Get a certified Maine Death Certificate

Maine does not issue death certificates for individuals who die on U.S. military bases overseas. In such cases, if the deceased’s parents held U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Department of State records the death. To request this document, you must contact the U.S. Department of State and obtain a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRDA or form DS-5542).

An officially certified death certificate from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Social Services (DHHS) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue, but it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at the time of death. Official death certificates from Maine typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar’s signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The DHHS issues these certificates to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

Maine death certificates are one of the most important and useful legal document. They are the only legal proof that someone has passed away, and they are used for crucial purposes, particularly in legal, financial, and personal matters. The vital record is fundamental after someone has died to handle financial affairs, benefit claims, verification for institutions, estate settlements, and benefits from government agencies.

Death certificates are often helpful or required for:

Settling Estates

Claiming Pension and Retirement Benefits

Marriage and Divorce Finalization

Genealogy and Historical Research

Claiming Life Insurance

Managing Accounts at Financial Institutions

Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements

Tax Filings

Claiming Social Security and Government Benefits

Handling Property, Mortgage, and Real Estate Matters

Enrolling in school

To correct or amend a Maine death certificate, you need to file a Application to Correct a Vital Record (VS-7) form with the Maine CDC Vital Records office, providing supporting documentation like a medical affidavit if the error is related to medical information, and paying a fee if the mistake was discovered more than 90 days after the original filing; contact the office at (888) 664-9491 for details and the necessary forms.

Who can apply: The certifying physician, attending physician, certified nurse practitioner, funeral director, authorized person, or informant listed on the record can apply to correct errors depending on the nature of the mistake.

Timeframe and fees: If the error is discovered within 90 days of the filing date, there may be no fee required, but if it's beyond 90 days, a fee of $60.00 will apply. Additional copies of the amended record ordered at the same time are $6.00 each. Checks or money orders may be made out to the “Treasurer, State of Maine.”

Supporting documents: Depending on the type of correction, you will need to provide supporting documents like medical records, affidavits, or other official documentation. For acceptable documents, refer to the Documents That May Be Used When Applying to Correct a Vital Record.

Contact information: Reach out to the Maine CDC Vital Records office at (207) 287-3771 or 287-1919 for guidance and the necessary forms.

Apostilles may be ordered from the Maine Secretary of State by mail or online with Vital Records Online (VRO) only.

You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Maine Secretary of State, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of the death certificate, with the original signature and seal of the current Maine State Registrar;
2. A completed Form Request for Authentications/Apostilles.
3. A payment of $10.00 per document, made payable to the Secretary of State of the U.S.

Submit your request to the Maine Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, UCC, and Commissions at the following addresses:

In-person:

By Mail:

Ensure that you indicate the country to which the document will be submitted.