriage Application form.
• Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Persons 16-17 years may get married if they present a completed and notarized Parental/Guardian Consent of Marriage form.
• A copy of a valid government-issued ID from both parties.
• A certified copy of a divorce decree or a death certificate if either party was previously married.
• The marriage license fee.

The marriage license fee in Maine is $40. There is no waiting period after the license is issued and the couple may get married immediately. The marriage license remains valid for 90 days from the filing date. If the document is unused before the validity expires, the couple must restart the marriage license application process.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Maine?

Generally, couples may amend the following errors on their marriage licenses or certificates:

• Clerical errors, such as typos in names, dates, and places
• Missing or omitted information, such as missing middle names
• Transposed errors, such as transposed digits in a Social Security number
• Name changes

Amending a Maine Marriage License

In Maine, you may amend your marriage license before the wedding if you notice inaccuracies in the document before the wedding. To amend clerical errors, typos, or omitted information on the license, contact the municipal clerk's office that issued the marriage license.

The applicants must appear at the municipal clerk's office to correct the document. Obtain a correction form from the clerk's office and attach a personal affidavit or other documents supporting the correct information. Submit the application in person or by mail. There is no fee to amend errors on marriage licenses in Maine.

Amending a Maine Marriage Certificate

You may correct inaccuracies on your marriage certificates at the Maine Office of Vital Records. Corrections to marriage certificates are made using the Application to Correct a Vital Record in Maine form.

If the error is noticed within 90 days of the certificate issue date, you may amend the error by completing the amendment form and notarizing it. There is no fee required. Send the notarized form to the Maine Office of Vital Records within 90 days of receiving the document. The record is corrected administratively, and the applicant receives an updated certified copy.

If the error is detected after 90 days of the certificate issue date, fill out the amendment form stating the incorrect information and specifying the accurate date. Notarize the amendment form. Provide two original documents or notarized true-attest copies of documents evidencing the correct information. Enclose a $60 check or money order to amend the document. The fee includes the cost of a corrected copy. Mail the application to the Maine DRVS Office.