Knox County Court Records Search

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    Knox County, Maine, encompasses the mid-coast region of the state with Rockland as its county seat, and its court system handles a wide range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters each year. Court records generated through these proceedings — including motions, pleadings, exhibits, orders, and judgments — serve as the official documentary account of how cases are resolved. These records are regularly accessed by attorneys, researchers, journalists, and members of the public who need to verify legal outcomes, track case histories, or understand how the courts have handled specific disputes. Notably, court records do not include transcripts of court proceedings; those are obtained through a separate process.

    Locating Court Records in Maine:

    People researching Knox County cases have several access points available to them. Records may be searched through the clerk’s offices at the Knox County courthouse, public terminals at the courthouse, written records requests, and online through Maine’s electronic court records platform. For those beginning their search, MaineCourts.us can help identify publicly available court case information and connect researchers with the appropriate Maine Judicial Branch resources.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Knox County?

    All three of Knox County’s active courts — the Superior Court, the Rockland District Court, and the Probate Court — are located at the same address in Rockland. This centralized courthouse arrangement means most in-person records searches can be completed in a single visit, though each court’s clerk maintains its own separate files and procedures.

    Knox County Superior Court
    Address: 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841
    Phone: (207) 594-2576
    TTY: (207) 596-2254
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed court holidays, administrative weeks, and emergency closures)

    Rockland District Court
    Address: 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841
    Phone: (207) 596-2240
    TTY: 711 Maine Relay
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Knox County Probate Court
    Address: 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841 (First Floor)
    Phone: (207) 594-0427 / (207) 594-0444
    Fax: (207) 594-0863
    Judge of Probate: Carol R. Emery
    Register of Probate: Julie M. Allen
    Court sessions: First and third Wednesday of each month, and at other times as necessary

    Options for searching Knox County court records:

    1. In person — Visit the clerk’s office of the court where the case was filed. Bring the party name, docket number, or case type to help staff locate the file quickly.
    2. Online via re:SearchMaine — The Maine Judicial Branch’s re:SearchMaine platform allows registered users to search public civil case information electronically in courts where eFiling is available. Registration is free, and there is no fee to conduct searches.
    3. Paper records request by mail — For older or non-electronic case records, complete the Records Search Request form and mail it with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Judicial Branch Service Center, P.O. Box 266, Lewiston, ME 04240. Questions about copies can be directed to the Service Center at (207) 753-2901.
    4. Telephone — Some clerk’s offices accommodate phone requests; others do not. Calling ahead is advisable before relying on this method.

    Are Court Records Public in Knox County?

    Maine’s public records framework is established under Title 1, Chapter 13 of the Maine Revised Statutes, which provides that public records are open to inspection and copying. Court records in Knox County are generally considered public under this framework and the Maine Court Rules, though specific categories of records and case types are either confidential by statute or restricted from remote online access.

    The Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS) and Administrative Order JB-20-03 establish three tiers of access to electronic court records: records available only to attorneys of record and parties; records accessible to the public remotely; and records accessible to the public only at a courthouse terminal. Information excluded from all public access includes personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, health records, and any data that could jeopardize an individual’s safety.

    The following case types and records are confidential and inaccessible to the general public:

    • Mental health civil commitment proceedings
    • Medical malpractice screening panel proceedings
    • Sterilization proceedings
    • Extreme weapon protection order proceedings
    • HIV/AIDS testing proceedings
    • Minor settlement proceedings
    • Child protection matters
    • Adoptions
    • Guardianships of minors
    • Name changes for minors
    • Petitions for court-authorized abortions for minors
    • Emancipations of minors
    • Assisted reproduction matters and gestational carrier agreements
    • Most juvenile case records

    Access to sealed, impounded, or confidential records may only be obtained by filing a motion for access in accordance with applicable court rules. Any such access granted will not be remote and must be arranged through the court.

    Knox County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Knox County are tried at both the Superior Court and the Rockland District Court, depending on the severity and nature of the charges. The Superior Court handles jury and jury-waived trials in adult criminal cases, including murder and Class A through E offenses, as well as post-conviction reviews. The District Court handles lower-level criminal matters and misdemeanor cases.

    Searching criminal case records:
    Criminal case records are maintained by the Judicial Branch but are not currently available in electronic form through re:SearchMaine. To access criminal case records, requesters must either visit the courthouse in person or submit a mail request using the Records Search Request form to the Judicial Branch Service Center.

    It is important to distinguish between criminal case records and criminal history records. Criminal case records are case-specific court documents, while a criminal history is a compiled record of an individual’s formal involvement with the criminal justice system.

    Criminal history requests:
    Criminal history records for Knox County residents can be requested through the Maine State’s Criminal History Record and Juvenile Crime Information Request Service. Searches can be conducted by name or date of birth, with results typically delivered via email within two hours. Fees apply to this service:

    • Maine InforME Subscribers: $21.00 per search
    • Out-of-State InforME Subscribers: $31.00 per search
    • Non-Subscribers: $31.00 per search

    This is a non-refundable service. Requesters may also direct criminal history inquiries to the Maine State Police’s State Bureau of Identification (SBI), which generally maintains conviction and adjudication information for adult and juvenile crimes committed in Maine, including pending cases less than one year old.

    Under Maine Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 13, criminal records are classified as public records, though access procedures and applicable restrictions still apply.

    Knox County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Knox County are handled primarily by the Rockland District Court for smaller matters and the Superior Court for larger claims, jury trials, and complex civil litigation. Civil records encompass a broad range of non-criminal disputes, including landlord-tenant cases, contract claims, personal injury matters, foreclosures, small claims, and child protection proceedings.

    Online civil case access via re:SearchMaine:
    Unlike criminal records, civil case records in courts where eFiling is available can be searched remotely through re:SearchMaine. Members of the public who register for a free account can view the Registry of Actions (ROA) — a list of court events — for public cases. The following civil case types are currently searchable through re:SearchMaine:

    • Personal injury and non-personal injury tort cases
    • Contract disputes
    • Declaratory or equitable relief proceedings
    • Constitutional/civil rights matters
    • Title to real estate and related proceedings
    • 80B/80C appeals and other civil appeals
    • Money judgments
    • Eviction (FED), small claims, and foreclosure cases (after judgment, if plaintiff prevailed)

    Members of the public may request paper copies of public electronic court records free of charge at courthouses where eFiling is available. For older civil case records not yet transitioned to the electronic system, the in-person or mail request process applies.

    In-person access:
    Public computers are available at the courthouse for searching civil case records. Visitors can also request file access at the clerk’s counter during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).

    Help with electronic court record access:
    Questions or technical issues can be directed to ecourtshelp@courts.maine.gov.

    Knox County Family Court Records

    Family matters in Knox County — including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, and related proceedings — are handled by the courts as part of their civil jurisdiction. The Rockland District Court and Knox County Superior Court both hear family law cases depending on the nature and complexity of the matter.

    Divorce records:
    Divorce records, including the divorce judgment (decree), may be in paper or electronic form depending on when and where the case was filed. For electronic divorce records, re:SearchMaine provides public access to the Registry of Actions. Copies of the actual divorce judgment can be obtained at the court clerk’s office or through a mail records request. The divorce record itself is generally public, though specific content related to minor children or sensitive personal data may be restricted.

    Domestic violence and protection orders:
    Proceedings for protection from abuse (PFA) and protection from harassment (PFH) orders are handled at the District Court. Parties to these cases who wish to access their own electronic records through re:SearchMaine must submit a specific request using form OTH-014, which requires notarization and must be emailed to ecourtshelp@courts.maine.gov with the subject line “re:SearchMaine Access Request - Protection Order Case”.

    Adoption proceedings:
    Adoptions are confidential proceedings under Maine law, and these records are not accessible to the general public through any channel absent a court order.

    Marriage records:
    Marriage certificates in Knox County are governed by 22 M.R.S. § 2706, which restricts access to the individuals named in the record and their close family members. The general public may only obtain marriage records 50 years after the marriage event. Authorized individuals may request a certified copy ($15.00) or a non-certified copy ($10.00) through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Vital Records by mail or online through the state-approved third-party vendor. Mail requests should include the names of both parties before marriage, date and location of the marriage, the applicant’s contact number, and a check payable to the Treasurer – State of Maine.

    Birth and death records:
    Birth records are restricted for 75 years from the date of birth, accessible only to the person named and their immediate family members with documented proof of relationship. Death certificates are restricted for 25 years following death, while fetal death certificates are restricted for 50 years. Requests for both types of records follow the same general process as marriage records and can be directed to the Maine Division of Public Health Systems – Vital Records at (207) 287-3771.

    Knox County Probate Court Records

    The Knox County Probate Court operates independently from the Maine Judicial Branch and is administered at the county government level. As such, probate records are managed directly by the Probate Court clerk rather than the Judicial Branch Service Center. The office holds records dating back to 1860; anything prior to that date was filed in either Waldo or Lincoln Counties.

    Matters within the Probate Court’s jurisdiction include:

    • Wills and formal/informal estate administration
    • Guardianships for both minors and incapacitated adults
    • Conservatorships
    • Legal name changes
    • Adoptions (certain matters)
    • Trusts

    Accessing Knox County Probate Records:
    Probate records that are not confidential or sealed are available upon request. Researchers have three options for access:

    1. In person — Visit the Probate Court at 62 Union Street, Rockland (First Floor), Monday through Friday, during business hours.
    2. By mail — Send a written inquiry to Knox County Probate Court, 62 Union Street, Rockland, ME 04841, with identifying information about the estate or matter sought.
    3. Online — Probate records can be viewed and purchased through MaineProbate.net, the statewide probate records portal. Probate forms are also available at maineprobate.net/welcome/probateforms-2019, and electronic filings for new and existing probate matters can be initiated through Maine Probate EZ-File.

    The Probate Court accepts payment by cash, check, and debit/credit card. Maine’s Probate Code statutes under Title 18-C govern the substantive procedures for estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships handled by the court. Those with complex estate or guardianship questions are encouraged to seek legal counsel, as the Probate Court staff can assist with administrative matters but cannot provide legal advice. Additional support resources include Legal Services for Maine Elders and the Maine Attorney General’s Laws and Legal Resources page.