Data, Research and Vital Statistics

 

New Vital Records Laws Effective August 30, 2012

The following laws were enacted from the previous legislative session. The laws affect changes to the following:

Chapter 511 - – Closes Notice of Intentions to Marry form for 50 years, removes requirement to collect social security numbers from parties intending to marry, includes Intentions to Marry form under list of certificates and records which genealogists with researcher identification cards may access and be issued noncertified copies, delineates that the State Registrar will designate where births occurring in unincorporated places in Maine must be recorded or registered electronically, reduces the time frame for delayed birth registration and instructs individuals assuming custody of a child of unknown parentage to report to the Vital Records office instead of the local municipality.

Click the following links for a summary of the laws:

 

Vital Records Laws Effective September 28, 2011

The following laws were enacted from the previous legislative session. The laws affect changes to the following:

Chapter 58 - Access to Vital Records and a change in the timeframes for closed records and public records.

Chapter 111 - Individuals authorized in another state or US territory to perform marriages may apply to perform a marriage in Maine.

Chapter 64 - Adds guidelines for custody and control over deceased individuals. This law also authorizes a funeral director/establishment to complete a Certificate of Abandonment for deceased individuals who have not been claimed and 15 days from the date of death has lapsed. This authorizes the funeral director to bury the deceased.

Click the following links for a summary of the laws: