A new law goes into effect Monday that will severely limit access to vital records in Maine. In order to obtain copies of vital records that are less than 100 years old, the new law will limit access to the following:
- The person named on the record
- The person's spouse, domestic partner, parents and descendants
- Those with a legal need (custodian, guardian, attorney, physician et. al.)
- Genealogists who have a state-issued researcher identification card
Vital records covered by the new law include:
In conjunction with the new law, the state now requires municipalities to increase the fees associated with vital record requests. The first copy of a birth or death certificate or a marriage license will increase from $10 to $15. For each additional copy, the fee is $6 instead of $5. Marriage licenses are $40, up from $30, and disposition permits, which were $5, have increased to $20.
Other than the higher fees, the new law appears to be a minor imposition for anyone seeking information about direct ancestors. The law clearly stipulates that anyone who is a descendant can obtain information without any special ID cards. All that is required is "valid identification." However, anyone seeking information about extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. will need one of the new "researcher identification cards." The same will be true for professional genealogists who are researching other families for hire. All records 100 years old or older remain available to everyone with no special ID required.
More information about the law changes reportedly are available online at www.mainepublichealth.gov although I could not find anything there while writing this article. I suspect that the information will be added within the next few days.
- Birth certificates
- Fetal death and death certificates
- marriage certificates
- domestic partner registrations
In conjunction with the new law, the state now requires municipalities to increase the fees associated with vital record requests. The first copy of a birth or death certificate or a marriage license will increase from $10 to $15. For each additional copy, the fee is $6 instead of $5. Marriage licenses are $40, up from $30, and disposition permits, which were $5, have increased to $20.
Other than the higher fees, the new law appears to be a minor imposition for anyone seeking information about direct ancestors. The law clearly stipulates that anyone who is a descendant can obtain information without any special ID cards. All that is required is "valid identification." However, anyone seeking information about extended family members, such as aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. will need one of the new "researcher identification cards." The same will be true for professional genealogists who are researching other families for hire. All records 100 years old or older remain available to everyone with no special ID required.
More information about the law changes reportedly are available online at www.mainepublichealth.gov although I could not find anything there while writing this article. I suspect that the information will be added within the next few days.
