Vital Records

Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate state or county office to view the record.

Timeline of Vital Records

Birth Records	Town level, 1600s: Biddeford, Kittery, Kennebunkport, York, and Wells only Town level, 1700s-1820: most of Maine's first 200 towns Town level, after 1820: some towns recorded some births Town Level, 1864 - 1891: at State Archives State Board of Vital Statistics records, 1892 - 1922: at State Archives (Certified copies available) State Level 1922 - 1955: on microfilm at State Archives
Death Records	Town level, 1600s: Biddeford, Kittery, Kennebunkport, York, and Wells only Town level, 1700s-1820: most of Maine's first 200 towns Town level, after 1820: few deaths recorded Town Level, 1864 - 1891: at State Archives State Board of Vital Statistics records, 1892 - 1922: at State Archives(Certified copies available) State Level 1922 - 1955: on microfilm at State Archives, with death index (1955 - present)
Marriage Records	Town level, 1600s: Biddeford, Kittery, Kennebunkport, York, and Wells only Town level, 1700s-1820: most of Maine's first 200 towns Town level, after 1820: marriage intentions were recorded more often than marriages themselves Town Level, 1864 - 1891: at State Archives County level: 1828 - : sometimes recorded at county level, as mandated by legislature in 1828; some are on microfilm at State Archives State Board of Vital Statistics records, 1892 - 1922: at State Archives (Certified copies available) State Level 1922 - 1955: on microfilm at State Archives, with bride's index (1892 - present), and groom's index (1956 - present)
Divorce Records	State Level 1892 - 1963 only. See Divorce Index (DigitalMaine Repository). For an index of divorces in Maine prior to 1892, which includes the divorces in these records up to 1903, see MaineGenealogy.net .

Online Resources for Vital Records

The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Ancestry Library Edition External This link opens in a new window
Ancestry Library Edition includes primary-source document images and database records such as: census, military, court, land, probate, church, directories, passenger lists, and more.

Using Ancestry Library Edition for Maine

Begin your search through Ancestry's vast collections, by viewing the list designated as Maine records External.

FamilySearch External This link opens in a new window
FamilySearch offers the largest collection of online genealogical and historical records in the world. There is no fee to use this website. Create a free account and login to view digital images of original documents from censuses, churches, courthouses, military draft cards, state vital records, and much more. Also use the sites wiki pages for timelines of records kept and current contact information to local repositories.

Using FamilySearch for Maine

FamilySearch provides useful state and county wikis that make excellent starting points for research. The Maine Wiki External includes links to each of its counties.

FamilySearch has digitized many of its microfilms containing county courthouse records. Not all records have been indexed yet, so search engine results may NOT show you the full range of FamilySearch data. You must browse the FamilySearch catalog External listings for each county to view the full set of records available. The vast amount of accessible original records is well worth your time to explore.

There is no fee to use FamilySearch, but you must create a free, personal account to access the databases and digital records.

Vital Records in the Maine Historical Society External
Information about how to access birth, death, and marriage records and indexes in the Maine Historical Society Research Library.

Obtaining Copies of Vital Records

Contact the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about accessing state-level records after 1922, and explore additional options for obtaining copies.

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, 220 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0011

Published Vital Records

Below are selected print publications for statewide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.

To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.

Native American directory of (Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin) by Lorraine (Rainwaters) Henry
Call Number: E98.G44 H45 1998
ISBN: 0788408968
Published/Created: 1998-05-01
The bulk of the data in this research aid falls in the 18th and 19th centuries, but some of the entries are in the 17th century. Tribes mentioned in the book are Aquinah, Brothertown, Christiantown, Dartmouth, Deep Bottom, Dudley, Hassanamisco, Herring Po
Vital Record Manuscripts at the State Historical Societies in New England by Paul Friday
Call Number: Z6611.G43 F75 2016 CABIN BRANCH
ISBN: 9780986072222
Published/Created: 2016-04-21
A partial inventory of vital record manuscripts (church records, minister records, town vital records, tax lists, employment records, petitions, subscriptions, passenger lists, etc.). Each of the six historical societies contains items for the other New England states. For example, the Maine Historical Society has manuscript items for states other than Maine. Some Maine items probably reside in historical societies outside of New England.
Vital Records from Maine Newspapers, 1785-1820 by David C. Young; Elizabeth Keene Young
Call Number: F18 .Y68 1993
ISBN: 1556138342
Published/Created: 1993-09-01

Maine: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide

Local History & Genealogy: Ask a Librarian

Vital Records

Timeline of Vital Records

Online Resources for Vital Records

Obtaining Copies of Vital Records

Published Vital Records