Frequently Asked Questions

FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSES: Available at the Town Clerk's Office.

MOORINGS: New moorings must be approved by the Harbor Master, Paul Plummer.  Fees: Residents $50.00, Non-Residents $250.00.

DOGS: Must be licensed if they are 6 months or older. Proof of a Maine state rabies certificate must be shown, along with a certificate of spaying or neutering if applicable.

MARRIAGES: .

Residents of the State of Maine must record notice of their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which at least one of them resides. If only one of the parties resides in Maine, the parties must record notice of their intentions to marry in the office of the clerk of the municipality in which the resident party resides. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. The license is valid for a period of 90 days from the date the intentions are filed.

Out-of-State Residents wishing to marry in Maine may file their intentions to marry in any Maine municipality’s Office of the Clerk. Once the intentions are filed and the license is issued, the parties are free to marry anywhere within the State of Maine. The license is valid for a period of 90 days from the date the intentions are filed.

When applying for your marriage license, please allow approximately up to 1 hour to complete the application process. We recommend that all Harpswell applicants come to Town Office one hour before closing to allow enough time to complete the process during normal business hours.

Proof of identity, e.g. driver’s license, passport, state I.D. must be provided to the clerk at the time of filing. No blood tests are required, and there is no waiting period.

The filing fee is $40.00.

If either party has been previously married, a certified copy of the dissolution of marriage must be presented to the clerk where the intentions of marriage are filed. The certified copy must be presented to the clerk at the time of the processing of the marriage license.

  • A certified copy of a divorce decree may be obtained from the clerk of courts where the divorce was filed. The clerk of courts will certify the document using an embossed seal. Photocopies are not accepted.
  • A certified copy of a death certificate may be obtained from the clerk in the town/city of death or at the State vitals office. The clerk will certify the document using an embossed seal. Photocopies are not accepted.
VITAL RECORDS: Certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates are $15.00 for the first copy and $6.00 for each additional copy you pick up at the same time of the same certificate.  A request for a vital record must include a completed application, required identifications and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
VOTING: To register to vote you must be a resident of Harpswell. Proof of residency must be shown. 
Voting Locations:
Harpswell Community School
308 Harpswell Islands School Road
Polls Are Open 8 am to 8 pm   

ABSENTEE BALLOTS:  Requests for absentee ballots can be made up to 90 days prior to the date of the election.

SHELLFISH LICENSES: Recreational licenses available April 1st. License fees: Residents $25.00, Non-Residents $50.00. (Ten percent of licenses issued to residents are available to non-residents)

GENEALOGY RESEARCH: Hours: Monday and Friday, 9:30 to 11:30. Please call to make an appointment.