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Marriage and Domestic Partnership

Getting married in Maine

Filing your intentions to marry

Maine residents must file their intention to marry in the municipality of their residence by filing a VS2-A form. If they live in different municipalities, they file in only one of those towns. Intentions can also be filed with Maine Vital Records. The VS2-A form must be completed, signed and notarized.

Out of state residents intending to marry in Maine can file intentions in any Maine municipality.

Once intentions are filed, the municipal clerk will issue a license. The license is good for 90 days.

For Individuals who have previously been married

If you have been married before, you must provide the proof that the previous marriage was dissolved, either by death, divorce or annulment. The municipal clerk will need to see the court order, divorce certificate or death certificate before a license can be issued.

Marriage among relatives

Marriage is not permitted in Maine between two people who are related by blood to one another under Maine Revised Statutes Title 19-A, §651 with the following exception: If the parties recording notice of their intentions to marry are related (first cousins) as described in Title 19-A, section 701, subsection 2, the parties shall submit to the clerk, at the time of recording their intentions to marry, a certificate from a physician stating that the parties have received genetic counseling from the physician.

Age of Consent

Effective September 25, 2025, parties under the age of 18 are not permitted to be married in the State of Maine.

Marriages of emancipated minors are treated as if the child is an adult of 18 years or older. Municipal clerks must be presented with court documents to ascertain the minor’s legal status prior to issuing a marriage license.

Marriage Officiants in Maine

Who can officiate?

Maine law (19-A MRS §655) specifies persons authorized to solemnize marriages in Maine:

If a resident of this State:

  • A justice or judge;
  • A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or
  • A marriage officiant licensed under Maine State Statute: Title 5, section 90-G

Whether a resident or nonresident of this State and whether or not a citizen of the United States:

  • An ordained minister of the gospel.
  • A cleric engaged in the service of the religious body to which the cleric belongs; or
  • A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary, or ecclesiastical body; and
  • a nonresident of the State who has the authority to perform civil marriages (not religious) in their resident State and has applied for a temporary registration certificate issued by the Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics.

More Information can be found here:

How do I find a marriage officiant in Maine?
What are the credentials for an ordained minister?
  • An ordained minister is a person authorized by a church or other religious body to carry out various spiritual operations such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and more generally providing spiritual guidance to the local community.
  • A person ordained through an online process is still considered an ordained minister, at least for the purpose of marrying a couple in the State of Maine. Ordained ministers do not need to complete a temporary registration certificate.
Can a nonresident who is authorized to perform a marriage in their State perform a marriage in Maine?
How do I perform a marriage in Maine?

When a marriage ceremony is performed in the State of Maine, the parties to be married and the officiant (person performing the marriage ceremony) are required to follow certain procedures.  The State Registrar or municipal clerk who issued the marriage license (VS2-B) will have already made sure that the parties have complied with the laws of Maine. However, there are several duties for which the officiant is directly responsible:

  • The parties to be married must present a valid State of Maine marriage license (VS2-B) to the officiant.
  • The officiant should verify the identity of the parties before performing the ceremony. Marriage by proxy is not permitted in the State of Maine.  The parties, two witnesses, and the officiant must be physically present for the marriage ceremony (solemnization). Witnesses do not need to be 18 years of age; they must have a sufficient understanding that they are witnessing a marriage ceremony and must be able to sign their name on the marriage license.
  • The officiant must review the license to ensure that the parties' signatures are present and that the marriage license has not expired.
  • Once the marriage has been performed, the officiant must have the two witnesses sign the license.
  • The officiant must complete the ceremony section of the marriage license.  Black ink is preferred, but not required.
  • The officiant or the parties must file the completed marriage license with the State Registrar or the municipal clerk who issued it within 15 working days. Marriage licenses received after 15 working days will be marked as a late filing.
  • The officiant must keep a copy of the completed marriage license that was filed with the State Registrar or municipal clerk must keep a copy of the completed marriage license that was filed with the State Registrar or municipal clerk.

Performing A Marriage Ceremony in Maine (PDF) -- Instructions and procedures for the officiant.

Marital/Single Status Forms & Information

  • Application for Certificate of Marital Status form (PDF) - The Certificate of Marital Status is usually required for persons conducting business (usually getting married) in a foreign country. If you need a certificate of marital status or no impediment to marriage, please complete this application and send it, along with the appropriate fee outlined on the application, to Maine CDC Vital Records Office, 11 State House Station, 220 Capitol Street, Augusta, ME 04333.

State of Maine Domestic Partnerships Forms & Information

Under Maine law, registered domestic partners are accorded a legal status similar to that of a married person with respect to matters of probate, guardianships, conservatorships, inheritance, protection from abuse, and related matters.

Data, Research and Vital Statistics houses a Domestic Partner Registry.

Forms for the declaration and termination of registered domestic partnerships follow below and are also available by contacting our office or your local municipal office.

For any questions, please contact us directly:

Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
Vital Records Unit
220 Capitol Street
State House Station (SHS) 11
(207) 287-3771
(888) 664-9491

VitalRecords.DHHS@maine.gov