# 19-A M.R.S. § 654: 19-A §654. Record of marriages

> Maine · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S654

## Section

- **Citation:** 19-A M.R.S. § 654
- **Heading:** 19-A §654. Record of marriages
- **Jurisdiction:** Maine
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** ME Code / Title 19-A / Part 2 / Chapter 23 / Section 654

## Text

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 . [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

2. Return of marriage license. The parties or the person who solemnized the marriage shall return the marriage license to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics or the clerk who issued the license within 15 working days following the date on which the marriage is solemnized. The clerk and the State Registrar of Vital Statistics each shall retain a copy of the license. If a marriage license is returned later than 15 working days following the date on which the marriage is solemnized, the marriage must be marked as a late filing. [PL 2025, c. 130, §4 (AMD).]

3. Statement including officiant and witnesses. The marriage license returned must contain a statement giving the names of the parties united in marriage, place and date of the marriage, the new name of either party if either party intends to change that party's name, 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; [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).] B. The date the marriage officiant's license expires; [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. B, §3 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).] C. The date the lawyer was admitted to the Maine Bar; or [PL 2011, c. 111, §1 (AMD).] D. The date the person's temporary registration certificate was issued under section 655, subsection 1‑A . [PL 2011, c. 111, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. B, §3 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 651, Pt. B, §7 (AFF).]

4. Recorded by clerk or State Registrar of Vital Statistics. The clerk or State Registrar of Vital Statistics shall attach electronic copies of the completed marriage licenses returned under this section in the electronic system specified by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. [PL 2025, c. 130, §5 (AMD).]

## Nearby sections

- [19-A M.R.S. § 650 19-A §650. Findings and purposes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S650.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 650-A 19-A §650-A. Codification of marriage](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S650-A.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 650-B 19-A §650-B. Recognition of marriage licensed and certified in another jurisdiction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S650-B.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 651 19-A §651. Recording of intentions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S651.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 652 19-A §652. Issuance of marriage license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S652.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 653 19-A §653. Filing of cautions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S653.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 654 19-A §654. Record of marriages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S654.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 655 19-A §655. Authorization; penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S655.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 656 19-A §656. License](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S656.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 657 19-A §657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S657.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 658 19-A §658. Quaker; Baha'i](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S658.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 659 19-A §659. Penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S659.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 660 19-A §660. Delayed marriage registration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S660.md)
- [19-A M.R.S. § 701 19-A §701. Prohibited marriages; exceptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S701.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_ME_T19-A_P2_C23_S654. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.