Maine Vital Records - Births, Deaths & Marriages

What You Need to Know:
The Maine State office has kept records since 1892. Records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives. Some earlier records may be available from the municipality where the event occurred. Check or money order should be made payable to Treasurer, State of Maine. Call or visit the Web site to verify current fees.

Web site: Maine Vital Records

Dates: From 1892

Cost of copy: $15.00 (certified-legal); $7.00 (uncertified from State Archives, 1892-1922 only)

Comments: Birth records from 1923 to the present are available by contacting the Maine Office of Vital Statistics (see address above). Include as much information as possible with your request, including the name on the birth record, date of birth, city/town of birth, parents names (including mother's maiden name), your relationship to the individual and your daytime telephone number.

Birth records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives. To order a certified ($15.00) or noncertified ($7.00) copy of a particular birth record, send a check made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Maine" for the indicated amount.

* For birth records prior to 1892 contact the town clerk in the town/municipality where the birth occurred. Since there was no law requiring that they be recorded during this time period, the availability of records will vary, though many towns have records existing from about 1700. The Maine State Archives has an index (not online) to vital records prior to 1892 of 80 towns on 109 microfilms as well as copies of most of the existing pre-1892 vital records. The pre-1892 Maine vital records are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library.

Online: Name Index to Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900 (free)

Dates: From 1892

Cost of copy: $15.00 (certified-legal); $7.00 (uncertified from State Archives, 1892-1922 only)

Comments: Death records from 1923 to the present are available by contacting the Maine Office of Vital Statistics (see address above). Include as much information as possible with your request, including the name of the decedent, date of death, city/town of death, your relationship to the individual and your daytime telephone number.

Death records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives. To order a certified ($15.00) or noncertified ($7.00) copy of a particular death record, send a check made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Maine" for the indicated amount.

* For death records prior to 1892 contact the town clerk in the town/municipality where the death occurred. Since there was no law requiring that they be recorded during this time period, the availability of records will vary, though many towns have records existing from about 1700. The Maine State Archives has an index (not online) to vital records prior to 1892 of 80 towns on 109 microfilms as well as copies of most of the existing pre-1892 vital records. The pre-1892 Maine vital records are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library.

Online:
Index of Maine Deaths: 1960-2007 (free)
Name Index to Maine Deaths & Burials, 1841-1910 (free)

Dates: From 1892

Cost of copy: $15.00 (certified-legal); $7.00 (uncertified from State Archives, 1892-1922 only)

Comments: Marriage records from 1923 to the present are available by contacting the Maine Office of Vital Statistics (see address above). Include as much information as possible with your request, including the name of the bride (including maiden name), name of the groom, date and city/town of marriage, your relationship to the individual and your daytime telephone number.

Marriage records for 1892-1922 are available at the Maine State Archives. Begin by checking the free, online Index of Maine Marriages: 1892-2009. To order a certified ($15.00) or noncertified ($7.00) copy of a particular marriage record send a check made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Maine" for the indicated amount.

* For marriage records prior to 1892 contact the town clerk in the town/municipality where the marriage occurred. Since there was no law requiring that they be recorded during this time period, the availability of records will vary, though many towns have records existing from about 1700. The Maine State Archives has an index (not online) to vital records prior to 1892 of 80 towns on 109 microfilms as well as copies of most of the existing pre-1892 vital records. The pre-1892 Maine vital records are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library.

Online:
Index of Maine Marriages: 1892-2009 (free)
Name Index to Maine Marriages, 1771-1907 (free)

Maine Divorce Records

Cost of copy: $15.00 (certified-legal); $10.00 (uncertified - good for genealogy)

Comments: Divorce records from 1923 to the present are available by contacting the Maine Office of Vital Statistics (see address above). Include as much information as possible with your request, including the names on the divorce record, the date and city/town of the divorce, your relationship to the individual and your daytime telephone number.

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