When a marriage ceremony is performed in Maine, there are certain procedures that must be followed by the Notary Public (officiant). The municipal clerk who issued the license will have already made sure that the parties to be married have complied with the laws of Maine. However, there are several duties for which the Notary Public performing the marriage (officiant) is directly responsible:
- The parties to be married must present a valid State of Maine marriage license.
- The officiant must review the license to ensure that the parties’ signatures are present and that the license has not expired.
- Once the marriage has been performed, the officiant must have the two witnesses sign the license using a BLACK INK pen.
- The officiant must complete the ceremony section of the license.
- The officiant, within 7 days of performing the ceremony, must file the completed license with the municipal clerk where the marriage license was issued.
The parties to be married are responsible for picking up a copy of the license and presenting it to the officiant (Notary Public) prior to the ceremony. Once the officiant receives the “Place of Issue” photocopy of the marriage license from the parties to be married, the license is then the responsibility of the officiant.
A Maine marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date the intentions are filed. The marriage license may not be used outside the state nor does a license issued by another state or country authorize marriage in Maine.