How to Get Married in Maine (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Maine · Last updated 2026-05-18
A Maine marriage is governed by Maine statute, not a generic national process. Between license issuance and the ceremony itself, the rule is: 0 days. The window during which the license remains usable: 90 days. On common-law marriage, Maine does not recognize common law marriage. Below are the Maine license requirements, supporting documents, and the officiant rules that control whether the ceremony is legally complete.
Key Considerations
The Maine marriage code carries two timing layers. The first is the waiting period between issuance and lawful solemnization: 0 days. The second is the license's validity period, after which a fresh license is required: 90 days. Both are statutory; neither is negotiable with the clerk.
Once the license clears, two more Maine rules govern whether the marriage is legally formed. Common-law recognition: Maine does not recognize common law marriage. See the state agency website. Authorized officiants: A. If a resident of this State: (1) A justice or judge; (2) A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or (3) A marriage officiant licensed under Title 5, section 90-G; B. Whether a resident or nonresident of this State and whether or not a citizen of the United States: (1) An ordained minister of the gospel; (2) A cleric engaged in the service of the religious body to which the cleric belongs; or (3) A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body; and C. A nonresident of the State who has a temporary registration certificate issued by the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics pursuant to subsection 1-A. Couples eloping in Maine or using an out-of-state officiant should confirm both before the ceremony.
A Maine marriage starts with a license, and a license starts with two threshold questions: cost and age eligibility. The cost question runs to the issuing clerk: $40. See the state agency website. The age question is set by the state marriage code: The clerk or State Registrar of Vital Statistics may not issue a marriage license to a person under 18 years of age. Both are settled before any application is signed.
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Relevant Documents
The Maine document set runs roughly as follows: the marriage-license application (filed with the county or town clerk), identification for each applicant, and the premarital-course completion certificate where one is being used to claim a discount or waiver. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. Payment of the marriage-license fee is handled at the counter when the Maine application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Maine Marriage License Requirements
In Maine, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at a municipal office, provide identification, and pay the required fee. The license is valid for 90 days from issuance, and there is no waiting period in Maine, meaning you can get married the same day you receive your license.
Maine Residency Requirements for Marriage
Maine does not have a residency requirement for marriage, meaning non-residents can obtain a marriage license and get married in the state. This is relevant for couples who live elsewhere but wish to have their wedding in Maine.
Maine Age Requirements for Marriage
In Maine, the minimum age to marry is 18. Individuals who are 16 or 17 years old may marry with parental consent. Maine law prohibits marriage for anyone under 16 years of age, which is important to know if either party is a minor.
Maine Marriage Officiant Requirements
Maine law recognizes marriages performed by ordained ministers, priests, or clergy members of any religious denomination. Judges, justices of the peace, and notary publics are also authorized to solemnize marriages. The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the state to legally officiate weddings.
Maine Marriage Certificate Filing
After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the municipal clerk within seven days. This legal requirement ensures your marriage is officially recorded with the state, which is essential for legal recognition of your marriage.
Regional Variances
Southern Maine
Portland has a streamlined marriage license process with City Hall offering extended hours on certain days for marriage license applications. Couples can apply online to expedite the in-person process. The waiting period is still 3 days as required by state law, but Portland offers a more efficient application system than many other municipalities.
York County coastal towns (like Kennebunkport and Ogunquit) are popular wedding destinations and have specialized staff to handle marriage licenses for out-of-state couples. These municipalities are experienced with non-resident marriages and may provide additional guidance for planning destination weddings. Note that summer months can be busy, so appointments are recommended.
Central and Northern Maine
Bangor requires appointments for marriage license applications, unlike some southern municipalities that accept walk-ins. The city clerk's office has specific hours for marriage-related services that differ from regular office hours, so couples should call ahead to confirm availability.
In Maine's northernmost county, some smaller town offices have limited hours for marriage license applications (often only 2-3 days per week). Couples should plan accordingly and call ahead. Some municipalities in this region may require additional planning time during winter months when weather can affect office closures.
Coastal Maine
Bar Harbor and surrounding Acadia National Park areas require special permits for weddings held in the national park, in addition to the standard marriage license. The town clerk works closely with park authorities but couples should begin this process at least 3-4 months in advance due to the popularity of the location.
Coastal towns like Camden, Rockland, and Boothbay Harbor have specific regulations regarding beach and waterfront weddings. Public beaches may require separate permits from the marriage license, and some municipalities have noise ordinances that affect reception planning. These towns often have designated wedding coordinators in their town offices to help navigate local regulations.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Submit the Maine marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after starting$40. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree.
Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application
Before the ceremony days after startingStandard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married.
Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after starting90 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before applying days after starting0 days. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing.
Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Maine authorized-officiant list
At the ceremony days after startingA. If a resident of this State: (1) A justice or judge; (2) A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or (3) A marriage officiant licensed under Title 5, section 90-G; B. Whether a resident or nonresident of this State and whether or not a citizen of the United States: (1) An ordained minister of the gospel; (2) A cleric engaged in the service of the religious body to which the cleric belongs; or (3) A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body; and C. A nonresident of the State who has a temporary registration certificate issued by the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics pursuant to subsection 1-A. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Maine should be confirmed against the Maine list, since reciprocity is not automatic.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit the Maine marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office | $40. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application | Standard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date | 90 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | 0 days. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before applying |
| Where the state recognizes a premarital-course incentive, plan the course before applying | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The clerk applies the fee reduction or waiting-period waiver based on the original course-completion certificate produced at filing. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Maine authorized-officiant list | A. If a resident of this State: (1) A justice or judge; (2) A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or (3) A marriage officiant licensed under Title 5, section 90-G; B. Whether a resident or nonresident of this State and whether or not a citizen of the United States: (1) An ordained minister of the gospel; (2) A cleric engaged in the service of the religious body to which the cleric belongs; or (3) A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body; and C. A nonresident of the State who has a temporary registration certificate issued by the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics pursuant to subsection 1-A. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Maine should be confirmed against the Maine list, since reciprocity is not automatic. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
0 days. Plan the ceremony date in Maine against the earliest lawful day under this rule; a wedding that occurs before the period runs is voidable, and the couple would have to redo the ceremony after the period closes.
Maine does not recognize common law marriage. The doctrine has been narrowed or abolished prospectively in most states over the past century. Couples planning a future marriage in Maine should not assume common-law status without confirming the current rule against the state marriage code.
$40. The most reliable source for the current Maine figure is the issuing clerk's published fee schedule rather than third-party guides, which can lag behind statutory amendments and local add-ons.
Other Maine guides
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