Birth / Death / Marriage Certificates

Birth Certificates

Birth records are available at the Town Office in the town where the child was born, at the Town Office in the town where the parents were living when the child was born, and in Augusta at the Office of Vital Records.

By law, Maine birth records less than 75 years old, marriage records less than 50 years old, death records less than 25 years old, and fetal deaths less than 50 years old are considered to be private. To inspect these documents or obtain copies, an individual must prove that they are permitted by law to do so. Those authorized to view or obtain a copy of a vital record include:

• The person named on the record.
• The person’s spouse or registered domestic partner.
• The parent(s) named on the record.
• Descendants of the person named on the record (including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the most remote degree).
• The legal custodian, guardian, or an authorized representative of the person named on the record.
• Genealogists have a researcher card issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics.

Effective July 12, 2010, all individuals requesting copies of these records must present identification and request the record of a parent or grandparent. You are not a registered genealogist, proof of direct lineage.

Registered genealogists may only obtain a non-certified copy of a record unless they can meet the above requirements for obtaining a certified copy. They may only view or obtain a copy of a birth, death, or marriage record.

Birth records 75 years or older, marriage records 50 years or older, death records 25 years or older, and fetal deaths 50 years or older are considered public records. Informational copies can be issued to anyone requesting them.

Proof of identity must be presented to the Town Clerk. A brief application for securing a copy of the vital record must be filled out and presented, along with identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued picture identification. That clearly shows that the person requesting the record is who they say they are. Identification requirements apply whether the records are requested in person or by mail. More information on this issue may be found here.

The fee for obtaining a certified copy of a birth certificate is $15 for the first copy of the record and $6 for each additional copy of the same record purchased at the same time. Certified copies may be obtained at the Town Office during regular business hours.

To obtain a birth certificate through the mail, the applicant needs to fill out a vital records search application and enclose a copy of proper identification and proof of lineage, if applicable.

• Birth Certificate Request Form
• Pay for Certified Copy of Birth Certificate Here

Death Certificates

Death records are available at the Town Office where the death occurred, at the Town Office where the decedent lived at the time of death, and in Augusta at the Office of Vital Records.

By law, Maine birth records less than 75 years old, marriage records less than 50 years old, death records less than 25 years old, and fetal deaths less than 50 years old are considered to be private. To inspect these documents or obtain copies, an individual must prove that they are permitted by law to do so. Those authorized to view or obtain a copy of a vital record include:

• The person named on the record.
• The person’s spouse or registered domestic partner.
• The parent(s) named on the record.
• Descendants of the person named on the record (including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the most remote degree).
• The legal custodian, guardian, or an authorized representative of the person named on the record.
• Genealogists have a researcher card issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics.

Effective July 12, 2010, all individuals requesting copies of these records must present identification and request the record of a parent or grandparent. You are not a registered genealogist, proof of direct lineage.

Registered genealogists may only obtain a non-certified copy of a record unless they can meet the above requirements for obtaining a certified copy. They may only view or obtain a copy of a birth, death, or marriage record.

Birth records 75 years or older, marriage records 50 years or older, death records 25 years or older, and fetal deaths 50 years or older are considered public records. Informational copies can be issued to anyone requesting them.

Proof of identity must be presented to the Town Clerk. A brief application for securing a copy of the vital record must be filled out and presented, along with identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued picture identification. That clearly shows that the person requesting the record is who they say they are. Identification requirements apply whether the records are requested in person or by mail. More information on this issue may be found here.

The fee for obtaining a certified copy of a death certificate is $15 for the first copy of the record and $6 for each additional copy of the same record purchased at the same time. Certified copies may be obtained at the Town Clerks’ Office during regular business hours.

To obtain a death certificate through the mail, the applicant needs to fill out a vital records search application and enclose a copy of proper identification and proof of lineage, if applicable.

• Death Certificate Request Form
• Pay for a Certified Copy of Death Certificate here.

Marriage Licenses & Certificates

Where do I obtain a Marriage License?

• If the bride and groom are residents of the same town, a marriage license must be obtained in the town where they live. After obtaining a marriage license, the bride and groom are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.
• If the bride resides in one town and the groom resides in another, a marriage license may be obtained from either town, but not both. Choose the town that will be the most convenient for you to obtain a certified copy of the marriage at a later date. After obtaining a license, the bride and groom are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.
• If one person resides in the State of Maine, and the other person outside the State, then a marriage license must be obtained in the town where the Maine resident lives if they intend to be married in the State of Maine. After obtaining a marriage license, the bride and groom are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.
• If both the bride and groom live outside the State of Maine, a marriage license can be obtained in any town in Maine. After obtaining a license, the bride and groom are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. It is strongly suggested that the marriage license be obtained from the town where the marriage will take place so that it will be easy to remember where to apply for a marriage certificate later.

Marriage License Instructions

When the Town Clerk completes the marriage license, the bride and groom will be given the license along with a paper explaining to the person performing the ceremony how to fill out the ceremony section of the marriage license. The marriage license and informational sheet should be presented to the person performing the wedding ceremony (pastor, notary public, etc.)

That person is responsible for filling out the marriage license ceremony section and obtaining two witness signatures. They are also responsible for returning the marriage license to the issuing Town Clerk within 7 days of the wedding ceremony. The bride and groom are not permitted to submit the marriage license to the Town Clerk after the wedding ceremony. To find a list of Maine Notaries, click here.

Marriage Certificates

Once the wedding ceremony is complete, and the Town Clerk receives the marriage license back at the Town Office, the Town Clerk records the marriage. The license/certificate of marriage will be filed at the Town Office forever. After the license is recorded, the bride and groom may obtain a Marriage Certificate from the Town Clerk.

The cost for a Marriage Certificate is $15 for the first copy and $6 for any additional copies of the same record purchased at the same time.

The Marriage Certificate is needed for a name change on a driver’s license, bank account, social security card, and other documents.

Please note that the Town Clerk does not automatically mail the certificate of marriage. The bride and groom’s responsibility is to appear before the Town Clerk to fill out an application and pay the fee to obtain the marriage certificate.

By law, Maine birth records less than 75 years old, marriage records less than 50 years old, death records less than 25 years old, and fetal deaths less than 50 years old are considered to be private. To inspect these documents or obtain copies, an individual must prove that they are permitted by law to do so. Those authorized to view or obtain a copy of a vital record include:

• The person named on the record.
• The person’s spouse or registered domestic partner.
• The parent(s) named on the record.
• Descendants of the person named on the record (including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the most remote degree).
• The legal custodian, guardian, or an authorized representative of the person named on the record.
• Genealogists have a researcher card issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics.

Effective July 12, 2010, all individuals requesting copies of these records must present identification and request the record of a parent or grandparent. You are not a registered genealogist, proof of direct lineage.

Registered genealogists may only obtain a non-certified copy of a record unless they can meet the above requirements for obtaining a certified copy. They may only view or obtain a copy of a birth, death, or marriage record.

Birth records 75 years or older, marriage records 50 years or older, death records 25 years or older, and fetal deaths 50 years or older are considered public records. Informational copies can be issued to anyone requesting them.

A copy of the vital record must be filled out and presented, along with identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued picture identification that clearly shows that the person requesting the record is who they say they are. Identification requirements apply whether the records are requested in person or by mail. More information on this issue may be found here.

To obtain a marriage certificate through the mail, the applicant needs to fill out a vital records search application and enclose a copy of proper identification and proof of lineage, if applicable. The application, along with the fee and a self-addressed, stamped envelope, should be mailed to the Town Clerk at 1287 Main Street, Washburn, ME 04786. The request will be processed the same day it is received.

Already Married and seeking a copy of your Marriage Certificate?

• Marriage Certificate Request Form

• Pay for Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate here.