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MeCDC home > Ordering Vital Records

Ordering Vital Records

The Office of Vital Records does not give out any information without collecting a fee for the search. We are not computerized; therefore, we must do a manual search. The fee for a search and non-certified copy is $25.00 for every 1 year that we search. Fees for obtaining a certified copy (legal document) are $60.00 (this includes a one year search as well).

Vital records, back to the year 1923, are available from our office through regular mail or Internet.  Records prior to 1923 may be obtained through the office of Maine State Archives, State House Station #84, Augusta, ME 04333, or you may call them at (207) 287-5795 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  They are closed between the hours of 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch.

Records of birth are NOT automatically sent to you after the birth of your child and marriage certificates are NOT automatically sent to you after your marriage.  These records must be purchased.

The following procedure(s) apply in order for you to receive a copy of your vital record from our office:

Requests leave our office in the following manner:

  • Orders being returned by regular mail may take up to 7 to 10 business days for processing
  • Orders being returned by Federal Express may take up to 3 to 5 business days for processing

In Person

If you are planning to be in the Augusta area, you may walk into our office at 244 Water Street and apply for your record in person.  The fee is $60.00 for a certified copy and $25.00 for additional copies of the same record.  Non-certified copies (usually used for information only) cost $25.00. 

The Office of Vital Records located at 244 Water Street in Augusta, is available to take walk in requests. There is a 24 hour turnaround time for all requests made in person. You will be given a choice to have your records mailed to you, or you can pick them up the following business day.

Note: The recent (11/2008) change in requirements for obtaining or renewing your drivers license may results in longer waits, both at our office, and in the time it takes to process your request

Regular Mail

If you choose to send your request in through regular mail, for Birth Records we will need the child's name at birth, date of birth, place of birth (city or town) and the parents’ names (father's name and mother's maiden name.)  For Marriage - we need the name of the Groom and the Bride, place of marriage and date of event.  Divorce - Name of husband and wife, court where the divorce took place and date of event.  Death - Name of decedent, place of death, date of event and your relation to the decedent.  If you do not have all the information, send in as much information as you can.  You MUST provide at least an approximate year of event as all of our records are filed by date.  Certified copies are $60.00 for the first copy and $25.00 for additional copies of the same record.  Non-certified copies are $25.00.  These fees include a 1 year search in the event you cannot remember the exact date of event.  Certified copies are state certified copies of records with a raised seal and non-certified are black and white photo-copies which are stamped  "Not To Be Used As A Legal Document."  Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to 'Treasurer, State of Maine.

If you choose to mail in your request, please send the appropriate fee, along with your request to:  Vital Records, 244 Water Street, State House Station #11, Augusta, ME 04333.

Internet:

If you have Internet access, you can order your record at www.vitalchek.com.  You will need to use your credit card to place your order this way. We use a company called VitalChek to process credit card orders.  In addition to our regular charges, VitalChek will include their processing fee.  Please read all instructions carefully so you will be aware of any charges that will be charged to your card.  Again, you can choose to have your order sent back by Federal Express.  The fees for Federal Express will also be charged to your card.

IN ALL CASES YOU SHOULD INCLUDE A DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER.  If we have questions during the processing, lack of a phone number will delay the turnaround time.

FEDERAL EXPRESS DOES NOT DELIVER TO P.O. BOXES.  YOU MUST PROVIDE A PHYSICAL ADDRESS IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE YOUR RECORD RETURNED BY FEDERAL EXPRESS.

PLEASE WAIT 7 DAYS BEFORE CALLING OUR OFFICE TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF YOUR REQUEST.  OUR OFFICE RECEIVES A LARGE VOLUME OF REQUESTS ON A DAILY BASIS AND YOUR ORDER WILL BE PROCESSED QUICKER WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS.