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Maine Vital Records: Difference between revisions
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''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Maine|Maine ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[ | ''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Maine|Maine ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Maine_Vital_Records|Vital Records]]'' [[United States Vital Records|Vital Records]] consist of [[United States Birth Records|births]] , adoptions, [[United States Marriage Records|marriages]] , divorces, and [[United States Death Records|deaths]] recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. [[Locating United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] has additional research guidance on researching and using vital records. If you meet the criteria stipulated by law (in effect as of September 2011) you may purchase a copy or an extract of most original records from the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics or the town clerk's office in the town where the event occurred.<br> | ||
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=== Before 1892 === | === Before 1892 === | ||
Vital records are kept by town clerks or selectmen. Although some towns have existed since the 1650s, most vital records date from about 1700. The vital statistics are often arranged by family. | Vital records are kept by town clerks or selectmen. Although some towns have existed since the 1650s, most vital records date from about 1700. The vital statistics are often arranged by family. Vital records prior to 1892 are (by law in effect as of September 2011) open to the public; anyone may purchase a copy. [NOTE: See the article "Accessing Vital Records in Maine" on the Maine Genealogical Society website for complete information.]<br> | ||
Although the original vital records are kept by the town clerks, copies of | Although the original vital records are kept by the town clerks, copies of some of the existing pre-1892 vital records are at the [http://www.maine.gov/sos/arc/ Maine State Archives]. The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] also has an extensive collection of Maine town vital records, including: | ||
*Noyes, Benjamin Lake. ''Vital Records Copied from Town, Church, & Cemetery Records in Various Towns and Counties of Maine Along the Atlantic Seaboard''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971, 1972. This source organizes names alphabetically by locality. It includes histories of some areas; people's birth, marriage and death dates; and names of spouses and children. {{FHL|89271|item|disp=FHL film 873738 items 1-2}} | *Noyes, Benjamin Lake. ''Vital Records Copied from Town, Church, & Cemetery Records in Various Towns and Counties of Maine Along the Atlantic Seaboard''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971, 1972. This source organizes names alphabetically by locality. It includes histories of some areas; people's birth, marriage and death dates; and names of spouses and children. {{FHL|89271|item|disp=FHL film 873738 items 1-2}} | ||
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=== After 1892 === | === After 1892 === | ||
State registration of vital statistics began in 1892. | State registration of vital statistics began in 1892. Birth records are closed for 75 years; marriage records, marriage applications/bonds, records of domestic partnerships, and records of fetal deaths are closed for 50 years; death records are closed for 25 years. | ||
See the article "Accessing Vital Records in Maine" in the Maine Genealogical Society website for complete information on who has access to which records, and how (if you meet the criteria for access) and where to order copies. Rules for implementing the new law accessing vital records (which took effect in September 2011) are not yet (July 2012) complete. The aforementioned article lists alternative sources for vital records. | |||
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For indexes of birth, marriage, and death records see: | For indexes of birth, marriage, and death records see: | ||
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*Maine. Division of Vital Statistics. ''Index to Vital Records: Bride's Index to Marriages, 1895-1953''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. This index includes names of brides, names of grooms, and marriage data. {{FHL|276286|item|disp=FHL films 010261-371}} | *Maine. Division of Vital Statistics. ''Index to Vital Records: Bride's Index to Marriages, 1895-1953''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1954. This index includes names of brides, names of grooms, and marriage data. {{FHL|276286|item|disp=FHL films 010261-371}} | ||
'''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When an '''eloping''' Maine couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Cecil County, Maryland|Elkton, Cecil, Maryland]], or [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County, VA]], or in towns just across the Canadian border.<ref name="Eakle1">Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at "http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/</ref> | '''[[Gretna Greens in the United States|Gretna Greens]].''' When an '''eloping''' Maine couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like [[Cecil County, Maryland|Elkton, Cecil, Maryland]], or [[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince William County, VA]], or in towns just across the Canadian border.<ref name="Eakle1">Arlene H. Eakle, "Have you searched and searched for a marriage without finding it?" in ''Genealogy Blog'' at "http://www.arleneeakle.com/wordpress/2007/02/19/</ref> | ||
== Divorce Records == | == Divorce Records == | ||
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{{maine|maine}} {{U.S. Vital Records}} | {{maine|maine}} {{U.S. Vital Records}} | ||
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"Accessing Vital Records in Maine" by Helen A. Shaw, CG, on the Maine Genealoical Society website. | |||
Vital Record_Types_of_the_United_StatesUnited_States_Vital_Records | |||