How to Find Birth Records in Maine

You might be looking to find out more about your family history. You might also be looking to find birth records for such purposes as government benefits, school enrollment, driver’s license or a passport registration in Maine. Whatever the need may be that made you to find birth records, there are ways on how to find birth records in Maine.

Maine, as the most rural state in the United States, has a population of about 1.3 million. Birth records on all individuals who were born in Maine since statewide documentation of birth started in 1892 can be obtained. Birth records that date back before 1892 were in possession of the town clerks or selectmen. Most of these records are from the 1700s even though a number of towns have been there since the 1650s.

Birth records in Maine has information about the birth and any other details pertaining to it. They are found in the form of a birth certificate if requested for. Birth records are stored and issued by the Vital Records Office under the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in Maine.

Information Found on Birth Records in Maine

Normal details in a birth record in Maine include:

• The person’s full name
• Gender
• Race
• Place and date of birth
• Parents’ full names
• Mother’s maiden name
• Date and place of registration
• Birth registration number

The Vital Records Office in Maine offer certified or non-certified certificates copies. Non certified copies of a Maine birth certificate is mostly utilized for informal situations and is accessible to the public. It contains all information found in an authentic birth record and is printed on a white paper. A non-certified copy cannot be submitted for official use. Its uses are normally genealogical and for investigative purposes.

Uses of a Birth Record

A certified copy of a Maine birth certificate on the other hand, is used for a number of legal situations. It can be used to prove a person’s identity and citizenship but can also be used to obtain the following:

• Driver’s license
• Social security benefits
• Access to Medical aid
• Enrollment in a school
• Employment
• Passport
• Retirement benefits
• Marriage license
• Genealogy purposes

People who Have Access to Birth Records in Maine

Access to certified copies of birth records in Maine is limited to a few number of people. Individuals who can access birth records in Maine that are less than 75 years are:

• The person named on the certificate.
• The person’s current spouse.
• The parent(s) named on the birth record.
• Descendants of the person named on the birth record (including children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren).
• The lawful custodian, guardian, or official representative of the person named on the birth record.
• Genealogists who possess a researcher card supplied by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics.

Requirements to Access Birth Records in Maine

If the requestor meets any of the above requirements, they can then apply for the birth records by filling in the Application of a Search and Certified Copy of a Vital Record Form. Applicants are also expected to pay the necessary fees and also include a copy of their government issued legal photo identification document with a self-addressed stamped envelope. This all should be mailed to the Vital Records Office.

Other necessary details that should accompany the application are proof of relationship to the individual listed on the record or valid reason for interest in the birth record. To avoid any setbacks in the processing of the birth record request, one should provide the following:

• The full name of the person on the record (Registrant).
• Registrant’s date of birth.
• The location of birth (city/town where the event happened).
• Mother’s maiden name.
• The requestor’s daytime telephone number.

In Maine, the welcomed government issued photo identification documents include passport and driver’s license. Individuals who do not have these documents must at least provide two of the following identity documents to be able to access birth records in Maine:

• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Car registration
• Copy of an income tax return
• Personal check with address
• Previously provided vital record or marriage license
• Letter from a government agency requesting a vital record (for example, the DHHS)
• Department of Corrections identification card
• Social Security card
• License or rental agreement
• Pay stub (W-2)
• Voter registration card
• Medicare or Medicaid insurance card
• School or employee photo ID

Those who are interested in obtaining birth records in Maine can go to the DHHS Vital Records Office where they will be issued with certified copies of Maine birth records in person or by mail to:

Vital Records
11 State House Station
220 Capitol Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0011

Birth records that date back from 1892 to 1922 were stored and issued by the State Archives before May 1, 2015. These records are now electronically maintained in digital formats and are offered from the DHHS Vital Records Office.

These are some of the ideas you can use on how to find birth records in Maine. Whether you are looking for old birth records or live birth records, there is a method you can try from here.