Department

The below information regarding marriage licenses will assist you in filing for a marriage license in Benton.  

Additional information about getting married in Maine can be found at:    http://www.maine.gov/portal/family/marriage.html

FILING INTENTIONS

Marriage intentions must be recorded in writing.  Both parties must sign the intentions in the presence of the Town Clerk/Deputy Town Clerk or a Notary Public.

If you are both residents of Maine but live in separate municipalities, you can have your marriage intentions recorded by the Clerk in either municipality.  If one is a Maine resident and one is not, you must file in the municipality of the Maine resident.  The fee for a marriage license is $30.00.  If the intended bride and groom are both from another State or Country and wish to marry in Maine, they can file intentions in any municipality in Maine and may be married anywhere in the State of Maine.

The Marriage Intentions Form can be found at:    www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohodr/documents/intentions2004.pdf

PREVIOUS MARRIAGE

If you have been married before and are divorced, you must show a certified copy of your last divorce decree (with the raised seal on the papers) to the Clerk/Deputy Clerk.   An annulment decree is required if the last marriage ended in an annulment.  This should not be a church annulment but rather a civil decree.  If your last spouse passed away, you will need to show a certified copy of the death certificate for the deceased spouse.

OBTAINING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE

After you have filed intentions as per the above, you may obtain your marriage license from the Town Clerk (with whom you recorded your intentions).  The license can be obtained the same day that the intentions are filed.  The license must be used within 90 days after the date the intentions are filed.  Once the Town Clerk issues the license, the license must be delivered to the person performing the marriage.   The person performing the marrage is then responsible for returning the completed/signed license to the Town Office.

OBTAINING YOUR MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

After the person performing the marriage returns the completed/signed license to the Town Office, the marriage details will be filed and you may obtain a copy of the Marriage Certificate from the Town Clerk/Deputy Town Clerk.  The fee for the Marriage Certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 each for each additional copy.

NOTARY SEARCH.   Notaries may perform a marriage ceremony.  To find notaries in your area, visit the following website:    http://www.maine.gov/online/notary/search/

                                                               Julie L. Morrison, Town Clerk