Marriage License

How to Apply

Marriage Licenses are issued between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  If possible, we encourage you to print off the VS2-A Marriage Intention form before you arrive to save you time; please print neatly and use black ink.  (This form as well as others can be found on the state's site at: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/forms/index.shtml

The application process takes approximately 30 minutes to process, especially if the Marriage Intentions have not been filled out beforehand.  Both parties need to be present at time of filing.
 
Out-of-state residents can file their intentions to marry in any municipal office. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.

Residents of the State of Maine must file their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which at least one of them resides.

If only one of the parties resides in Maine, the parties must file their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the resident party resides. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine.

Fee & Turnaround Time

The cost of a marriage license is $40. It is valid for 90 days and can only be used within the State of Maine. There is no longer a waiting period from the time your marriage license is issued until your wedding can take place. The person performing the ceremony is responsible for filing the marriage certificate within seven (7) days with the town office that issued the marriage license.

We accept checks, cash and credit/debit.  The Town offers the convenience of accepting debit and credit cards for municipal payments.  All major cards (MasterCard, Visa, American Express , and Discover) are accepted.  A third-party convenience fee will apply if using a credit card. The fee will be 2.65% of the transaction amount, with a $3.00 minimum. 
 

Requirements

Requirements to obtain a marriage license are:
  
  • If this is not a first marriage for one of you, bring a certified copy (with a raised seal) of the divorce form or death certificate of the last spouse.
  • Applicants must be over 18 years old.
  • Written parental consent is required for an applicant under 18.
  • Written parental consent and written consent of a judge are required for an applicant under 16. No blood test is required.
  • Please bring a valid photo I.D. for each of you.

The Clerk will perform short marriage ceremonies by request and appointments are encour​aged.  There is no set fee for a marriage ceremony; however, we do accept donations that are used for children in Windham whose families have asked for help at Christmas.

Legal Name Change Upon Marriage

Parties may change their name to any name; the new proposed names do not necessarily have to be their spouse's last name.  Parties who do not wish to change their name are encouraged to provide their "current legal name" (item #1 & #37) on the VS-2A marriage intention application and in the "proposed new name after this marriage" field (item #28 & #64).  

Parties have up until the marriage ceremony has been performed to change their minds about the names provided on the marriage intentions and/or license.

Parties who would like to change their names after the marriage ceremony has been performed must obtain a legal name change order from the district court that has competent jurisdiction over the party.  The legal name change order must then be presented to Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS), with a $60 fee, which includes a copy of the corrected record.