In Maine, certified death certificates are issued by Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS), Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The state fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Maine
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $15 |
| Each additional copy | $6 |
$15 search fee (1 year either side of the stated date) includes one certified copy; $6 each additional copy ordered at the same time. VitalChek adds a $15.50 processing charge plus optional courier fees. One free certified copy for Veterans Administration benefits.
Who can order a certified copy
People listed on the record can order with ID. Others must show a direct and legitimate interest, e.g. spouse, registered domestic partner, guardian, family members not on the record (grandparents, siblings, stepparents, stepchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, with proof of lineage), an attorney or agent, a surviving parent of a minor, people needing the record for a lawsuit, creditor, insurance, Social Security or vehicle title, government agencies, and registered genealogists.
A non-certified informational copy is also available. It cannot be used for legal or financial purposes such as closing accounts or claiming benefits.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- In person
- County/local office
Copies may be issued by DRVS, the municipality where the death occurred, or the decedent's municipality of residence.
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How long it takes
Maine CDC: "The average processing time for applications submitted through the mail is 5-7 business days from the date the application is received"; walk-ins get same-day service, with occasionally up to a 24-hour turnaround.
The funeral home’s role
Maine describes separate procedures for deaths handled by a funeral director and for an 'authorized person' (spouse, child, domestic partner) making their own arrangements.
Maine is a closed-record state. Per CDC, the state office holds records since 1923; 1892-1922 records are at the Maine State Archives, and earlier records are with the municipality. VitalChek can process requests from grandparents and earlier generations by phone only.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Maine
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Maine.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS), Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Maine)
- Data, Research, and Vital Statistics (DRVS), Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.