Maine Revised Statutes

1. Child not born of marriage.  An official in this State may not permit inspection, or issue a certified copy of any certificate or record of birth disclosing that a child was not born of marriage. Such a record may be disclosed or a certified copy issued upon request of the child, the child's parent or the child's legal guardian or counsel or of petitioners for adoption or in response to court process. Such a record may be disclosed as necessary for the department to carry out its responsibilities as the State's child support enforcement agency.

2. Statistical research.  The state registrar may permit the use of data contained in vital records for purposes of statistical research. Such data shall not be used in a manner which will identify any individual.

3. National statistics.  The national agency responsible for compiling national vital statistics may be furnished such copies or data as it may require for national statistics. The State shall be reimbursed for cost of furnishing such copies or data, and such data shall not be used in a manner which will identify any individual, except as authorized by the state registrar.

4. Unlawful disclosure of data.  It shall be unlawful for any employee of the State or of any municipality in the State to disclose data contained in such records, except as authorized in this section and except that a clerk of a municipality may cause to be printed in the annual town report the deaths reported within the year covered by the said report, by date of death, name, age and location by city or town where death occurred. All other details of death shall not be available to the general public.

5. Person's own records disclosed.  Vital records of a person must be made available at any reasonable time upon that person's request or to that person's duly designated attorney or agent or attorney for an agent designated by that person or by a court having jurisdiction over that person whether the request be made in person, by mail, telephone or otherwise, provided the state registrar is satisfied as to the identity of the requester, and if an attorney or agent, provided the state registrar is satisfied as to the attorney or agent's authority to act as such agent or attorney. If such agent or attorney has been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, or the attorney or agent's appearance for such person is entered therein, the state registrar shall upon request so ascertain by telephone call to the register, clerk or recorder of said court, and this must be deemed sufficient justification to compel compliance with the request for said record. The state registrar shall, as soon as possible, designate persons in the Office of Health Data and Program Management who may act in the state registrar's absence, or in case of the state registrar's disqualification, to carry out the intent of this subsection.