Start with the Maine Judicial Branch case search at courts.maine.gov for court records. For criminal background checks, use the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification. For property, go directly to the County Registry of Deeds (Maine uses 'Registry of Deeds' not 'Recorder'). For vital records, go to the Town Clerk in the municipality where the event occurred — Maine handles vital records at the town level.
We've been verifying these links since 1997 — the first public-records directory.
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Statewide Databases
These are the official sources. Pick the one that matches what you need.
Search Maine by Record Type
How to Search Maine Criminal Records
Start with courts.maine.gov for criminal case records. For a formal background check, use the Maine State Police SBI. For current state inmates, use the Maine DOC facility locator. For county jail inmates, contact the county Sheriff.
How to Search Maine Court Records
Use courts.maine.gov for court records. Superior Court handles felonies and major civil cases. District Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, family, and juvenile. Maine has 16 counties with courts organized into 8 prosecutorial districts.
How to Search Maine Property Records
Go to the County Registry of Deeds for deeds, mortgages, and liens. For property valuations, go to the municipal Assessor (towns and cities maintain their own assessments in Maine). For tax bills, go to the municipal Tax Collector. Cumberland County (Portland) has the best online tools.
How to Get Maine Vital Records
Go to the Town Clerk where the event occurred for birth, death, and marriage records. Maine handles vital records at the MUNICIPAL level. For statewide records, contact the Maine CDC, Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics. Marriage licenses are issued by Town Clerks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search for Maine public records? ▼
Different agencies in Maine maintain different records. the court clerk handles court filings. the Register of Deeds handles ownership and valuations. The Town Clerk handles birth, death, and marriage. These are separate systems with separate searches.
Why does my Maine search return no results? ▼
Results are often missing when you search the wrong database. Court records, property records, and vital records are stored in completely separate systems. Make sure you are in the right one.
Is there a single database for all Maine records? ▼
No. Records in Maine are decentralized across multiple agencies. You must identify the correct office first, then search that specific system.
Does Maine have a free statewide court search? ▼
Maine has limited online court access through the Maine Judicial Branch at courts.maine.gov. Not all case types are available online — many records require contacting the specific court directly.
Why does one county have two Registries of Deeds? ▼
Some Maine counties (Oxford, Aroostook) are geographically large and maintain separate Registry of Deeds offices for different districts within the county. Check which district your property falls in before searching.
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