Maine · 16 counties
When someone dies in Maine
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Maine
Certified copies come from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Data Research and Vital Statistics, or the city or town where the death occurred (official site).
Certified copies are $15 for the first and $6 for each additional copy of the same record. Records from 1892 to the present are available either from the state office or from the city or town where the death happened. The state office offers same day walk-in service, occasionally up to a 24 hour turnaround. If you order by mail, enclose a copy of your photo ID and a self-addressed STAMPED envelope along with a check or money order. VitalChek handles credit card orders at 1-877-523-2659 for an added fee. Watch out for the $10 non-certified copy: it is stamped not for legal purposes and banks will refuse it.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Maine's exact rules and official forms.
Maine power of attorney rulesPick your county