Marriage License

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED to file for a Marriage License and last about 30 minutes. It is recommended that you either pick up the forms at the Town Office, or print them from our website or Maine.gov. (See link).

It is advised, but not required, that you complete the Marriage License (Intentions) Form (VS2) before arriving to your appointment. You may email the completed (but not yet signed) form ahead of your appointment to the Town Clerk at clerk@warrenmaine.org. This will cut down on the appointment time by about 15 minutes.

THINGS TO KNOW when filing for a Marriage License:

Call 207-273-2421 for an appointment (very rarely is same day appointment available – plan ahead).

You MUST show photo ID to the Town Clerk.

If this is not your first marriage, proof of how your last marriage ended is required and MUST be an original seal on a certified document – (NO PHOTOCOPIES).

Do not sign these papers until you are in front of the town clerk or a notary public.

The Town issues marriage licenses, but does not perform wedding ceremonies.

When completing your Marriage License form you must use BLACK INK ONLY, and it must be legible.

Proof of Residency: (street address) If not on driver's license; current vehicle registration, current utility bill, current bank statement, current pay-stub, current state correspondence, or other current official documentation denoting street address.

Form Requires: Names of both applicants' parents; including both mothers' maiden name, middle names, and all parents' state/province & country of birth.

Must be Present: BOTH applicants must appear to sign in the presence of the Municipal Clerk (exceptions: incarceration/imminent death).

Social Security Numbers: are required on form (this information is confidential and will not be accessible to the public).

Must be at least 18 years of age: If under 18; see requirements for parental consent/Judge of Probate.

Items #28 and #64 are the “Proposed New Name After Marriage” fields.

Parties may change their name to any name; the new proposed names do not necessarily have to be their spouses last name.
Parties who do not wish to change their name are encouraged to provide their “current name” (in item #1 & #37) on the marriage intention application and in the “proposed new name after this marriage” (item #28 & #64).
If the “proposed new name after this marriage” field is left blank, chevrons (<<<<< >>>>>) will be displayed in that field on the marriage certificate.

FEES: Marriage License: $40.00 / Marriage Certificate(s) - Issued after the ceremony is complete AND form has been returned by officiant: $15.00; $6.00 for each additional copies in the same transaction.

Marriage Licenses Information & Requirements

Where do I obtain a Marriage License?

If both parties are residents of the same Town, a marriage license must be obtained in the Town where both of them live. After obtaining a marriage license, the couple are free to marry anywhere in the State of Maine.

If one person resides in one Town, and the other person in another, a marriage license may be obtained from either Town, but not both. Choose where it is most convenient to obtain a certified copy of the marriage at a later date. After obtaining a license, the couple are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.

If one person resides in the State of Maine, and the other person outside the State, then a marriage license must be obtained in the Town where the Maine resident lives if they intend to be married in the State of Maine. After obtaining a marriage license, the couple are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.

If both the members of the couple live outside the State of Maine, a marriage license can be obtained in any Town in the State of Maine. After obtaining a license, the couple are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. It is strongly suggested that the marriage license is obtained in the Town where the marriage will take place so that it will be easy to remember where to apply for a marriage certificate at a later date.

We have our Marriage License, now what?

When the Town Clerk completes the marriage license, the couple will be given the license along with a packet of information explaining to the person performing the ceremony how to fill out the ceremony section of the marriage license. The marriage license and informational sheets should be presented to the person performing the wedding ceremony (pastor, notary public, etc.). That person is responsible for filling out the ceremony section of the marriage license and obtaining two witness signatures. They are also responsible for returning the marriage license back to the issuing Town Clerk within 7 days of the wedding ceremony.

Marriage Certificates

Once the wedding is complete and the Town Clerk receives the marriage license completed by the officiant and witnesses, the marriage is officially recorded and approved. After the license is recorded, the couple may obtain a Certificate of Marriage from the Town Office. The Certificate of Marriage is needed for a name change on a driver's license, passport, bank account, social security card, etc. Please refer to the Vital Records section of the website for forms and further instructions.

Name Changes using the VS2 (Marriage Intentions Form)

With the filing of Marriage Intentions, parties may change their name to any name; the new proposed names do not necessarily have to be their spouse's last name. The name becomes legal once the license has been filed (after the ceremony) and affirmed, by the Town Clerk.

Parties who do not wish to change their name are encouraged to provide their “current name” (in item #1 & #37) on the marriage intention application and in the “proposed new name after this marriage” (item #28 & #64).

If the “proposed new name after this marriage” field is left blank, chevrons (<<<<< >>>>>) will be displayed in that field on the marriage certificate.