Marriage records in Hancock County, Maine can be accessed through several channels. HancockCourt.us can help you find publicly available marriage record information for the county. You can also request records directly from the municipal clerk's office where the marriage took place, from the Maine CDC Office of Vital Records, in person at the town office, or by mail. Both the town clerk who issued the license and the state vital records office maintain copies of marriage records filed in Hancock County.
Hancock County Marriage Records Search
In Maine, marriage records are maintained at two levels: the municipal (town or city) clerk's office where the marriage intention was filed and the ceremony took place, and the Maine Office of Vital Records within the Department of Health and Human Services. There is no single county-level office that issues marriage licenses in Maine — each municipality's town clerk handles marriage intentions and licenses independently.
For marriages that occurred in Hancock County, you would contact the town clerk in the specific municipality (such as Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Blue Hill, Bucksport, or any of the county's other towns). The Ellsworth City Clerk's office, located in the county seat, handles marriages performed in Ellsworth:
Hancock County's marriage records collection includes marriage intentions (applications), marriage licenses, and marriage certificates returned by the officiant after the ceremony. Historical records may also be available at the town level or through the Maine State Archives. Under Title 22, §2706 of Maine law, certain details of marriage records — such as the names of the parties and the date and place of the marriage — are generally available to the public, while other details may be restricted.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Hancock County
Fees for certified copies of marriage records in Maine are set by state statute and apply whether you order from a municipal clerk or from the state Office of Vital Records.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy (first copy) | $15.00 |
| Additional certified copies (same record, same order) | $6.00 each |
| Search fee (state office, if no record is found) | $15.00 |
These fees are established under Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, Chapter 711. Municipal clerks may only issue certified copies of marriages that were recorded in their municipality. The state Office of Vital Records can issue certified copies of any Maine marriage from 1892 to the present. Processing times vary — in-person requests at the town clerk's office are often handled the same day, while mail requests to the state office may take several weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Hancock County
There are three main ways to obtain a certified copy of a Hancock County marriage certificate:
Online
The Maine Office of Vital Records offers an online ordering system through its website for certified copies of marriage records. You can also use authorized third-party vendors linked from the state's vital records page. Online orders typically require:
- Full names of both spouses
- Date and place of marriage
- Your relationship to the record subjects (for certified copies)
- A valid photo ID
- Payment by credit or debit card
In Person
Visit the town clerk's office in the Hancock County municipality where the marriage was recorded. For marriages in Ellsworth, go to the Ellsworth City Clerk at 1 City Hall Plaza. Walk-in requests are typically accepted during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment (check with the specific clerk's office for accepted payment methods).
By Mail
Mail requests can be sent to either the local municipal clerk or the state office:
Include the following with your mail request:
- A completed application form (available on the Maine Vital Records website)
- A check or money order for the appropriate fee, payable to "Treasurer, State of Maine" (or to the municipality if ordering from a town clerk)
- A photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
If you are researching older Hancock County marriage records for genealogical purposes, the Hancock County Registry of Deeds search system may contain some historical documents, and the Maine State Archives holds records predating 1892. For court-related records such as divorce decrees, contact the appropriate court rather than the vital records office.