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Maine · How-To Guide

How do I get a marriage license?

Municipal Clerk (town or city level - Maine has ~490 municipalities, NOT county-level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Contact your town/city clerk's office to confirm hours and whether an appointment is needed (busy tourist seasons can cause delays - especially in coastal and resort towns)
  2. Both parties appear in person at the municipal clerk's office; bring required documents
  3. File your Marriage Intentions - both parties must sign the license before it can be issued; allow 45-60 minutes for processing; during busy seasons, the license may not be ready until the following business day
  4. Pay the $40 fee and receive the marriage license
  5. No waiting period - can marry immediately; license valid for 90 days from date of filing intentions
  6. Give the license to your officiant; after the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed, signed license to the issuing town/city clerk within 7 days
  7. Two witnesses must sign the license during the ceremony; the officiant CANNOT be one of the two witnesses
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid government-issued photo ID for both parties (driver's license, passport, state ID)
  • Social Security numbers for both parties
  • Parents' full names and places of birth for each party
  • If previously married: certified copy WITH RAISED/EMBOSSED SEAL of divorce decree or annulment decree (civil, not church annulment) OR certified death certificate of deceased spouse - photocopies NOT accepted; must have official seal
  • Non-residents previously married: also need an affidavit stating they are free to marry under their home state/country's laws
  • Must be 18 years old without parental consent; if 17: written consent of both parents/guardians or court approval required; no one under 17 may marry in Maine (minimum age raised to 17 in 2023)
Fee
$40 (statewide standard); cash preferred; some towns accept check or card - call ahead
Waiting Period
None - can marry immediately after license is issued; processing takes 45-60 minutes LICENSE VALIDITY: 90 days from date of filing intentions WITNESSES: 2 witnesses required at ceremony; must sign license; officiant CANNOT be a witness OFFICIANT RETURN DEADLINE: 7 days after ceremony to return completed license to issuing municipal clerk
Online Option
Some municipalities offer downloadable Marriage Intention Applications to fill out in advance; no statewide online issuance
Where to Go
Municipal Clerk (town or city office) in the municipality where at least one party resides; or any Maine municipality if both are non-residents
Maine Notes

Important state-specific details

  • No waiting period - one of the more permissive states for timing.
  • 90-day license validity - longer than most states (30 or 60 days).
  • Certified copy WITH RAISED/EMBOSSED SEAL required for prior divorce - photocopies not accepted.
  • Two witnesses required; officiant cannot serve as witness.
  • Officiant must return completed license within 7 days.
  • Self-solemnization (no officiant) NOT permitted in Maine - an authorized third party must officiate.
  • No blood test required.
  • Maine also recognizes lawyers admitted to the Maine Bar as authorized officiants (unique provision).
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Maine CDC Vital Statistics (certified marriage record copies) - maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/vital-records | 1-888-664-9491; Municipal Clerk (varies by municipality)