Start dates vary widely according to town office hours

Fri, 12/28/2012 - 2:30pm

Ethan Andrews

The revised Maine marriage license form now includes a checkbox for "spouse" alongside "bride" and "groom."

Same sex marriage becomes a legal option for Maine residents Saturday, Dec. 29. And while Midcoast towns are unlikely to be issuing them at midnight as is planned in Portland, some Waldo County municipalities will be open on Saturday for business as usual. In Knox County, there are no regular Saturday town office hours and no special openings this Saturday.

Others, like Belfast have made special arrangements to be open when they wouldn't otherwise.

A full list of municipalities in Waldo and Knox counties with office hours appears below.

Belfast City Hall is normally closed on Saturday but will be open from 9 a.m. to noon to accomodate the new law. Last week the City Council deputized City Manager Joe Slocum to work alongside City Clerk Denise Beckett on what the manager described as the "historic date."

"We wanted to be available if anybody needed us," Slocum said. "We're still not sure if we'll see anybody."

The process of getting a marriage license, according to Beckett, will be the same for all couples regardless of sexual orientation, though the form has been changed slightly. Next to the boxes marked "bride" and "groom" a third box marked "spouse" now appears. Applicants are also asked for their social security numbers, which Beckett said was a federal requirement.

"Other than that, the form is exactly the same," she said.

Those applying for "marriage intentions," as the license is described, must bring photo ID, certified divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable) and the name of parents and knowledge of their birth origin (state). The fee for a marriage license is $40.

Beckett said she's had one inquiry so far.

No marriages will be performed by the city on Saturday.

In Portland, at least three notaries will be on hand at Portland City Hall, which will open at 10 a.m., to perform ceremonies. The city ceremony costs $125. Elsewhere, the Falmouth Town Office will open just after midnight, while municipal offices in Augusta and Brunswick will open at 9 a.m. Saturday for those seeking licenses.

Following is a list of Knox and Waldo County towns and the earliest date that same-sex couples can get a marriage license at their town office. PenBayPilot spoke to some town officials who were able to confirm the times. For those we were unable to reach, the soonest regular town office hours are given. In both cases we recommend calling ahead.

Knox County

Appleton - Monday, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 785-4722)

Camden – Monday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 236-3353)

Cushing – Monday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 354-2375)

Friendship – Monday, 9 a.m.-noon (confirmed, regular office hours, 832-7644)

Hope – Wednesday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 763-4199)

North Haven – Monday, 8 a.m.-noon (confirmed, holiday office hours, 867-4433)

Owls Head – Monday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 594-7434)

Rockland – Monday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 594-0304)

Rockport – Monday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 236-9648)

St. George – Monday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 372-6363)

South Thomaston – Monday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 596-6584)

Thomaston – Monday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 354-6107)

Union – 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 785-3658)

Vinalhaven – Monday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 863-4471)

Warren – Monday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 273-2421)

Washington – Monday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 845-2897)

Waldo County

Belfast - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (confirmed, special hours, 338-3370)

Belmont - Monday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 342-5722)

Brooks - Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 722-3254)

Burnham - Monday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 948-2369)

Frankfort - Wednesday (confirmed, call for hours 223-5546)

Freedom - Monday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 382-6177). Town Clerk Cynthia Abbott said town officials would have done marriage licenses by appointment but as of an hour before closing at 2 p.m. Friday, no appointments had been made.

Islesboro - Monday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (confirmed, 734-2253)

Jackson - Monday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 722-3439)

Knox - Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 568-3907)

Liberty - Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 589-4318)

Lincolnville - Monday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 763-3555)

Monroe - Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (confirmed, regular hours, 525-7706). According to a Monroe official, the town would have made earlier accomodations if there had been requests but there had been none.

Montville - Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 342-5544)

Morrill - Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (call town office to verify times: 342-3300)

Northport - Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 338-3819)

Palermo - Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 993-2296)

Prospect - Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 567-3661)

Searsmont - Monday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 342-5411)

Searsport - Monday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 548-6372)

Stockton Springs - Wednesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (confirmed, regular office hours, 567-3404)

Swanville - Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (unconfirmed, regular office hours, 338-4489)

Thorndike - Monday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 568-3656). Town officials will be issuing only marriage intentions on Monday.

Troy - Wednesday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (call town office to verify hours, 948-2283)

Unity - Monday 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (confirmed, holiday hours, 948-3763)