Officiating a wedding in Maine
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: maine.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
Maine licenses lay officiants through the Secretary of State: a resident aged 18 or older who meets the criteria holds a marriage officiant license for a term of seven years. Notaries lost their separate authority to solemnize on 1 July 2023, so the widely repeated claim that a Maine notary can marry you is out of date. Maine Bar attorneys, judges and ordained clergy need no such license, and a non-resident officiant instead applies for a temporary registration certificate covering one named couple. The couple files intentions with a municipal clerk, who issues the license; the officiant and two witnesses sign.
Who returns the license, and by when
Either the parties or the person who solemnized the marriage returns the license, to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the clerk who issued it, within 15 working days following the date the marriage was solemnized. Working days are not calendar days, so count them against the office calendar. Late returns are still accepted but are marked as late filings. Confirm the date with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Maine notary still officiate?
No. That authority ended on 1 July 2023. The lay route is now a marriage officiant license from the Secretary of State, held for a seven-year term by a Maine resident who meets the criteria.
Can someone from out of state officiate in Maine?
Yes, through a temporary registration certificate. It asks for proof of authority in the home state, covers one named couple only, and expires when the license is signed or 90 days after issuance, whichever comes first.
When is a Maine marriage license due back?
Within 15 working days of the ceremony, returned by either the parties or the officiant. Late filings are still accepted but are marked as late.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:maine.gov.