Guide to Maine Marriage Records

When two people get married in Maine, the state documents the event with a marriage license and a certificate of marriage. The record contains important details about the marriage, such as the names of both spouses, their ages, and parents' names. The record may also contain the date and location of the marriage, as well as the signatures of the marriage officiant and witnesses.

A marriage license and a marriage certificate are different documents, although they both fall under marriage records. The marriage license is obtained before the wedding for the marriage to be performed legally. The marriage certificate is issued after the marriage ceremony as proof of a legal union.

Marriage record searches are conducted for different purposes. For example, people conduct these searches to prove marital status for immigration purposes, government benefits, and name updates on official records.

Types of Marriage Records in Maine

Examples of commonly searched Maine marriage records include the following:

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate is the post-wedding document issued by the government as official proof that two people were married. This document records the spouses' names, the wedding date, the location, and the officiant's name. Eligible individuals may request certified copies of this record through either the local town clerk where the license was issued or directly from the Maine CDC Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS).

A certified copy of a Maine marriage certificate features a raised seal or official stamp, which separates it from an informational copy. This copy is required for official processes like changing your last name, applying for a passport, or altering insurance policies.

Marriage Licenses

This document is the state-required authorization for couples seeking to legally marry in Maine. Unlike a marriage certificate, a marriage license is issued before the wedding ceremony as a permit authorizing the marriage ceremony.

Once a marriage license is issued in Maine, it remains valid for 90 days. Maine marriage licenses are issued by the offices of municipal clerks in the state.

Are Marriage Records Public in Maine?

Maine is considered a closed-record state, meaning that marriage records are not completely open to the public. Maine Statute Title 22, Section 2706 splits access to marriage records based on how old the record is:

• Records less than 50 years old: The state classifies marriage records under 50 years old as restricted and confidential.

Anyone requesting a marriage record in this category must prove that they have a direct and legitimate interest in the record. This includes the spouses themselves, immediate family members, legal guardians, authorized representatives (like attorneys), and researchers holding a Maine CDC-issued genealogist ID card.

• Records 50 years old and older: Per state law, marriage records older than 50 years are publicly accessible. Hence, anyone can request an open, non-certified copy of a marriage record in this category.

Note that highly sensitive personal data, such as the applicants' Social Security numbers are confidential and permanently redacted, even after the 50-year mark passes.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A Maine marriage record may contain the following information:

• Full legal names of both parties (including maiden names)
• Dates of birth
• Residential addresses
• Birthplaces of both individuals
• Parents' full names and their places of birth
• Number of previous marriages and how they ended (if applicable)
• Date and location of the marriage
• Name and signature of the marriage officiant
• Signatures of the two required witnesses

Note that any record that is less than 50 years old is subject to strict confidentiality rules regarding sensitive private information, such as social security numbers, medical information, or any grounds indicated in previous divorce decrees.

If an unauthorized person gains access to a restricted marriage record through an exemption, these personal identifiers are redacted to protect individual privacy.

How to Find Marriage Records in Maine

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

The first step when seeking a marriage record is to gather as many important details as you can. To begin, you need the full names of both spouses, including any maiden names. Furthermore, you should have the approximate date or year of the marriage and the municipality where the event was held.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

Maine's marriage record maintenance system allows you to look up records in a couple of places. The Maine CDC DRVS holds records from 1892 to the present day. Moreover, if the marriage occurred between 1892 and 1922, a physical copy of the record is available at the Maine State Archives. For marriages that occurred before 1892, you may contact the specific municipal town clerk where the marriage originally took place.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

Depending on your schedule and the type of record you want, you may access Maine marriage records online, by mail, in person, or via historical marriage databases. Online access is available through the state-approved third-party platform, VitalChek, or the Maine Municipal Vital Records Ordering Service for participating towns.

Alternatively, you may mail a completed application to the DRVS or the town clerk. For immediate processing, you may submit a request in person at the town clerk's office.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Once you have the search information, have determined the custodian, and chosen your preferred search method, you must submit a completed application. Note that if the record is less than 50 years old, you must include a photocopy of a government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the spouses named on the record.

In addition, $15 is required for the first copy of a certified marriage record, and an additional $6 is required for each duplicate ordered at the same time. If you want an uncertified copy, the fee is $10. Mail requests typically take up to 5 weeks, while walk-in orders are resolved on the same day.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Maine

Certified copies of recent Maine marriage certificates are only available to eligible requesters. If a record is not yet 50 years old, Maine law requires that the requester be a person named on the record, a specified family member or representative, a personal representative, or an authorized attorney or agent. Any requester outside these categories must provide proof of a direct and legitimate interest.

The requester must complete the marriage application form and provide identification. If not the person named on the certificate, the requester must provide proof of relationship, legal authority, or another qualifying interest.

A certified marriage certificate can be ordered in the following ways:

• In-Person: Visit the DRVS located at 220 Capitol Street in Augusta for a walk-in service. Although some requests may take up to 24 hours, same-day service is often available.
• By Mail: Submit a completed application form, a copy of an identification document, a self-addressed stamped envelope, payment, and any applicable proof of eligibility. Mail orders typically take 5-7 business days after receipt.
• Online: The state partners with VitalChek to make online orders available to requesters. This third-party vendor includes additional processing fees and an expedited delivery service fee (if requested) in their total processing fee.

Note that the state fee for the first certified copy is $15, and other copies are $6 each when ordered at the same time.

Certified copies of marriage certificates are the standard documents requested for official or administrative purposes to prove marital status.

How to Get a Marriage License in Maine

Maine requires individuals seeking marriage licenses to submit an Intentions of Marriage application to a city or town clerk or the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. If both parties reside in Maine, state law requires that they file their marriage license application in the municipality where one or both of them reside or with the State Registrar. If neither couple lives in Maine, they may file in any Maine municipality or with the State Registrar.

Both couples completing the marriage intentions form must be 18 years old to marry in Maine. According to 19-A MRS §652(8), the clerk or State registrar of vital statistics may not issue a marriage license to a person under 18 years of age. While procedures may vary by municipality, applicants are generally required to bring government-issued photo identification to the clerk's office.

The statutory fee for recording a marriage intentions form and issuing the license is $40. No waiting period is imposed by the state, meaning that once the marriage license has been issued, the wedding ceremony may be performed immediately. However, if the ceremony is not held within 90 days of the license issuance date, the marriage license becomes void.

A Maine marriage cannot be held without an authorized officiant. Examples of officiant categories authorized by the state to conduct wedding ceremonies include judges or justices; lawyers admitted to the Maine Bar; licensed Maine marriage officiants; qualifying ordained ministers and clergy; and certain authorized nonresident officiants.

Maine prohibits proxy and internet marriages. The state requires at least two witnesses to be in attendance, in addition to both spouses and the officiant. After the ceremony is completed, the officiant and witnesses must sign the license. Then, the completed record must be returned to the issuing office within 15 business days.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

Since Maine maintains a closed record policy for the first 50 years following a wedding, access is restricted to individuals with a direct and legitimate interest in the record, such as:

• The individuals named on the marriage record.
• Immediate family members, such as parents, children, grandchildren, and siblings, who can legally verify their lineage.
• Authorized representatives given direct, power-of-attorney permission, including legal guardians or conservators.
• Local, state, or federal entities requiring verification to process legal benefits or official duties.
• Legal professionals representing one of the spouses or their estate.
• Researchers who carry a valid, state-issued Maine CDC researcher identification card.

Note that third-party requests require a notarized letter of authorization signed by an eligible family member, a formal court order, or legal documentation showing that the record is required to protect a personal or property right.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Searching recent marriage records online in Maine requires payment. However, you may be able to access older marriage records via official state and county databases. The Maine State Archives offers free online access to older marriage indexes.

Furthermore, for records older than 50 years, platforms like FamilySearch hold extensive digitized indexes of marriage registries from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These indexes can show the spouses' names, marriage date and place, residence, and, for some entries, a certificate number.

If the exact date of marriage is not known, you can start the lookup with a broad name search and add the spouse’s name if known. Use alternate spellings and extend the search time between dates.

When you locate an index entry, you can use this information to get the appropriate record from DRVS or the appropriate town. Note that index entries are useful for research purposes but cannot be used as an official certificate if legal proof of marriage is needed.

Common Law Marriage in Maine

Maine does not recognize common-law marriages created within its territory, no matter how long couples live together, cohabitate, or refer to themselves as husband and wife. The Pine Tree State only recognizes unions with a formal marriage license and a recognized marriage ceremony.

However, under the Full Faith and Credit clause of the U.S. Constitution, Maine will recognize a common-law marriage if it has been legally validated in another jurisdiction that permits common-law marriages. Hence, if couples come to Maine after establishing a common-law marriage in another state, they must meet that state's eligibility requirements for their marriage to be recognized in Maine.

No common-law marriage license or marriage certificate can be searched for or obtained at the local or state level in Maine because there is no legal acknowledgment of a common-law marriage in the state.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

It is not uncommon to find typographical errors on a registered marriage certificate. These types of errors can involve a misspelled middle name, an incorrect birth date, or a misstated parent's name.

Errors contained in the personal information section of a marriage record can be amended by the spouse submitting a correction request. However, errors in the ceremony section must be corrected by the officiant who conducted the wedding. This includes mistakes such as an incorrect wedding date or a misspelled witness name. Only the officiant is authorized to request an amendment to that part of the record.

You will need to formally submit a completed application (Form VS-7) to amend a marriage record. Corrections are handled directly by the Maine DRVS, and applications may be submitted by mail or in person at the DRVS Augusta office by scheduling an appointment. You will also need to provide relevant supporting evidence.

Examples of acceptable proof include, but are not limited to, certified copies of birth certificates, earlier educational records, or baptism documents. If an officiant files a request to correct a mistake in the ceremony details, they must also submit an affidavit with supporting evidence, such as a printed wedding invitation or a newspaper announcement.

Note that if you notice the error within 90 days of the record being filed, it can often be corrected by the issuing municipality clerk if the mistake is a minor clerical error. However, if the record has been on file for more than 90 days, you must submit the completed Form VS-7 to the State Vital Records Office. Maine typically requires two pieces of documentary evidence supporting the requested amendment.

The fee charged for amending a marriage record in Maine depends on how soon the correction is made. Typically, no fee is charged when the record is corrected within 90 days of filing, although a certified corrected copy costs $15 if one copy is requested. However, after 90 days, the amendment fee is $60, which includes a corrected certified copy. Processing times for amendment requests may take up to 6 weeks.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

Getting married in Maine can allow spouses to adopt a new name. Upon stating an intended new name on a marriage license, state law provides that the new name becomes effective when the marriage license is completed after the wedding ceremony.

Subsequently, the marriage document can be used when updating records with government agencies. For example, the Social Security Administration accepts a certified copy of a marriage certificate as proof of a marriage-based name change. Also, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles accepts marriage documentation to change a name on a driver's license when a person's current name differs from the name on existing identity documents.

Be aware that changing the name after marriage is not the same as correcting the marriage record. A correction is used when the information recorded on the certificate was incomplete or incorrect. A name change is a separate legal event in which official records are updated to reflect a new name after marriage.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Historians and genealogists find Maine's dual-recordkeeping system a valuable resource for tracing family lineages.

Older marriage record timelines can be broken down into the following:

• Pre-1892 Records: The state did not centrally mandate marriage recordkeeping before 1892. You can find older records by researching specific town archives, early parish registries, or municipal clerk records.
• 1892-1922 Records: Marriage records in this period are centrally indexed and preserved at the Maine State Archives in Augusta.
• 1923 to Present Records: These records are managed by the Maine DRVS.

People can search online indexes for free on the FamilySearch using relevant information, such as spouses’ names, the year of marriage, or the town where the couple married. Note that details may be missing in older records because previous records were handwritten, and the names may have been misspelled.

Frequently Asked Questions