Maine is one of only three states (the other two are South Carolina and Florida) who authorize their notaries public to “solemnize the rites of matrimony.” §655-1-A-3, Maine Revised Statutes. The Maine notary may perform a marriage ceremony providing the couple first obtain a marriage license from an authorized Maine official and may only perform such ceremony within the geographical boundaries of Maine. Thus, a Maine notary could not perform a marriage ceremony in another state. Additionally, a notary from another state, including South Carolina and Florida, could not perform a marriage ceremony in Maine. And, a Maine notary may not marry a couple who has obtained a marriage license from another state.
On March 13th, 2012, the Maine House of Representatives unanimously voted to indefinitely postpone a bill allowing for same-sex marriage, which has the effect of sending it directly to the voters. A recent poll from PPP shows that Maine voters are likely to approve it: It looks like Maine voters will reverse their 2009 decision and legalize gay marriage in the state this fall. 54% think that gay marriage should be legal to only 41% who think it should be illegal. And when we asked about the issue using the exact language voters will see on the ballot this fall, they say they’re inclined to support the referendum by a 47-32 margin.
OFFICIANTS
(603) 888-2902 (Nashau, NH) Whether you're looking for an elegantly formal ceremony & uniquely personalized, or informally simple & short (or somewhere in-between) I'll work with you to make sure your wedding ceremony is exactly what you want.
(207) 608-1139 (Kennebunk, ME) I know how important the wedding location, vows and ceremony can be, as I was married on a beautiful beach in 2008. Keeping with that special day, I've incorporated those memories into beautiful vows that to share with you.
(207) 315-5586 (Wiscasset, ME) I am a Maine Notary Public doing marriages within 100 miles of Wiscasset, ME. Religious ceremonies as well as any type customization you may come up with. I also have many sample ceremonies available.
(603) 396.7564 (Manchester, NH) The ceremony is what your wedding day is centered around. It's the words that describe your love for one another and proclaim that love to the world! Create your own ceremony with our help.
(207) 232-1941 (Portland, ME) I am a wedding officiant in Maine and would be honored to help you create and perform your customized ceremony ... your way!!
(207) 749-0054 (Gorham, ME) Your vow and ceremony will reflect who you as a couple. Your ceremony will suit your wedding setting and style. The ceremony will set tone for your special day.
(207) 522-8681 (East Wakefield, NH) A wedding in purest form is the acceptance by community of two people, their love for one another, their desire to become a family.
(603) 496-8831 (Wells, ME) Weddings personalized and performed at your dream MAINE location, from traditional to the beautiful sand ceremony. Contact us early to insure your date.
MAINE STATE LAWS
2010 Maine Code
TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
(HEADING: PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, @2 (new); Pt. E, @2 (aff))
Chapter 23: MARRIAGE
19-A §654. Record of marriages
19-A ME Rev Stat § 654
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§654. Record of marriages
1. Copy. Every person authorized to unite persons in marriage shall make and keep a record of every marriage solemnized by that person in conformity with the forms and instructions prescribed by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics pursuant to Title 22, section 2701.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
2. Return of original; copies. The person who solemnized the marriage shall return each original certificate to the clerk who issued the certificate within 7 working days following the date on which the marriage is solemnized by that person. The clerk and the State Registrar of Vital Statistics each shall retain a copy of the certificate.
[ 2001, c. 574, §5 (AMD) .]
3. Statement including officiant and witnesses. Each certificate and copy returned must contain a statement giving the names of the parties united in marriage, place and date of the marriage, the signature of the person by whom the marriage was solemnized and the names of the 2 witnesses. The person who solemnized the marriage shall add the title of the office by virtue of which the marriage was solemnized, the residence of the person who solemnized the marriage and:
A. The date ordained or authorized by a religious faith to perform marriages; [1995, c. 694,
Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
B. The date the notary public’s commission expires; or [1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
C. The date the lawyer was admitted to the Maine Bar. [1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
4. Recorded by clerk. The clerk shall record all certificates or copies returned under this section.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). 2001, c. 574, §5 (AMD).
19-A §655. Authorization; penalties
19-A ME Rev Stat § 655 (2010 through 124th Legis)
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§655. Authorization; penalties
1. Persons authorized to solemnize marriages. The following may solemnize marriages in this State:
A. If a resident of this State:
(1) A justice or judge;
(2) A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or
(4) A notary public under Title 4, chapter 19; and [2001, c. 574, §6 (AMD).]
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. [1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[ 2001, c. 574, §6 (AMD) .]
2. Enforcement. The State Registrar of Vital Statistics shall enforce this section as far as it comes within the state registrar’s power and shall notify the district attorney of the county in which the penalty should be enforced of the facts that have come to the state registrar’s knowledge. Upon receipt of this notice, the district attorney shall prosecute the person who violated this section.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). 2001, c. 574, §6 (AMD).
19-A §656. License
19-A ME Rev Stat § 656 (2010 through 124th Legis)
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§656. License
1. Contents of license. A marriage license must have conspicuously printed on it the following words: “The laws of Maine provide that only authorized persons may solemnize marriages in this State.”
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
2. Completed license; ceremony performed. Each marriage license issued must be completed and the certification statement signed by both parties to the intended marriage. The completed license or licenses must be delivered by the parties to the person solemnizing the marriage. Upon completion of the solemnization, which must be performed in the presence of at least 2 witnesses other than the person officiating, the person officiating and the 2 witnesses shall sign the license or licenses, which are then known as the marriage certificate or certificates.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF).
19-A §657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority
19-A ME Rev Stat § 657 (2010 through 124th Legis)
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority
A marriage, solemnized before any known inhabitant of the State professing to be a justice, judge, notary public or an ordained or licensed minister of the gospel, is not void, nor is its validity affected by any want of jurisdiction or authority in the justice, judge, notary or minister or by any omission or informality in entering the intention of marriage, if the marriage is in other respects lawful and consummated with a full belief, on the part of either of the persons married, that they are lawfully married. [2001, c. 574, §7 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). 2001, c. 574, §7 (AMD).
19-A §658. Quaker; Baha’i
19-A ME Rev Stat § 658 (2010 through 124th Legis)
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§658. Quaker; Baha’i
A marriage solemnized among Quakers or Friends, in the form practiced in their meeting, or solemnized among members of the Baha’i faith according to the rules and principles of the Baha’i faith, is valid and not affected by this subchapter. The clerk or the keeper of the records of the meeting or ceremony in which a marriage is solemnized shall return evidence of the solemnization of the marriage as provided in section 654. A person who willfully neglects or refuses to perform the duty imposed upon that person by this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $100 for each offense may be adjudged for the use of the municipality in which the offense occurred.
[1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF).
19-A §659. Penalties
19-A ME Rev Stat § 659 (2010 through 124th Legis)
Part 2: MARRIED PERSONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS HEADING:
PL 1995, C. 694, PT. B, §2 (NEW); PT. E, §2 (AFF)
§659. Penalties
1. Solemnization without authorization. A person who solemnizes a marriage when not authorized to do so under section 655 commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $100 for each offense may be adjudged. Forfeitures collected must be distributed to the municipality in which the offense occurred.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
2. Solemnization contrary to chapter. A person who intentionally or knowingly joins persons in marriage in violation of this chapter commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of $100 may be adjudged. The person may not join persons in marriage after being adjudicated as violating this subsection.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
3. Violation by party to the marriage. A person who contracts a marriage in violation of this chapter commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of $100 may be adjudged. A person who makes false representations to obtain a marriage license or to cause the solemnization of marriage in violation of this chapter commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of $100 may be adjudged.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
4. Violation by clerk. The clerk of a municipality who intentionally violates this chapter or falsely states the residence of either of the parties named in the license or certificate commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of $20 for each offense may be adjudged.
[ 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF).
