Guide
How to Search County Records
Select Your County
Choose a county from the grid below to access that county's official public records portal, court system, and government offices.
Identify the Record Type
Decide what you need: court records, property deeds, vital records, business filings, or tax assessment records, each is held by a different county office.
Search Online or In Person
re:SearchMaine provides online access to electronic court records, each county registry of deeds offers online land records, and vital records are ordered from the state office in Augusta, the town or city clerk or VitalChek.
Pay Any Required Fees
A Maine birth, death or marriage certificate costs $15, with $6 for each additional copy and $10 for a noncertified copy; VitalChek adds $15.50, and agencies may charge $25 an hour after the first two hours on records requests.
Verify Identity if Required
Open records need no ID. Vital records applicants present a valid government-issued picture ID with signature and state their connection to the record; births open after 75 years and deaths after 25.
Guide
What Records Are Available
- Court RecordsCivil, criminal, family court, probate, traffic cases
- Property RecordsDeeds, mortgages, tax assessments, liens, transfers
- Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
- Business RecordsBusiness licenses, DBAs, UCC filings, permits
- Voter RegistrationRegistered voters, party affiliation, districts
- Tax RecordsProperty tax assessments, payment history, exemptions
Guide
Select a County in Maine
On This Page
State Directory
Popular Searches
Straight answers
Maine County Public Records, questions
Are county records public information?
Yes. Maine's Freedom of Access Act, 1 M.R.S. 401 and following, opens county and municipal records, and agencies must acknowledge a request within five working days. Registry of deeds, court and assessment records are open. Under 22 M.R.S. 2706, birth certificates become public after 75 years, death certificates after 25 years and marriage certificates after 50 years; newer vital records go only to the person named, family members and others with a direct interest.
How much do certified copies cost?
A certified Maine birth, death or marriage certificate costs $15, with $6 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time, from Vital Records in Augusta or the town or city clerk; a noncertified copy is $10. VitalChek adds a $15.50 processing charge per order plus optional express courier fees of $17.50 to $19.50. County registries of deeds moved to flat recording fees on January 1, 2026, and under the Freedom of Access Act agencies may charge $25 an hour after the first two hours of staff time plus copying costs.
Can I search county records online?
Maine's re:SearchMaine platform provides online access to electronic court records in cases filed through eFiling, though some records can be viewed only at a courthouse; older paper cases are checked with the clerk. Each county registry of deeds offers online land records, Cumberland and Franklin counties for example. Vital records are not searchable online; order from the state office, the town or city clerk, or VitalChek.
What identification do I need?
Open records need no ID. Maine vital records applicants must present or enclose a valid government-issued picture identification bearing their signature and state their connection to the person on the record; anyone who is not the registrant or a parent named on the certificate must add proof of eligibility. Maine limits certified copies to the person named, spouse, registered domestic partner, descendants, parents, guardians, their attorneys and authorized agencies.
How long does it take to receive records?
The state Vital Records office in Augusta serves walk-in customers the same day, occasionally within 24 hours, and mailed applications average 5 to 7 business days of processing. Town and city clerks also issue certificates over the counter. re:SearchMaine and registry of deeds searches are immediate.