Guide
Getting married in Maine
The paperwork, the 90-day clock, and the one rule that catches out-of-state couples every single year.
The short version
Maine is a straightforward place to get married, including if you live somewhere else.
You file an intention to marry with a municipal clerk and they issue the licence. There is no waiting period, so you can be married the same day it is issued. The licence is valid for 90 days and only within Maine. No blood test is required.
If you are both from out of state, you can file at any Maine town office — it does not have to be the town you are marrying in.
If either of you is a Maine resident, you file in the municipality where you live. If you live in different Maine towns, you only need to file in one of them.
You file an intention to marry with a municipal clerk and they issue the licence. There is no waiting period, so you can be married the same day it is issued. The licence is valid for 90 days and only within Maine. No blood test is required.
If you are both from out of state, you can file at any Maine town office — it does not have to be the town you are marrying in.
If either of you is a Maine resident, you file in the municipality where you live. If you live in different Maine towns, you only need to file in one of them.
What to bring and know
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Photo ID
A driver's licence or similar may be required. Bring it.
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90 days
The licence is valid for 90 days from filing, and only inside Maine. Do not file too early.
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No waiting period
Maine no longer has one. The licence can be used as soon as it is issued.
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Previous marriages
If either of you has been married before, bring a certified copy — with the raised seal — of the divorce decree or the death certificate of the last spouse.
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No blood test
Not required in Maine. It still gets asked about constantly.
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Fees vary
The fee is set and collected municipally, so ring the specific town clerk rather than trusting a number you read online.
⚠️ The officiant rule that catches people out
This is the one to read twice if you are planning a Maine wedding from another state.
Maine does not have Justices of the Peace. And out-of-state Notaries and Justices of the Peace cannot officiate a wedding in Maine.
So the friend who got ordained online in another state, or the notary who married your sister in New Jersey, may not be able to legally marry you here. Couples discover this late and it is a genuinely stressful thing to fix in the last fortnight.
Maine marriages can be solemnised by ordained ministers, by preachers licensed through an association or seminary, by Maine judges, justices and Maine-admitted lawyers who are Maine residents, and by licensed Maine Marriage Officiants. The state keeps a searchable list of licensed officiants.
Check this early. Before you book anything else.
Maine does not have Justices of the Peace. And out-of-state Notaries and Justices of the Peace cannot officiate a wedding in Maine.
So the friend who got ordained online in another state, or the notary who married your sister in New Jersey, may not be able to legally marry you here. Couples discover this late and it is a genuinely stressful thing to fix in the last fortnight.
Maine marriages can be solemnised by ordained ministers, by preachers licensed through an association or seminary, by Maine judges, justices and Maine-admitted lawyers who are Maine residents, and by licensed Maine Marriage Officiants. The state keeps a searchable list of licensed officiants.
Check this early. Before you book anything else.
Where this fits into planning
The licence is the easy part. The hard part of a Maine wedding is almost always the guests — getting them here, housing them, and answering the same four questions for six months.
That is what a wedding website is for, and it is why the Maine version of one looks different from a generic template. Travel times, lodging near a venue with no rooms of its own, and directions for the stretch of road where the phone signal quits.
That is what a wedding website is for, and it is why the Maine version of one looks different from a generic template. Travel times, lodging near a venue with no rooms of its own, and directions for the stretch of road where the phone signal quits.
Marriage licence questions
Can we get married in Maine if we do not live there?
Yes. If neither of you is a Maine resident you may apply at any Maine town office, and it does not have to be the town where the wedding is.
How long is a Maine marriage licence valid?
Ninety days, and it can only be used within Maine.
Is there a waiting period in Maine?
No. Maine no longer has a waiting period between the licence being issued and the wedding taking place.
Can our friend who got ordained online marry us in Maine?
Not automatically. Maine has specific rules about who may solemnise a marriage, and out-of-state Notaries and Justices of the Peace cannot. Check against the state's guidance before you rely on it.
Do we need a blood test?
No. Maine does not require one.
What does the licence cost?
Fees are set municipally, so ask the town clerk you will be filing with rather than relying on a figure from a blog.
Source
The licence and officiant details on this page come from the State of Maine: https://www.maine.gov/portal/residents/marriage.html
Rules change. Confirm with the town clerk you will actually be filing with before you make plans around anything here.
Rules change. Confirm with the town clerk you will actually be filing with before you make plans around anything here.
Sorted the paperwork? The guests are the other half.
Send your names, your date and your venue. A first version comes back in about three days.
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