Maine public records
Choose Maine's county registry of deeds for land instruments, a municipal assessor for valuations, and the judiciary for case records. Electronic court access depends on the court's current rollout. FOAA requests are useful for agency records that are not already available through those services.
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Official record sources
Choose the document you need before searching. A case index, parcel assessment, recorded deed and certified certificate are different records. The links below lead to the responsible government service or its official directory.
| Record / custodian | How to access | Costs and coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Court recordsMaine Judicial Branch | Use re:SearchMaine for available electronic cases and the clerk for other records. | Online document and clerk-copy charges may apply. Electronic court rollout and record-access rules affect which case types and documents appear. |
| Property and land recordsMaine Revenue Services registry directory | Choose the appropriate county registry of deeds to search recorded instruments. | Registry downloads and certified copies have local fees. Deed districts and county boundaries matter; property valuations are maintained separately by assessors. |
| Business recordsMaine Secretary of State online services | Select corporate-name search or the relevant business-document service. | Lookup, document images and certificates may have different fees. A business registration and municipal or occupational license are different records. |
| Birth, death, marriage and divorceMaine government vital-record guide | Follow birth, death and marriage ordering links; contact the court for divorce files. | State and municipal certificate charges vary. Eligibility and record-age rules apply; genealogical access differs from a certified recent certificate. |
| Criminal-history checksMaine State Police SBI | Use the criminal-history record-check service and its required identifiers. | Subscriber and non-subscriber requests may have different fees. The report's Maine repository scope is different from the underlying court file or an FBI check. |
A criminal charge is not a conviction. A name match does not establish identity. Use the official case disposition and the appropriate authorized record-check process when those distinctions matter.
Requesting agency records in Maine
Use this process for existing government agency records. Court case copies, vital certificates and criminal-history reports use the separate procedures in the table.
- Who can request
- Any person may request public records under Maine's Freedom of Access Act. A requester need not explain why they want an ordinary public record.
- How to submit
- Identify the Maine agency, municipality or county that maintains the record, then use its published records-custodian contact or accepted request channel. Describe existing documents, identifiers and dates. Keep the submitted request and acknowledgement; court copies and vital certificates use the separate services above.
- Response and delivery
- The agency must acknowledge a request within five working days and provide a good-faith estimate of access time and cost. Acknowledgement is not the same as delivery.
- Fees and estimates
- Inspection, copying and search costs are governed by FOAA's fee rules and free-time allowance. Ask for an estimate and a waiver if disclosure serves the public interest.
- If access is denied
- The Public Access Ombudsman can help with disputes. A denial can be challenged in Superior Court; the statutory filing period matters.
Maine records-request example
Replace the brackets, narrow the dates and send this to the agency that holds the records. Use its required form or portal when applicable. This example requests agency documents; it is not a certificate application or court filing.
To: [the agency's designated records custodian] Subject: Maine public-records request — [record or project identifier] Under the Maine Freedom of Access Act (1 M.R.S.A. §§ 400–414), I request electronic copies of the town's approved minutes and final road-maintenance contract for [project] during [dates]. Please use existing records in their available electronic format. If any material is withheld, identify the legal basis and provide the non-exempt portions. Before incurring charges above [your limit], please send an itemized estimate. Please confirm receipt and the expected response date. [Name and contact details required by the receiving agency] [Requester eligibility or residency information, where required]
Before sending, check requester eligibility above. Keep the submission confirmation, cost estimate, response and any exemption cited so a follow-up or appeal can refer to the same request.
Maine public records FAQ
Where can I find Maine court records?
Use re:SearchMaine for available electronic cases and the clerk for other records. Electronic court rollout and record-access rules affect which case types and documents appear.
Sources: Maine Judicial BranchAre Maine public records free?
Inspection, copying and search costs are governed by FOAA's fee rules and free-time allowance. Ask for an estimate and a waiver if disclosure serves the public interest. Certificate and court-document services follow the separate charges listed above.
Sources: Maine official public-records guidance; Maine Judicial Branch; Maine government vital-record guideHow do I get birth, death, marriage or divorce records in Maine?
Follow birth, death and marriage ordering links; contact the court for divorce files. Eligibility and record-age rules apply; genealogical access differs from a certified recent certificate.
Sources: Maine government vital-record guide; Maine Judicial BranchIs a Maine court search a complete criminal-history check?
No. The report's Maine repository scope is different from the underlying court file or an FBI check. Use the criminal-history record-check service and its required identifiers.
Sources: Maine State Police SBI; Maine Judicial BranchSources and review
Each link identifies the official custodian or its published directory. Portal coverage and fees can change; confirm the current order details before paying. The date below records the source review, not the date a government record was created.
- Maine official public-records guidance — checked
- Maine Judicial Branch — checked
- Maine Revenue Services registry directory — checked
- Maine Secretary of State online services — checked
- Maine government vital-record guide — checked
- Maine State Police SBI — checked
Browse other jurisdictions
Public-records access rules vary by jurisdiction. Continue through the directory or return to the full list to choose the agency location you need.
All public-records jurisdictions