Maine Court Records

The court structure in Maine is organized into a single appellate court, courts of general jurisdiction, and courts of limited jurisdiction. At the top of the court structure is the supreme judicial court, also known as the law court, which serves as the highest appellate court in the state. It primarily hears appeals from lower courts and is responsible for issuing final legal interpretations on constitutional matters and other significant legal questions. The law court also oversees attorney discipline and judicial conduct.

Below the supreme judicial court is the superior court - Maine's trial court of general jurisdiction. Located in each of the state's 16 counties, the superior court primarily handles serious criminal cases, including felonies, as well as major civil disputes involving substantial monetary claims. The court conducts jury trials and hears appeals from administrative agencies.

District courts in Maine hear a wide variety of legal issues, with their jurisdiction covering misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters with lower monetary value, small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and protection from abuse petitions. While no jury trials are held in the district courts, they typically handle most routine and preliminary matters through bench trials and hearings.

Maine district courts have a specialized arm called the family division, which focuses exclusively on cases involving family law. This division manages proceedings related to divorce, child custody, parental rights and responsibilities, child support, and protection from abuse involving family members.

Also, within the district court set up are juvenile courts, dealing with cases involving minors. These include juvenile delinquency, truancy, and child protection matters. Although technically part of the district court, juvenile proceedings are subject to unique procedures and strict confidentiality, due to the special needs and privacy rights of minors involved in the justice system.

For less serious traffic violations, Maine established the judicial branch violations bureau, which handles civil traffic infractions such as speeding, failure to yield, and other non-criminal motor vehicle offenses. The bureau streamlines the processing of these cases, allowing them to be resolved administratively or online, thereby reducing the burden on traditional court dockets.

The Maine judiciary also maintains a specialized docket known as the business and consumer court, which functions within the superior court system. This court is dedicated to resolving complex business disputes and consumer protection cases, including matters involving corporate contracts, unfair trade practices, and class actions.

More than 120,000 cases are handled annually by courts within the Maine court system.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Maine?

In Maine, a court record refers to any document, information, or exhibit generated, filed, or maintained by a court in connection with a judicial proceeding. These records serve as the official record of what transpired in a case and are managed by the clerk of court in each judicial location. Each court type handles distinct categories of cases, and the types of records preserved by the clerk of each court include the following:

• Maine Supreme Judicial Court
• Opinions and Rulings
• Case Dockets
• Disciplinary Records
• Administrative Orders and Rules
• Petitions for Appellate Review
• Oral Argument Audio Files
• Superior Court
• Criminal Case Records: Indictments, motions, orders, trial transcripts, and sentencing documents in felony-level cases.
• Civil Case Records: Files for contract disputes, tort claims, personal injury suits, and other civil matters exceeding District Court thresholds.
• Jury Trial Records: Jury selection records, trial transcripts, verdict forms, and post-trial motions.
• Administrative Appeals: Records of appeals from governmental agency decisions under Rule 80B and 80C procedures.
• Case Dockets and Calendars: Records detailing procedural history and scheduled hearings.
• District Court
• Misdemeanor Criminal Records: Complaints, citations, arraignment outcomes, judgments, and sentencing records.
• Civil Case Records: Small claims, evictions, property damage disputes, and debt collection under $6,000.
• Traffic Infraction Files: Non-criminal traffic violations including citations, hearing notices, and adjudication outcomes.
• Mental Health Proceedings: Court-ordered evaluations, involuntary commitment records.
• Protection Orders: Records of temporary and final protection-from-abuse (PFA) and harassment orders.
• Family Division of the District Court
• Divorce and Legal Separation Files: Petitions, settlement agreements, final divorce decrees, and property division orders.
• Parental Rights and Responsibilities: Custody evaluations, parenting plans, visitation schedules, and modification orders.
• Child Support Cases: Support orders, enforcement motions, and payment histories (often involving DHHS).
• Protective Orders: Confidential filings related to domestic violence, spousal abuse, and custody-related PFAs.
• Adoption and Name Change Records: Finalized adoption orders and legal name change documentation (adoption records typically sealed).
• Juvenile Court
• Juvenile Delinquency Records: Petitions, adjudications, probation terms, and detention reports
• Child Protection (CHINS/CHIPS): Foster care cases, abuse/neglect petitions, and termination of parental rights proceedings.
• Informal Adjustments and Diversions: Agreements for behavioral correction or treatment programs without formal adjudication.
• Evaluations, guardian ad litem reports, and psychological assessments.
• Judicial Branch Violations Bureau (Traffic Violations Bureau)
• Traffic Citation Records
• Judgment and Disposition Records
• Case Dockets
• Hearing Transcripts or Summaries
• Business and Consumer Court
• Commercial Litigation Records: Complex civil cases involving business disputes, including contract breaches and shareholder disagreements.
• Consumer Protection Case Files: Lawsuits involving unfair trade practices, fraud, and deceptive business conduct.
• Pretrial and Trial Documentation: Motions, discovery disputes, evidentiary rulings, and expert witness disclosures.
• Specialized Orders and Scheduling Notices: Case management orders tailored for high-volume litigation and complex scheduling.
• Settlement Agreements and Judgments: Enforceable civil remedies and resolutions reached either pre- or post-trial.

Are Maine Court Records Public?

Court records in Maine are generally considered public and open to anyone who requests access to them. However, some case types and records are confidential and only available to parties named in the cases and their attorneys. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court adopts a Public Information and Confidentiality Policy, which governs the release of public information and the protection of sensitive information. Typically, the public is restricted from accessing records relating to cases such as:

• Adoptions
• HIV/AIDS testing proceedings
• Mental health civil commitment proceedings
• Sterilization proceeding
• Emancipation of minors
• Name changes for minors
• Child protection matters
• Medical malpractice screening panel proceedings
• Guardianships of minors
• Petition for court-authorized abortions for minors
• Minor settlement proceedings
• Sealed and expunged records.

Note that Maine courts may order the sealing or expungement of certain court records to protect individuals' privacy, safeguard sensitive information, and ensure fairness in legal proceedings.

How Do I Search Maine Court Records?

You may search Maine court records using the re: SearchMaine portal. This portal is replacing the eCourts Odyssey Portal and provides a means to access electronic court records in counties where eFiling is available. As of now, members of the public may only use the re: SearchMaine portal to search public civil cases in Maine courts where eFiling is available and view records the courts make accessible remotely and the Registry of Actions (ROA). Note that to use the portal, you must first register for an account. No fee is required to register or conduct searches.

Also, while the Maine eCourts Public Portal remains accessible, you may use it to search court case information. The portal provides access to look up traffic violation cases statewide and information on cases in Maine courts where eFiling has been implemented. To use the portal to search, you must first create an account on the system and provide a traffic ticket number, court case docket number, or the name of one of the parties involved in a case.

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

You may access Maine court records offline by going in person or calling the clerk's office of the court where the case is pending or was heard. You will need to know relevant information about the case, such as the type of case, the name of a party involved, and the docket number to perform a search. Note that some clerk's offices in Maine are not able to accommodate telephone requests for court records, and some records may not be available at the courthouse. The Records Retention Schedule of the Maine Judicial Branch lists the period during which paper records are retained and their disposition when the disposition period ends.

You may also find a Maine court record by submitting a Records Search Request form with a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to:

Certain fees are applicable when requesting paper records from the clerk's office or the Maine Judicial Branch Center. You may be required to pay a $20 record check fee and copy fees of $2 per first page and $1 for each additional page. Attestation costs $5 per document in addition to copy fees. Also, a $5 postage and handling fee applies if necessary. The processing times for court record requests vary depending on the record type and the volume of requests before the record custodian. Typically, request processing periods range from immediately to up to 60 working days.

Can I Seal or Expunge a Maine Court Record?

Sealing a record in Maine means that the record can no longer be accessed by members of the public. On the other hand, expungement means that the record has been erased from the public records system in the state, making the event in the record as though it never happened. Sealing is more common in Maine as the state does not permit the expungement of adult records. Sealing provisions are codified under Title 15, Chapter 310-A of the Maine Revised Statutes. Significant amendments to this law went into effect on August 9, 2024, expanding eligibility for sealing certain convictions.

Sealing in Maine is primarily available for Class E misdemeanors (except for certain sexual assaults) and certain Class D offenses, including specific marijuana-related convictions. Note that felony convictions are generally ineligible for sealing unless a Governor's Pardon has been granted.

If a conviction qualifies for sealing in Maine, state law stipulates that the following additional conditions must be met before a motion for sealing may be filed in court:

• At least four years have passed since you completed all parts of your sentence, including any jail or prison time, probation, administrative release, payment of fines, license suspension, restitution, and community service.
• You have not been convicted of any other adult criminal offense in Maine, and you have not had any case dismissed under a deferred disposition agreement since finishing the sentence for this offense.
• You have not been convicted of a crime in any other state or jurisdiction since completing the sentence for this offense.
• You do not have any criminal charges currently pending in Maine, another state, or in federal court.

The following steps are the steps to seal a record in Maine:

• Obtain Necessary Documentation: Get the court records of your conviction. This may include the proof of sentence completion. If applicable, a copy of the Governor's pardon must also be obtained.
• Complete the Petition: Fill out the appropriate form, detailing the conviction, justification for sealing, and supporting documents. The Maine Judicial Branch provides the court form (Motion to Seal Criminal History) on the forms page of its website. Alternatively, you may obtain the form from a district court clerk's office.
• File the Petition: Submit the petition to the court that handled the original case and pay any applicable filing fees.
• Attend the Hearing: The court will schedule a hearing, and the state will be represented by the office of the prosecutor that handled the original case. Attend the hearing. At the hearing, the court will assess whether sealing is in the interest of justice.
• Await the Court's Decision: If the motion is approved, the court will issue an order sealing the record and send a notice to the State Bureau of Identification to seal the record. After, the SBI will seal the record and send you a notice to this effect.

Note that the process for sealing a record related to a conviction for engaging in prostitution differs from the standard sealing process. The Maine Judicial Branch publishes a separate requirements list and application process on its sealing prostitution record page of its website.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Maine

Records from Maine's only federal court, the United States District Court for the District of Maine, are publicly accessible both online and in person. This court has locations in Portland and Bangor and handles cases that fall under federal jurisdiction, including bankruptcy, civil rights claims, federal criminal offenses, and disputes involving federal statutes or constitutional issues.

To access these records online, individuals may use the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. This system provides access to court case information for all federal courts in the nation. To use PACER, you must first create an account on the system. Also, accessing a document on PACER costs a nominal fee of $0.10 per page viewed, with a maximum charge of $3.00 per document. However, some court records, such as court calendars or orders, may be available for free.

For in-person access, you may visit the federal courthouse where the case was filed at 156 Federal Street, Portland, or the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building, 202 Harlow Street, Bangor.

At the clerk's office, you may request access to case files and submit a record request form. To assist court staff in locating the correct documents, you should provide as much detail as possible, including:

• The case number
• The names of the parties involved
• The type of case
• The approximate date of filing

Note that certain fees apply for obtaining court records from the clerk's office in the federal court in Maine.

How To Get Maine Court Records Online for Free?

The Maine Judicial Branch offers re: SearchMaine for the public to use in accessing electronic court records in courts where eFiling is available. Anyone may use this portal to freely access the Registry of Actions and public civil case information, such as traffic citations, small claims, evictions, foreclosures, and contract disputes online. While users must first create an account on the portal to use this system, searching and accessing case record information is free. In addition, since court records are typically public information per Maine law, you may use reliable third-party databases such as peoplerecords.us to access Maine court records online for free.