Instructions for obtaining a marriage license
The following requirements are effective for Intentions of Marriage received by the Town Clerk on or after Thursday, July 25, 2002
- Filing Intentions of Marriage by Mail
- Filing Intentions of Marriage in Person
- Obtaining a certified copy
Where to apply:
Residents of the State of Maine shall record notice of their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which at least one of them resides. If only one of the parties resides in Maine, the parties shall record notice of their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the resident party resides. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. The license is valid for a period of 90 days from the date the intentions are filed.
Out-of-State Residents must file their intentions to marry in any municipal office. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. The license is valid for a period of 90 days from the date the intentions are filed.
Requirements:
Intentions of Marriage
The bride and groom wishing to record notice of their intentions of marriage shall submit an application for recording notice of their intentions of marriage. The bride and groom's signatures must be notarized.
No blood tests are required.
Record of Social Security Numbers
The bride and groom must file a Record of Social Security Numbers. This document is not for public inspection.
Filing Fee
The filing fee is $40.
Previous Marriage(s)
If either the bride or groom has been previously married, a certified copy of the death or divorce decree, whichever ended the previous marriage, must be presented to the clerk where the intentions of marriage are filed. The certified copy must be presented to the clerk prior to the issuance of the marriage license.
A certified copy of a divorce decree may be obtained from the clerk of courts in the county were the divorce was filed. The clerk of courts will certify the document using an embossed seal. Photocopies are not accepted.
A certified copy of a death certificate may be obtained from the clerk in the town/city of the place of death. The clerk will certify the document using an embossed seal. Photocopies are not accepted.
Filing Intentions of Marriage by Mail
STEP 1: (All of the required forms are available for download and printing from our website.)
For couples filing the Intentions of Marriage by mail, the completed Intention of Marriage, Record of Social Security Numbers, filing fee and certified death/divorce decree(s), if applicable, is forwarded to the clerk where the bride and groom file their intentions.
Couples filing in Cape Elizabeth, please forward the paperwork to:
Town Clerk
320 Ocean House Road
P.O. Box 6260
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Telephone: (207) 767-7473
E-mail: debra.lane@capeelizabeth.org (Town Clerk)
STEP 2:
Once the Intention of Marriage and required documents have been received by the clerk, both the bride and groom must appear in person in the office of the clerk to sign the marriage license, prior to the ceremony.
Proof of identity, e.g. driver's license, passport, state I.D. must be provided to the clerk when the bride and groom appear to sign the license.
Couples who file in Cape Elizabeth are asked to contact the town clerk to make an appointment. The Town Clerk's Office is open Monday 7:30AM - 5:00PM, Tuesday - Friday 7:30AM - 4:00PM. The office is closed weekends and holidays, no exceptions.
STEP 3:
The marriage license is completed by the officiant legally qualified to perform a marriage in Maine, and signed by two witnesses. The officiant is required to file the license within 7 working days of the ceremony with the clerk where the license was issued.
Filing Intentions of Marriage In Person
STEP 1: (All of the required forms are available for download and printing from our website.)
For couples filing the Intentions of Marriage in person, the Intention of Marriage, and Record of Social Security Numbers is completed at the office of the clerk where the intentions are filed.
The filing fee of $40.00 is paid at the time of filing.
The certified death/divorce decree(s), if applicable, is presented to the clerk at the time of filing. The marriage license will not be issued without the proper decree(s).
Proof of identity, e.g. driver's license, passport, state I.D. must be provided to the clerk at the time of filing.
Couples filing in Cape Elizabeth, the Office of the Town Clerk is located:
Town Hall
320 Ocean House Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Telephone: (207) 799-7665. E-mail: debra.lane@capeelizabeth.orgCouples who file in Cape Elizabeth are asked to contact the town clerk to make an appointment. The Town Clerk's Office is open Monday 7:30AM - 5:00PM, Tuesday - Friday 7:30AM - 4:00PM. The office is closed weekends and holidays, no exceptions.
STEP 2:
The marriage license is completed by the officiant legally qualified to perform a marriage in Maine, and signed by two witnesses. The officiant is required to file the license within 7 working days of the ceremony with the clerk where the license was issued.Obtaining Certified Copies
Certified copies of the license are available at the office of the clerk where the intentions were filed. A fee of $15.00 plus $6.00 for each additional copy is required.
To request certified copies from the Town of Cape Elizabeth, please include the following information:
Name of Bride and Groom
Date of Ceremony
Mailing address which to return the certified copies
Number of Certified Copies Requested
Make Check Payable to: Town of Cape Elizabeth
Mail To:
Town Clerk
P.O. Box 6260
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
(207) 767-7473
debra.lane@capeelizabeth.org
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