Search for Death Records in Maine

Free Maine Death Records Lookup

Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Maine will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Maine -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Maine Death Records

Maine acquired statehood in 1820 having been created from the state of Massachusetts. Death records started being filed in the state on a statewide level in 1892.

Maine Death Databases

Before 1892

Before 1892, death records were filed by selectmen or individual town clerks. While Maine has towns as old as early 1650s, most of these records only date from after 1700. To access the indexed records, there are a few databases you can refer to. One of them is FamilySearch.org where you can view the indexed information at FamilySearch Centers or the Family History Library if the records have a GS microfilm number. If you cannot get access to the microfilm, visit the town clerk office in the county where your ancestor died.

1862 to 1919

For deaths that occurred in this time frame, visit familysearch.org. This platform is free and it seeks to provide indexed names to death as well as burial records. To get microcopies of these records, visit the Family History Library or the Family History Centers. In case you can’t trace your ancestor’s details, try other sources including church records, census data and cemetery records.

1892 to 1922

Death records in the state of Maine started being filed in 1892. The Maine State Archives holds all death certificates from this time period.

After 1922

Death records from year 1922 to date are held at the Maine Department of Health & Human Services’ Vital Records office. The digital copies of death records between the period 1892 and 1922 are filed and kept by the Vital Records office while the non-certified copies are issued by Maine State Archives.

Death Certificates in Maine

In the state of Maine, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 100 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 100 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:

How to Find Maine Death Records

If you are in search of a reliable site to obtain Maine Death Records, then Archives.com is a reliable option. You will get full access to the state’s death records upon successful user account registration. Once you have successfully logged in to your user account, you will only need to follow the easy and straightforward steps below:

Step 1: Go to Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.

Step 2: Navigate through the options at the top of your user page. Click on ‘Search’ to load the Maine death records page.

Step 3: Click on the box next to “Vital Records,” then check the “Death” button immediately below it. The platform skips all other records and displays only death records that are available for download.

Step 4: Key in the deceased’s information. Be sure to provide as much information as is available to you.

Step 5: Key in Maine in the ‘Location’ box. The website gives a match as soon as you start typing in the name.

Step 6: Scroll through the list of records until you get to the person whose records are of interest to you.

Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online.

Alternative Sources for Maine Death Information

Maine Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Maine state government or any similar organization. This documents contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.

What are death records?

Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry.

Are Maine Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Maine Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Maine Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including the deceased’s name, a valid reason for death record request, the death date, county or city of death, and a valid proof of identification.

Conclusion

The state of Maine is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Maine death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.