How to Find Maine Birth Records

How to Find United States Births Maine Births

Statewide registration of births began in 1892 in Maine.

Next Step: When did the birth occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record: Births before 1892 Births between 1892 and 1922 Births after 1922

Learn more about U.S. Birth Records

Births before 1892

Before 1892, birth records were kept by individual town clerks or selectmen. Although some towns have existed since the 1650s, most records date from about 1700. Some of these records have been indexed. Refer to the databases below to access those indexes.

Maine Births Databases - Includes Indexes Only
Try 1st:
	1739-1900 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; index to birth, baptism and christening records. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and FamilySearch Centers.
Next try:
Ancestry database: Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1853-1969 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1621-1922 - use your own Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes

If your ancestor does not appear in the index, you may need to contact the town clerk office or you may need to search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers	Church Records Census Military Records

Obtain the Birth Record

If your ancestor appeared in the index, there are two options:

• FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library.
  
• Individual Town Clerks - If there is no GS microfilm number available, or if you cannot gain access to the microfilm, you may contact the town clerk office where your ancestor was born and order a copy of the birth record.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births between 1892 and 1922

The state of Maine began recording births in 1892. All birth certificates from 1892 to 1922 are held at the Maine State Archives.

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

For births that exist during this time period, try the following database.

Maine Births Databases - Includes Indexes Only
Try 1st:
	1739-1900 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; index to birth, baptism and christening records. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and FamilySearch Centers.
Next try:
Ancestry database: Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1621-1922 - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1621-1922 - use your own Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Obtain the Birth Certificate

If your ancestor appeared in the index, there are two options:

• FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library.
  
• Maine State Archives - If there is no GS microfilm number available, or if you cannot gain access to the microfilm, you may contact the state archives and order a copy of the birth record.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births after 1922

The Vital Records office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has copies of births from 1922 to present day. Births from 1892 to 1922 are held by the Maine State Archives. Births before 1892 are held by the individual town clerk offices.

Obtain the Certificate

To Order Marriage Certificates
County probate judge's offices		Vital Records office of the Maine Dept of Health and Human Services
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Has an expedited service on Vital Chek	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

Restrictions to qualify for certificates for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the certificate, you must be:

• The person named on the certificate
• The decedent's spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling
• The legal custodian, guardian, or authorized representative of the person named on the record
• Genealogists who have a researcher card issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics

NOTE: You must have full name, exact date and place of the birth to order from the certificate. If you do not have the exact information, a search can be conducted for a fee by the Vital Records Office.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

• How to Find United States Birth Records
• Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Birth Records
• United States Marriage Records

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