Penobscot County Court Records
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Penobscot County sits in central Maine, with its county seat in the City of Bangor. The county's court system operates within the Fifth Judicial District and includes a Superior Court, four District Courts (Bangor, Lincoln, Millinocket, and Newport), and a Probate Court. The Penobscot Judicial Center at 78 Exchange Street in Bangor houses both the Superior Court and the Bangor District Court, while the Probate Court operates from 97 Hammond Street.
If you need Maine court case information, records can be found through clerk offices, public-access terminals at courthouses, and online tools from the Maine Judicial Branch. The re:SearchMaine platform lets registered users look up electronic case data where eFiling has been implemented. MaineCourts.us can also help you identify publicly available court case information across Maine counties.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Penobscot County?
Penobscot County court records can be accessed through three channels: online databases, in-person visits to the courthouse or clerk's office, and written requests by mail.
Online searching
The Maine Judicial Branch offers two electronic platforms for public access:
- re:SearchMaine – The current online platform for accessing electronic court records in courts where eFiling is available. Registration is free. Members of the public can search for public cases, view the Registry of Actions (the chronological list of court events), and access documents the court has made remotely available. Criminal, civil violation, traffic citation, and various civil case types are searchable. That said, the full range of publicly accessible electronic documents may still require an in-person courthouse visit.
- Maine eCourts Public Portal – An older portal being replaced by re:SearchMaine. It may still hold some case data for Penobscot County.
Parties to a case can gain broader remote access to their own electronic files—including family law, child protection, and protection order matters—by providing an email address to the court and registering on re:SearchMaine. Parties seeking access to protection from abuse, protection from harassment, or child protection cases must submit form OTH-014 with notarization.
In-person access
Visit the clerk's office at the appropriate courthouse during business hours. All Penobscot County courts are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on court holidays, administrative weeks, and emergency closings. Public-access terminals at courthouses where eFiling is available allow inspection of electronic records that cannot be accessed remotely.
Mail requests
Complete a 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
(For FedEx/UPS: 250 Goddard Road, Lewiston, ME 04240)
Call the Service Center at (207) 753-2901 with questions about copy requests.
Fees (effective March 9, 2026, per Administrative Order JB-05-26)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record search (per name/parameter) | $20.00 |
| Copy first page | $2.00 |
| Copy each additional page | $1.00 |
| Attestation (per document) | $5.00 |
| Exemplification (per document) | $5.00 |
| Postage and handling (mail requests) | $5.00 |
Parties searching for their own cases are exempt from the $20 search fee, and each party of record is entitled to one non-attested copy of a judgment, decision, or order at no charge. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), check, money order, or credit card.
Court locations in Penobscot County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County Superior Court | 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 561-2300 |
| Bangor District Court | 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 561-2300 |
| Lincoln District Court | 52 Main Street, Lincoln, ME 04457 | (207) 794-8512 |
| Millinocket District Court | 207 Penobscot Avenue, Millinocket, ME 04462 (mail: 52 Main St, Lincoln, ME 04457) | (207) 723-4786 ext. 5 |
| Newport District Court | 12 Water Street, Newport, ME 04953 | (207) 368-5778 |
| Penobscot County Probate Court | 97 Hammond Street, Bangor, ME 04401 | (207) 942-8763 |
Clerk for the Superior Court: Diana Durgin. Register of Probate: Hilari K. Simmons (elected term through 2028).
Are Court Records Public in Penobscot County?
Maine law strongly favors public access to government records. Under Title 1, §408-A of the Maine Freedom of Access Act, any person has the right to inspect and copy public records held by state, county, or municipal agencies during reasonable office hours. If an agency denies a request, it must provide written notice explaining why within five business days.
Court records are governed both by the Freedom of Access Act and the Maine Judicial Branch's own access rules. For electronic records, the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS) and Administrative Order JB-20-03 divide electronic records into three access tiers: records available only to parties and their attorneys; records the public may view remotely; and records the public may view only at a courthouse.
The following categories of cases and records are confidential by law and are not available 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, including gestational carrier agreement disputes
- Most juvenile case records
Records that may also be withheld include medical records, personal financial information, Social Security numbers, personally identifying information concerning minors, and active law enforcement investigation files (per Title 1, §431). If a record has been sealed, impounded, or made nonpublic by law, accessing it requires a court order. Anyone seeking such access must file a motion in accordance with applicable rules of procedure.
Penobscot County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Penobscot County are adjudicated by the Superior Court (felonies and criminal appeals from District Court) and the four District Courts (misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary felony hearings). There are no filing fees for criminal actions or traffic infractions in Maine state courts.
Searching criminal case records
Criminal case records in Penobscot County are not yet fully available as electronic records—the transition to electronic criminal records is proceeding county by county and has not yet reached Penobscot County for criminal matters. That means criminal court records should be sought through these methods:
- In person: Visit the clerk's office at the Penobscot Judicial Center (78 Exchange Street, Bangor) or the relevant District Court and request inspection of the criminal case file.
- By mail: Submit a completed Records Search Request form to the Judicial Branch Service Center with the applicable $20 search fee, party name, docket number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Copy fees are $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
- Online (limited): The Registry of Actions for certain criminal cases may be viewable on re:SearchMaine where eFiling has been implemented. Full criminal case documents typically require an in-person visit.
Criminal records in cases terminated favorably to the accused may be sealed and unavailable. The court's Records Retention Schedule sets out how long criminal case files are stored at the courthouse versus at the Maine State Archives Records Center.
Criminal history checks
Court case records differ from a person's criminal history. A comprehensive criminal history can be obtained through the Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification (SBI). The SBI maintains conviction, adjudication, and pending-case information for crimes committed in Maine. An online public criminal history search through Maine InforME costs $31 for non-subscribers ($21 for Maine InforME subscribers). This fee is non-refundable. Notarized background checks for visa or employment purposes are also available for $31. Contact the SBI at:
Bureau of Identification
42 State House Station, 45 Commerce Drive
Augusta, ME 04333-0042
Phone: (207) 624-7240
Arrest records and the Sheriff's Office
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail information. The office provides an online inmate search tool on its website.
Penobscot County Sheriff's Office
Address: 85 Hammond Street, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 947-4585
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Penobscot County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Penobscot County are divided between the Superior Court and the District Courts based on case type and complexity. The Superior Court handles general civil actions, real estate disputes, and appeals. District Courts handle forcible entry and detainer (eviction), small claims, money judgments, and other civil matters. eFiling is available—and mandatory for attorneys—in the Penobscot County Superior Court for civil and family cases.
Filing fees (effective March 9, 2026)
| Action | Court | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General civil or real estate action | Superior or District | $175.00 |
| Debt collection action (debt buyer/collector) | Superior or District | $302.00 |
| Pre-judgment dispositive motion (Rule 12(b)(6), 56, or 55(e)) | Superior or District | $225.00 |
| Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) | District | $100.00 |
| Small claims | District | $70.00 |
| Small claims disclosure (per defendant) | District | $30.00 |
| Money judgment disclosure | District | $85.00 |
| Protection from harassment | District | $55.00 |
| Jury trial fee | Superior | $300.00 |
| Motion under Rules 55(b)(2), 59, 60(b), 62, or 66 | Either | $60.00 |
Filing a foreign judgment costs $175.00 in both courts. Fee waivers are available for litigants granted in forma pauperis status under M.R. Civ. P. 91.
Searching civil records
Public civil case records in Penobscot County are accessible remotely through re:SearchMaine. Registered users can view the Registry of Actions and documents the court has made available for remote access across case types including personal injury tort, non-personal injury tort, contract, declaratory or equitable relief, constitutional/civil rights, title to real estate, and appeals. For forcible entry and detainer, small claims, and foreclosure matters, public remote access to documents is only available after judgment has been entered in favor of the plaintiff.
Records that predate the November 2020 eFiling launch in Bangor remain in paper form and must be obtained by contacting the clerk's office or submitting a mail request. The Penobscot County Registry of Deeds maintains property-related records such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and discharges. Its online search tool supports searches by name, address, instrument type, town, and recording date.
Penobscot County Registry of Deeds
Address: 97 Hammond Street, P.O. Box 2070, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 942-8797
Fax: (207) 945-4920
Penobscot County Family Court Records
Maine does not operate a separate Family Court. Family law matters—including divorce, separation, annulment, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence protection orders, paternity, and adoption—are handled by the District Courts (primarily the Bangor District Court for the greater Bangor area) and the Superior Court. The filing fee for a family matter action in District Court is $120.00. Post-judgment motions to modify, except those limited to child support, cost $80.00.
Access restrictions
Family law case records are generally not available to the public through remote online access. Named parties may access their own family case records remotely by registering on re:SearchMaine with the same email address they provided to the court. Adoption records, child protection cases, and proceedings involving minors are confidential by law and closed to public inspection entirely. Anyone seeking access to sealed or confidential family records must obtain a court order.
Divorce records
Divorce proceedings are filed in either the Superior Court or the District Court. The clerk's office maintains divorce judgments and related filings. You can obtain copies of divorce decrees from the originating court. A Short-Form Certificate of Judgment of Divorce (Form FM-170) costs $5.00, and an Abstract of Divorce Decree costs $10.00.
Marriage records
Marriage records in Maine are classified as vital records, not court records. The Maine CDC Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics maintains statewide vital records. Certified copies cost $15.00 per certificate, with each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costing $6.00. Applicants must submit a completed vital records application form, a copy of valid photo identification, and payment by check or money order payable to Treasurer State of Maine. Mail applications to:
Maine CDC Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics
11 State House Station, 220 Capitol Street
Augusta, ME 04333
Phone: (207) 287-3181 / Toll-free: (888) 664-9491
A local DHHS office is also located in Bangor:
Bangor District Office
19 Maine Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 561-4100 / Toll-free: (800) 432-7825
Fax: (207) 941-8871
Email: bangor.dhhs@maine.gov
Eligible applicants include the person named on the record, a spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a legal guardian or custodian, or an authorized representative.
Birth and death records
Birth and death certificates are also obtained through the DHHS/Maine CDC at the same fee and with the same eligibility requirements described above. These records are restricted to the subject of the record, named parents, legal guardians, spouses, domestic partners, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or authorized representatives.
Penobscot County Probate Court Records
The Penobscot County Probate Court has jurisdiction over estates of deceased persons, trusts, guardianships of incapacitated adults and minor children, conservatorships, adoptions, and legal name changes. Maine's probate courts operate at the county level, separately from the Maine Judicial Branch's Superior and District Court system. The Register of Probate—currently Hilari K. Simmons—manages all records and papers filed with the court.
Penobscot County Probate Court
Address: 97 Hammond Street, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 942-8763
Fax: (207) 561-6184
Searching probate records
Public probate records can be accessed remotely through re:SearchMaine after private or sensitive information has been redacted. In-person inspection of probate files is available at the Probate Court during regular business hours. Mail requests should go to the Probate Court at the Hammond Street address, accompanied by the name of the decedent or party, relevant case details, and applicable fees.
The Probate Court handles the following matters:
- Probate of wills and estate administration
- Appointment and supervision of personal representatives
- Trusts and trust administration
- Guardianship of minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorship of protected persons
- Adoptions (records are entirely confidential)
- Legal name changes for adults and minors
Adoption proceedings are completely private and are not subject to public disclosure. Guardianship records involving minors may also have restricted access. For all other probate matters, records are generally open to public inspection, subject to the redaction of sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers.
Probate matters may be removed or transferred to the District Court or Superior Court under certain circumstances. If that happens, records would be maintained by the receiving court's clerk's office rather than the Register of Probate.