Aroostook County Court Records Search
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Aroostook County is Maine’s largest county by area, stretching across the northern reaches of the state with its county seat in Houlton. The county’s judicial system includes two Superior Court locations, multiple District Courts, and a Probate Court, all of which generate records spanning criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family proceedings, and estate matters. Whether someone needs a docket sheet from a landlord-tenant case, a divorce decree, or documentation from a probate filing, knowing which office maintains the record and how to request it is essential.
For those beginning a search for court records in Maine, several resources are available through official clerk offices, public access terminals at courthouses, and online tools. MaineCourts.us may help users identify where publicly available court case information can be found. The Maine Judicial Branch also operates electronic record systems and maintains a service center that processes records requests statewide. Because Aroostook County spans such a large geographic area, records may be spread across courthouses in Houlton, Caribou, Fort Kent, and Presque Isle, making it important to direct requests to the correct location.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Aroostook County?
Locating a court case in Aroostook County depends on the type of case and when it was filed. The Maine Judicial Branch has been transitioning from paper to electronic records since 2018, and as of June 1, 2026, Maine eCourts and eFiling is available in all Aroostook County courts. This means electronic case records for new filings are now accessible through the re:SearchMaine platform.
Searching electronically through re:SearchMaine:
- Register for a free account on the re:SearchMaine platform.
- Search by case number, participant name, or other identifying information.
- View the Registry of Actions (a list of court events) and any documents the court has made remotely accessible.
- For records not available remotely, visit a courthouse where eFiling is available to access additional public documents at no charge.
Requesting paper records (cases filed before eFiling implementation or criminal cases, which are not yet available electronically):
- Complete a Records Search Request form.
- Mail the form with a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Judicial Branch Service Center, P.O. Box 266, Lewiston, ME 04240 (for FedEx/UPS: 250 Goddard Road, Lewiston, ME 04240).
- For questions, call the Service Center at (207) 753-2901.
Alternatively, contact or visit the clerk’s office at the specific courthouse where the case was heard. The clerk can assist with locating paper files, though some older records may have been transferred to the Maine State Archives per the Judicial Branch Records Retention Schedule.
Aroostook County Court Locations:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court — Caribou | 144 Sweden Street, Caribou, ME 04736 | (207) 498-8125 |
| Superior Court — Houlton | 26 Court Street, Suite 201, Houlton, ME 04730 | (207) 532-6563 |
| District Court — Caribou | 144 Sweden Street, Suite 104, Caribou, ME 04736 | (207) 493-3144 |
| District Court — Fort Kent | 139 Market Street, Suite 101, Fort Kent, ME 04743 | (207) 834-5003 |
| District Court — Houlton | 26 Court Street, Suite 201, Houlton, ME 04730 | (207) 532-2147 |
| District Court — Presque Isle | 27 Riverside Drive, P.O. Box 794, Presque Isle, ME 04769 | (207) 764-2055 |
| Probate Court | 26 Court Street, Suite 103, Houlton, ME 04730 | (207) 532-1502 |
All court offices operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except for court holidays, administrative weeks, and storm closures. The Madawaska District Court permanently closed on November 1, 2025; cases previously assigned there have been reassigned to the Caribou and Fort Kent District Courts.
The Clerk for both Superior Court locations is Diane Glidden. Copy fees under the current Court Fees Schedule (Administrative Order JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026) are $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each subsequent page. Attestation costs an additional $5.00 per document, and exemplification adds another $5.00. A $5.00 postage and handling fee applies to mailed requests unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included.
Are Court Records Public in Aroostook County?
Court records in Aroostook County are generally open to the public under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (1 M.R.S. Chapter 13), which establishes a strong presumption that government records are accessible. For electronic records, the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS) and Administrative Order JB-20-03 govern access and distinguish between records available remotely, records available only at a courthouse, and nonpublic records.
Members of the public using re:SearchMaine can remotely view the Registry of Actions and any documents the court designates for remote access. All other publicly available electronic documents can be viewed — and paper copies obtained free of charge — at a courthouse where eFiling is available. Access to sealed, impounded, or nonpublic records requires a court order obtained through a formal motion.
Categories of confidential or restricted records include:
- Child protection matters
- Adoption proceedings
- Guardianships of minors
- Name changes for minors
- Juvenile case records (most)
- Mental health civil commitment proceedings
- Medical malpractice screening panel proceedings
- Sterilization proceedings
- Proceedings for extreme weapon protection orders
- HIV/AIDS testing proceedings
- Minor settlement proceedings
- Petitions for court-authorized abortions for minors
- Emancipation of minors
- Assisted reproduction matters, including noncompliance with gestational carrier agreements
- Records containing confidential medical or mental health information protected by HIPAA
- Records sealed or expunged by judicial order, including sensitive information about victims or witnesses in domestic violence, sexual assault, or violent crime cases
Partially restricted records may be released after redaction of protected information. Parties to a case and their attorneys generally have broader access to their own case records than the general public.
Aroostook County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Aroostook County are adjudicated in both Superior Court (for more serious offenses, jury trials, and appeals) and District Court (for lesser criminal matters, traffic infractions, and civil violations). Criminal case records are maintained by the clerk’s office at the court where the case was heard and are not yet available in electronic form through re:SearchMaine, though the Registry of Actions for criminal cases in Aroostook County courts became viewable after June 2026.
How to obtain criminal case records:
- In person: Visit the clerk’s office at the appropriate courthouse. Individuals can obtain copies of documents in their own case files at no cost. Non-parties pay copy fees per the Court Fees Schedule ($2.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page).
- By mail: Submit a completed Records Search Request form to the Judicial Branch Service Center with a self-addressed stamped envelope. A $20.00 record check fee applies per Administrative Order JB-05-26.
- By phone or email: Contact the clerk’s office directly, though not all offices can accommodate telephone requests for records.
Statewide criminal history checks are separate from court case records and are administered by the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification (SBI). The SBI maintains an online criminal history record search portal where anyone may submit a request.
- The search fee is $31.00 for non-subscribers, payable by credit card online or by check/money order via mail.
- Maine InforME subscribers pay $21.00.
- Results remain accessible for 30 days; a $21.00 subscription charge extends access.
- Searchers must provide the subject’s name and date of birth.
For mail-based criminal history requests, send inquiries to:
Maine State Police Headquarters
42 State House Station, 45 Commerce Drive
Augusta, ME 04333-0042
Phone: (207) 624-7240
SBI criminal history information generally includes conviction and adjudication data for adult and juvenile crimes committed in Maine, plus pending cases less than one year old. It does not include out-of-state records unless reported through interstate systems.
Aroostook County Civil Court Records
Civil disputes in Aroostook County — including contract actions, personal injury torts, property claims, landlord-tenant matters, foreclosures, small claims, and money judgments — are heard in either the District Court or Superior Court, depending on the nature and amount in controversy.
Where records are maintained: The clerk’s office at the court where the case was filed holds the civil case file. For cases handled in District Court locations across Aroostook County (Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, or Presque Isle), records requests should be directed to the specific court. Superior Court civil records are held at the Caribou or Houlton locations.
Searching civil records online: For cases filed after eFiling implementation in June 2026, the re:SearchMaine platform allows public access to the Registry of Actions and certain remotely accessible documents in civil case types including personal injury tort, contract disputes, declaratory or equitable relief actions, constitutional/civil rights cases, title-to-real-estate proceedings, and 80B/80C appeals. For small claims and forcible entry and detainer (eviction) cases, public access is available after judgment if the plaintiff prevailed.
Filing fees for civil actions (per Administrative Order JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026):
| Action Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| General civil or real estate action (District or Superior Court) | $175.00 |
| Debt collection action (debt buyer/collector) | $302.00 |
| Small claims action | $70.00 |
| Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) | $100.00 |
| Money judgment disclosure | $85.00 |
| Filing/registering a foreign judgment | $175.00 |
| Pre-judgment motion (Rule 12(b)(6), 56, or 55(e)) | $225.00 |
| Post-judgment motion (Rule 55(b)(2), 59, 60(b), 62, or 66) | $60.00 |
| Jury trial fee (Superior Court) | $300.00 |
| Civil appeal to Superior Court | $175.00 |
The Judicial Branch accepts payment by cash, credit card, money order, or check (including out-of-state instruments). All fees must be paid in full at the time of the request.
Property records in Aroostook County are maintained by two separate Registries of Deeds, depending on the property’s location:
Northern Registry of Deeds
22 Hall Street, Suite 201, Fort Kent, ME 04743
Online search: Northern Registry
Southern Registry of Deeds
26 Court Street, Suite 102, Houlton, ME 04730
Online search: Southern Registry
These offices maintain deeds, liens, mortgage records, UCC financing statements, and property transfer documentation.
Aroostook County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Aroostook County — including divorce, child custody, child support, protection from abuse, protection from harassment, and parental rights cases — are handled through the District Court’s family division. The entry fee for a family matter action in District Court is $120.00. Post-judgment motions in family cases cost $80.00, except that motions to modify or enforce child support orders and contempt motions for failure to pay child support carry no filing fee.
Family court records tend to carry more access restrictions than other civil records. Cases involving minors, adoption, and child protection are confidential by law. Protection from abuse and protection from harassment case records require a special request process for party access through re:SearchMaine; parties must submit form OTH-014 with notarization to ecourtshelp@courts.maine.gov.
Divorce records: Divorce judgments (decrees) are maintained by the court where the divorce was granted. A Short-Form Certificate of Judgment of Divorce costs $5.00, and an Abstract of Divorce Decree costs $10.00, both available through the clerk’s office. Divorce records may also be obtained through the Maine Vital Records Office, though access is limited to the record subjects, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives. Applicants must complete a vital records application form, submit a photo ID, and pay the applicable fee.
Marriage records: These are available through the Maine Vital Records Office using the same application form. The fee is $15.00 per certificate, with additional copies ordered at the same time costing $6.00 each. Requests should be sent to:
Maine Vital Records Office
220 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0011
Phone: (207) 287-3771
Fax: (207) 287-1093
Birth and death records follow the same process and fee structure through the Vital Records Office. Payment is accepted by certified check, and requesters must provide a valid photo ID along with identifying information about the record subject. Only eligible persons — the adult subject, parents, legal guardians, spouses, siblings, children, or estate executors — may obtain certified copies.
Aroostook County Probate Court Records
The Aroostook County Probate Court handles estates of deceased and missing persons, guardianships of incapacitated adults and minor children, conservatorships, trusts, adoptions, and legal name changes. Unlike the state’s District and Superior Courts, Probate Courts in Maine are administered at the county level.
Aroostook County Probate Court
Register: Cathy Goff
Judge: Hon. Michael E. Carpenter
Address: 26 Court Street, Suite 103, Houlton, ME 04730
Phone: (207) 532-1502
Fax: (207) 532-1507
Probate forms are available at MaineProbate.net, which also provides an online case search system. Users can search by party name or case number to locate estate records, guardianship filings, and other probate matters. The site also supports electronic filing for certain document types.
Probate filing fees are established by 18-C M.R.S. § 1-602 and are based on the value of the estate:
| Estate Value | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| $10,000 and under | $40.00 |
| $10,001–$20,000 | $60.00 |
| $20,001–$30,000 | $75.00 |
| $30,001–$40,000 | $95.00 |
| $40,001–$50,000 | $125.00 |
| $50,001–$75,000 | $190.00 |
| $75,001–$100,000 | $250.00 |
| $100,001–$150,000 | $325.00 |
| $150,001–$200,000 | $375.00 |
| $200,001–$250,000 | $450.00 |
| $250,001–$300,000 | $500.00 |
| $300,001–$400,000 | $575.00 |
| $400,001–$500,000 | $625.00 |
| Over $500,000 | $700.00–$1,200.00+ |
Additional probate fees include: filing a will without probate ($15.00), filing a will to be probated without appointment ($20.00), petition for appointment as guardian ($90.00), petition for conservator ($90.00), joined petition for guardian and conservator ($115.00), petition for elective share ($120.00), other formal proceedings ($50.00), single certificate of appointment ($10.00), double certificate ($20.00), and copies of court records ($1.00 per page).
Certain probate records are restricted from public access. Adoption records, guardianship cases involving minors, and proceedings involving incapacitated persons may be partially or fully confidential. Access to these records typically requires a court order. For all other publicly available probate records, requests can be made in person at the Houlton office or through the MaineProbate.net search system. Requesters should provide the decedent’s name, case number if known, and the specific documents sought.