Introduction to Maine Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Maine Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.
  

Maine Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Maine Office of Vital Records for individuals married in the state of Maine since since 1923. Records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives. For earlier records, write to the municipality where the event occurred. 

Maine Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Maine state law, Maine Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Maine Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Maine Marriage Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Maine Marriage Certificate

Maine Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Non-certified Maine Marriage certificates can be requested for genealogical purposes.

Maine Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Maine Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Maine Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Maine Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Maine Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Maine Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 7-10 business days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Maine Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Maine Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Maine Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Maine Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Maine Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Maine Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Maine Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Maine Vital Records

11 State House Station

244 Water Street

Augusta, ME 04333-0011

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Maine: You may go to any county health department in the State of Maine to obtain a certified copy of a Maine Marriage certificate. Most Maine Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Maine Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Maine Marriage certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the Maine Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Maine Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $6.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Treasurer - State of Maine." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.