Maine Public Records
Maine residents have the right to search for, obtain, and examine public records per the Maine Open Records Law. This law states that government records and information are presumed public. The Maine State Records website’s mission is to aid Maine citizens in obtaining that information.
The main purpose of the Maine State Records website is to give the general public access to these records easily and effectively, as is their right. These records can be obtained without submitting personal information unless a court order or law requires a record to be classified as confidential.
Maine State Records contains information about the following subjects: criminal records, court records, and vital records, including over 10 million transparent public records.
Are Maine Records Public?
Yes. In compliance with the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA), record seekers have broad access to a wide variety of records maintained by state and local government agencies. This means that by submitting a Public Records Act request to relevant government agencies, persons may conduct public data searches of non-confidential Maine public records. The FOAA defines public records as any printed, written, or graphic matter used or maintained by a public official or government agency in connection with the governmental business.
What is Considered Public Information in Maine?
Examples of Maine public records may include:
- Maine arrest records
- Maine sex offender information
- Maine inmate records
- Public Maine birth records
- Maine property records
- Maine court records
- Maine bankruptcy records
- Maine marriage records
In addition, vital records (records of birth, death, marriage, and divorce) may be accessed by the persons named on those records or their immediate relatives.
Persons may also carry out free public data searches through the Maine state archives or through other third-party websites.
How Do I Find Public Records in Maine?
The process of finding a Maine public record largely depends on the type of record. As a rule, most records can be obtained by contacting the custodial agency. In some instances, a public body may advise the requester to pay a nominal fee. If the record being searched is for the benefit of the general public, the fee may be reduced or entirely waived. Generally, residents can find Maine Public records by following some quick steps:
Step 1. Determine the type of record required
The information needed by a requester typically determines the type of record to be requested from public bodies. Public records fall under different categories and some examples include but are not limited to:
- Vital Records: These are records of birth, death, marriage, divorce, among others and they are made public to members of the state of Maine. Vital records are usually maintained by local public bodies and in most cases, this type of request is mainly restricted to the owner of the records or immediate relatives because they are considered private. Maine vital records may be obtained by applying to the state’s Division of Public Health Systems.
- Criminal records: Criminal records are those that have information about offenses against the state. Offenses in this category are usually violent crimes and are prosecuted by the state because they are considered harmful to the state. Some of the information contained in a criminal record may include details provided by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and correctional departments while passing through the Criminal justice system. Examples of criminal offenses are rape, child abuse, arson, assault, and murder, among others.
Step 2: Determine the government agency with the records
To obtain a public record in Maine, the State agency in possession of such a record should be identified to enable a requester to have a focussed search. For instance, if a requester intends to find records about marriages, divorces, births, and deaths in the state of Maine, the Public body with custody of Vital records is the Maine Department of Health and Human services while the Maine Department of Corrections keeps records of inmates and criminal offenses in the state. In a similar way, if a requester intends to find information about driver's License and Vehicle registration records, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles is home to such records.
Step 3: Determine accessibility
Every legal citizen has the right to obtain public records in the State of Maine. However, some records may not be disclosed to all members of the public if categorized as exempted from Public disclosure. Therefore, persons interested in obtaining public records must determine if the particular record intended to be requested is accessible by the general public. For instance, vital records will be available to only individuals named on those records or their immediate relatives while records containing the security plans and architecture of the government will not be made available to the public to avoid compromising state security.
Step 4: Determine the Availability
Many Public records in the state of Maine may be obtained online. However, some records with sensitive data may not be found online and requesters may have to make such requests in person at the appropriate state department or agency, to be able to obtain the required records.
Step 5: Contact the Record holder
Although the state of Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOOA) does not specify that requests for public records be made in writing, most Public bodies prefer that requesters do so. This is to ensure that the bodies keep records of the time requests were received and what information was requested. The written request should contain sufficient information to enable Record holders at the Public body office to easily locate such records. Requests can be sent via email and may be made in person. Once received and required fees paid by a requester, the Public body is expected to provide copies of the records requested within a reasonable period of time but must acknowledge the receipt of the request within 5 business days.
Some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users must typically provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
How to Use Third-Party Sites to Find Public Records in Maine
City Records
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Public Records
Public records can also be accessed from third-party websites. These third-party public records aggregate websites offer search services that are non-geographically limited, making the search result expansive and typically straightforward. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record as long as the subject is not a juvenile
- The last known or location of the record subject
Third-party public records search websites are not government-sponsored services. Therefore, the availability and accuracy of results can vary.
How Do I Look Up Public Records in Maine for Free?
Access to free Maine public records varies with different agencies and government bodies. For instance, residents may be able to freely inspect public court records at the custodial courthouse where the case was filed. Also, conducting a free public records search for certain records, may be as easy as going to inspect them during office hours since record custodians may allow persons to view records for free during office hours. Some records may also be freely available online. The Maine Department of Corrections maintains an online adult search service that provides free information on persons incarcerated in correctional facilities across the state. Users can search through the records using a first name, middle name, last name, and inmate number. Similarly, the Maine State Police provides free information on registered sex offenders in the state via the Maine sex offender registry.
In some cases, certain agencies may grant searchers free access to public records if the request is determined to be in the public’s interest.
Note: Obtaining physical copies of any record from a government agency, County Clerk’s office, or County Recorder’s office will almost certainly result in a fee for printing or duplication. However, public records searches at the County Clerk’s office and County Recorder's office will depend on the county where the record is requested.
Maine started gathering public records in 1892 from all 16 counties. Public record digitization has become the standard over the last 30 years, and these records are increasingly available online through third-party and government websites. This ensures Maine abides by the commitment of the United States of America to remain a fair and just society for all.