To get married in Maine, both people apply in person at a town clerk’s office for a marriage license, pay a $40 fee, hold a ceremony within 90 days with an authorized officiant and two witnesses, and have the officiant return the signed license to the clerk within seven working days. Maine has no blood test requirement and no waiting period between the license and the ceremony, so the whole thing can happen in a single day if you’re ready.
Who Can Marry in Maine
Both parties must be at least 18 to marry without additional approval.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 19-A – Issuance of Marriage License A 17-year-old may marry only with written consent from both parents or legal guardians, or with a judge’s approval. No one under 17 can marry in Maine under any circumstances.
Maine prohibits marriage between close relatives, including parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. First cousins can marry only if both provide a physician’s certificate showing they received genetic counseling.2Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 19-A – Prohibited Marriages and Exceptions
If either of you was previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate that ended the prior marriage. It must carry an official embossed seal; photocopies are not accepted.3Maine.gov. Marriage Section of Municipal Clerks Handbook Non-residents who were previously married also need an affidavit stating they are free to marry under the laws of their home state or country.
Maine has no remarriage waiting period. Every divorce judgment has a 21-day appeal window; once that window closes, or both spouses sign a waiver of appeal, the divorce is final and you can remarry right away.4Social Security Administration. Summaries of State Laws on Divorce and Remarriage
Getting the Marriage License
Where you file depends on residency:
- If both of you live in Maine, file at the town clerk’s office where at least one of you resides.
- If only one of you lives in Maine, file in the municipality where the Maine resident lives.
- If neither of you lives in Maine, file at any town clerk’s office in the state.
Both people must appear in person at the clerk’s office to file the Intentions of Marriage form.5Maine.gov. Getting Married in Maine Bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID, along with your Social Security numbers, which are required by federal law under 42 U.S.C. §666 but are kept confidential and do not appear on public records.6Maine.gov. VS2-A Marriage Intentions Form
The form asks each of you for your residence, date of birth, parental information, and previous marital history. You each complete your own section and sign the certification statement in front of the clerk. Call ahead: policies on appointments and payment methods vary by municipality.3Maine.gov. Marriage Section of Municipal Clerks Handbook
The license fee is $40. There is no mandatory waiting period, so the ceremony can happen the same day. The license is valid for 90 days from the filing date and can only be used for a ceremony performed inside Maine. If the 90 days lapse, you start over and pay the fee again.1Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 19-A – Issuance of Marriage License
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Maine law is specific about who may officiate.7Maine Legislature. Maine Code Title 19-A – Authorization and Penalties Maine residents who qualify include judges and justices, attorneys admitted to the Maine Bar (no separate officiant license needed), and people holding a marriage officiant license under Title 5, §90-G.
Ordained ministers, clerics actively serving a religious body, and persons licensed to preach by a religious association, seminary, or ecclesiastical body may officiate whether or not they live in Maine. A qualifying non-resident may need a temporary registration certificate from the Maine CDC’s vital records office.8Maine.gov. Performing a Marriage Ceremony in Maine
If you’d like a friend or relative to officiate and they don’t fit any of those categories, they can apply for a marriage officiant license through the Maine Secretary of State. Since July 1, 2023, notaries no longer have automatic authority to solemnize marriages. To qualify for the officiant license, the applicant must be at least 18, a Maine resident, and demonstrate an understanding of Maine’s marriage laws. The application fee is $25, and processing takes 10 to 15 business days, so apply well before the wedding date.9Maine Secretary of State. Marriage Officiant Information
Maine does not allow self-solemnization. Every marriage must be performed by an authorized officiant.
The Ceremony and Signing the License
Your ceremony can take place anywhere in Maine, whether a church, a beach, a backyard, or a courthouse. Two witnesses must be present and sign the marriage license. Witnesses do not need to be 18 or older, and the officiant cannot also serve as a witness.8Maine.gov. Performing a Marriage Ceremony in Maine
After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the ceremony section of the license. Both spouses, both witnesses, and the officiant sign, preferably in black ink. The officiant then has seven working days to return the completed license to the municipal clerk’s office that issued it or to the State Registrar.8Maine.gov. Performing a Marriage Ceremony in Maine This filing is what makes your marriage a public record. Confirm your officiant understands the deadline, because a missed filing creates problems later.
Getting Certified Copies of Your Marriage Certificate
Once the officiant returns the signed license and the clerk processes it, you can order certified copies from either the town clerk that issued the license or the Maine CDC’s Data, Research, and Vital Statistics office. The fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.10Maine CDC. Request Documents You’ll need to show proof of identity.
Order at least two or three copies at once. You’ll use them for name changes, insurance updates, and other administrative tasks, and ordering extras up front is cheaper than requesting them one at a time later.
Changing Your Name
Taking a new last name is optional. If you choose to, start with Social Security, then work outward.
Request a replacement Social Security card in your new name from the Social Security Administration. Depending on your situation, you may be able to do it online, or you may need to visit a local office. Bring your certified marriage certificate and proof of identity. There is no fee.11Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security
Next, update your driver’s license or state ID at the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Bring your current license and proof of the name change. A standard (non-compliant) duplicate costs $5; a REAL ID duplicate costs $30.12Maine Secretary of State. Replacement Duplicate License or Identification Card Because federal facilities and domestic flights require REAL ID, most people pay the $30.
From there, update bank accounts, credit cards, your passport (through the U.S. Department of State), voter registration, employer records, and any professional licenses. Handling these in the first few weeks avoids a backlog of mismatched paperwork.
Legal Effects Worth Knowing
Marriage changes your legal standing in several practical ways. If your spouse dies without a will, Maine’s intestate succession rules govern the estate. When all surviving children are also children of the surviving spouse and there is no other descendant, the surviving spouse inherits the entire estate. When there are surviving children from a different relationship, the surviving spouse receives only half.13Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 18-C – Share of Spouse If either of you has children from a prior relationship, an estate plan matters.
For taxes, you can file jointly starting with the tax year in which you marry. For tax year 2026, married couples filing jointly receive a standard deduction of $32,200, compared to $16,100 for single filers.14Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 Marriage also triggers a 60-day special enrollment period for health insurance, letting you join your spouse’s employer plan or adjust marketplace coverage without waiting for open enrollment.