§650-A. Codification of marriage Marriage is the legally recognized union of 2 people. Gender-specific terms relating to the marital relationship or familial relationships must be construed to be gender-neutral for all purposes throughout the law, whether in the context of statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law or any other source of civil law. […]
§650-B. Recognition of marriage licensed and certified in another jurisdiction A marriage of a same-sex couple that is validly licensed and certified in another jurisdiction is recognized for all purposes under the laws of this State. [IB 2011, c. 1, §2 (NEW).] SECTION HISTORY IB 2011, c. 1, §2 (NEW).
§650. Findings and purposes All municipal clerks, the State Registrar of Vital Statistics and courts of this State have a duty and are legally required to construe the provisions of Maine’s marriage laws in accordance with the following findings and purposes: [PL 2019, c. 340, §1 (AMD).] 1. Findings. The people of the State […]
§651. Recording of intentions 1. Place of recording. Residents of the State intending to be joined in marriage shall record notice of their intentions in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which at least one of them resides or with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics. If only one of the parties […]
§652. Issuance of marriage license 1. Marriage license issued. After the filing of notice of intentions of marriage, except as otherwise provided, the clerk or the State Registrar of Vital Statistics shall deliver to the parties a marriage license specifying the time when the intentions were recorded. [PL 2019, c. 340, §8 (AMD).] 2. […]
§653. Filing of cautions 1. Filing; enter notice. A person who believes that parties are about to contract marriage when either of them can not lawfully do so may file a caution and the reasons for the caution in the office of the clerk where notice of their intentions is required to be filed or […]
§654. Record of marriages (CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES) 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. […]
§655. Authorization; penalties (CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES) 1. Persons authorized to solemnize marriages. The following may solemnize marriages in this State: A. If a resident of this State: (1) A justice or judge; (2) A lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar; or (4) (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 7/01/23) (TEXT REPEALED […]
§656. License 1. Contents of license. A marriage license must have conspicuously printed on it the following words: “The laws of Maine provide that only authorized persons may solemnize marriages in this State.” [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).] 2. Completed license; ceremony performed. […]
§657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority (CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES) (WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE 7/01/23) A marriage, solemnized before any known inhabitant of the State professing to be a justice, judge, lawyer admitted to the Maine Bar or marriage officiant or an ordained or licensed minister of the gospel, is not void, nor […]
§657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority (CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES) (WHOLE SECTION TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 7/01/23) A marriage, solemnized before any known inhabitant of the State professing to be a justice, judge, notary public or an ordained or licensed minister of the gospel, is not void, nor is its validity affected by any […]
§658. Quaker; Baha’i A marriage solemnized among Quakers or Friends, in the form practiced in their meeting, or solemnized among members of the Baha’i faith according to the rules and principles of the Baha’i faith, is valid and not affected by this subchapter. The clerk or the keeper of the records of the meeting or […]
§659. Penalties 1. Solemnization without authorization. A person who solemnizes a marriage when not authorized to do so under section 655 commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $100 for each offense may be adjudged. Forfeitures collected must be distributed to the municipality in which the offense occurred. [PL 1995, […]
§660. Late-filed application for certificate of marriage 1. Application. The parties, or the legal representatives of the parties, to a marriage that occurred more than one year previously may apply for a certificate of marriage under this section by submitting to the State Registrar of Vital Statistics the following: A. The license and certification […]
