How to get a Maine death certificate

Ways to order

What a Maine death certificate costs

First certified copy

$15³

Each additional copy, same order

$6³

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee³

Fees in effect since

April 30, 2025⁷

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• $0³
• $0⁹

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They count from the day the office receives your order. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

Who can order a Maine death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

• The person named on the record: Applicants who are listed on a vital record may obtain a certified copy of the record upon application, identification, and the required fee.³
  Proof: None required (application, identification and fee only)³
• Parent: yes if listed on the record, or as the living parent of a minor whose parent died⁸
• The living parent of a minor child of the deceased³
  Proof: Minor's birth certificate or court order on parental rights and responsibilities³
• Informant or funeral establishment listed on the record⁸
• Executor or estate administrator⁸
  Proof: Document showing the purpose, e.g. letter from insurer or Social Security³
• Spouse, domestic partner, legal guardian, child, grandchild, grandparent and brother or sister⁹
  Proof: Marriage certificate³
• Stepparent, stepchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law³
  Proof: Proof of lineage³
• Attorney or legal representative⁹
  Proof: Vital Records Release Form signed by the person represented, or a contract naming the attorney/agent and the person³
• Government agency: Federal or State agencies, Maine local government or Tribal agencies, Maine municipal governments and Maine public school districts, any of which may require such vital statistical data for statistical or administrative purposes in the conduct of their official duties. (must complete a verification form).³
  Proof: Verification form³
• Others may be approved by the Department by providing supporting documents of eligibility to determine they are qualified to receive such data or records.³

Who cannot order a certified copy

• Media and commercial firms (other than health, medical or social research) are not eligible³

Other kinds of copies

• Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher: Genealogists, (must show identification and a valid genealogical researcher identification card).³
  Proof: Valid DRVS genealogical researcher identification card³
• Informational copy Anyone: For these public records, provided the applicant’s identification is acceptable, the applicant is entitled to receive noncertified copies of these vital records in accordance with the department's rules.¹⁰

Records open to the public after

25 years⁹

ID you need

Photo ID

Required³

Accepted ID

• Driver's license
• Passport
• Other government issued picture identification card³

Without that ID

Rule: photocopies of two items from the list; Items: utility bill, bank statement, car registration, copy of income tax return, personal check with address, previously issued vital record/marriage license, letter from gov't agency requesting vital record (e.g. DHHS, WIC), Dept. of Corrections ID card, Social Security card, DD214 form, hospital birth worksheet, license/rental agreement, pay stub or W-2, voter registration card, Medicare/Mainecare insurance card, private or public school photo ID, college photo ID, employee photo ID, disability award from SSA³

Notarization

Application need not be notarized; documents proving direct and legitimate interest must be originals or notarized copies³

ID copy with a mail order

Include a copy of your ID³

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁵

• Full name of decedent
• Date of death
• Place of death
• Reason for requesting the record
• Applicant's name, address, phone/email and signature

Forms

• Application for a Search and Certified Copy of a Vital Record (vrform2) R 06/2024⁵
• Authorization to Release Vital Record (Vital Records Release Form) R 04/2014¹¹
• Eligibility Requirements (eligibility matrix) R 04/2017⁸

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

1892 to today⁶

Older records

The municipality where the event took place, or the Maine State Archives (pre-1892)¹

Special situations

Military and veterans

One free certified copy for Veterans Administration benefits³

Use abroad

Apostilles are issued by the Maine Secretary of State ($10 per certification)¹²

Warnings from the office

• DRVS endorses no internet ordering service other than VitalChek³
• DRVS cannot waive fees³
• Corrections should be approved before ordering certified copies¹³

The state office

Office

Division of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS)¹

Phone

(207) 287-1919 or 1-888-664-9491¹

Email

[email protected]¹

Mailing address

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Data, Research, and Vital Statistics, 11 State House Station, 220 Capitol Street, Augusta, ME 04333-0011

⁵

Walk-in address

Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS), 220 Capitol Street, Augusta, ME

³

Hours

Walk-in 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.³

Website

Official website¹

Questions people ask