Maine Marriage Records Search

Maine marriage records bear enormous importance for couples and the government. Couples require to run a marriage records search for multiple reasons, such as the decision to immigrate together, purchase property, or even apply for spousal benefits. 

The government keeps track of all Maine marriage records online to ensure the statistics and demographic tables get updated accordingly. This article will examine how to find marriage records online in Maine and who is eligible to run a free marriage records search.

Maine Marriage Records

Before going into detail, you need to understand what types of Maine marriage records exist. Their marriage license and marriage certificate are the only documents considered Maine marriage records. 

The marriage license is a document obtained before the ceremony, which legally authorizes the couple to get married, proving there are no legal, religious, or health impediments. On the contrary, a marriage certificate is obtained after the ceremony and contains the following information:

- Names of the Spouses
- Birth Dates of the Spouses
- Addresses (Residence)
- Occupation of the Spouses
- Parent`s Full Names
- Witnesses' Names
- Name of Officiating Minister of Registrar
- Religious Denomination of the Spouses
- Place and Date of the Ceremony

Every time you are asked to provide official marriage records by any legal institution, you will need to provide a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

Who is eligible to run a Maine marriage records search?

Every person who has reached 18 years of age is eligible to run a Maine marriage records search. However, everybody who wants to find marriage records in Maine must do the following two things:

1. Pay a fee

You will be required to pay a fee of $10 to download a certified copy of any of the Maine marriage records.

2. Fill out a written request to run a Marriage records search.

Everybody who wants to find marriage records in Maine online must fill out a written request to run a search. The application must contain the following information:

- Personal and contact information of the requestor
- Personal Data of the party whose name is on the record
- Relationship between the requestor and the party on the record (e.g., father, mother, son, daughter, husband, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, legal guardian, etc.)
- The reason for the request (e.g., insurance proceeds, authentication, death benefits, private purposes, etc.)
- The date of marriage
- The place of marriage
- Scope of search required (statewide or county limited)

It is crucial that you also provide an ID photo in color. However, if you are rejected to run a Maine marriage records search, you can ask for the permission of either of the spouses and apply again. It is essential to ask for permission to be signed by either of the spouses.

How to Find Marriage Records Online in Maine?

Now that you know that Maine marriage records are easily accessible, you might wonder how to find marriage records online in Maine. 

Most of the websites, both government and private ones, would charge you a small fee depending on the type of service. In essence, there are not so many possibilities to run a free marriage records search, especially if you want to run it specifically online.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website | (cdc.gov)

CDC website is probably the only place that allows you to run a free marriage records search. We recommend starting your Maine marriage records search from this website. 

Once you open the website, you will get a general overview of the requirements for running a Maine marriage records search. In most cases, you will access the available information on how and where to find marriage records in Maine. Price lists and working hours will also be published on the website.

Maine Department of Health Website | (www.maine.gov)

This website should be the second on your list as it is an official source containing Maine marriage records. Even though the website does not allow running a free marriage records search, it offers a few services such as amendment of Maine marriage records online or requesting a certified copy.

Independent Platform | (backgroundcheck.co)

Once you have extracted all the information from the two websites mentioned above, there is a possibility to use an independent platform to back up the marriage records search with some additional information. Knowing as little as the names of the spouses mentioned on the documents, you will be able to find the following information on the platform:

· Employment and Education History
· Contact Information
· Civil and Criminal Court Records (if applicable)

This article has explained how to find marriage records online in Maine. If you have more questions about finding marriage records online in Maine, contact the vital records office via phone or email.