Kennebec County, Maine Court Records
Any civil or criminal legal proceeding initiated in a Kennebec County trial court creates a court file. This file contains every document and detail about every event that occurred through each case's lifecycle.
For example, the arrest warrant issued for a person, including the probable cause affidavit submitted to secure the warrant, is a court record regardless of whether any later arrest led to criminal charges.
The public can look up court records to check case outcomes, read judicial opinions, or obtain documents required for other legal processes. For instance, one may need a final decree of adoption as evidence in probate cases.
Record seekers can use the request and inspection channels made available by clerks of relevant courts to access desired court documents and information.
Are Kennebec County Court Records Public?
Yes. While Maine's Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) does not cover records created by the state's judiciary, the Supreme Court, through administrative orders and rules, stipulates that records created during court cases are public information. For example, Administrative Order JB-05-20 establishes that records retained by Superior and District Courts in dockets, case files, lists, and schedules are open for public inspection.
However, the Supreme Court's rules and orders also indicate records that are protected by law. These include information declared confidential by state statute and federal law, investigative materials that the release of which may derail police investigations, sealed court cases, juvenile records, details and documents related to minors, such as adoptions, and juror names. Sensitive identification data, including social security numbers, financial statements, and driver's license numbers, is also restricted from public disclosure.
What Information is Available in Kennebec County Court Records?
The following are documents and information that members of the public can access through a Kennebec County court records search:
- Case details, including case titles, filing dates, dockets (case event dates and descriptions), party names, attorney details, judge names, court names, and case numbers
- Filed documents, such as motions, complaints, affidavits, warrants, financial statements, property documents, and arrest reports
- Recordings, including deposition audios and videos, witness statements, and court hearing recordings
- Judicial decisions (jury verdicts, orders, judgments, decrees, and opinions)
Kennebec County Court Records Search
The Maine judiciary provides an electronic search system containing details of case records from every court in the state, including courts in Kennebec County. Using the system requires setting up an account with the judiciary's third-party vendor that manages the system.
However, most court files are kept in paper form, and individuals can access them by using the mail-in request form, which can be filled out and sent to the Judicial Branch Service Center at the following P.O. Box address:
Judicial Branch Service Center
P.O. Box 266
Lewiston, ME 04240
Alternatively, one can go to the office of the clerk of the court that presided over the case to view files in person, a process that requires providing case information, such as the type of case, the names of the parties involved, or the docket number.
While telephone requests may be available, some clerks of courts may be unable to provide the service. It is important to reach out to the respective clerk and enquire about record request options, including available email channels.
Be that as it may, it should be noted that not every record is available on-site permanently, as the Maine Judicial Records Retention Schedule designates how many years case files stay with the custodians before transferring them to the Record Center or the state's archives. For example, case files for murder proceedings are kept on-site for 10 years, then at the Record Center for 15 years before being transferred to the archives.
In some cases, records are permanently destroyed after a specific number of years. An example is certain District Court Class A, B, and C cases that are maintained on-site for 5 years and destroyed immediately thereafter. One can refer to the retention schedule to confirm whether the case record they want to view is accessible at the local courthouse, the Maine Judicial Record Center, or the State Archive.
Fees for Court Records in Kennebec County
People accessing their own files are not required to pay to reproduce copies, and viewing case files on site is free. However, ordering copies of court documents and applying certifications (attestations) or exemplifications requires paying the following fees:
- Plain copies: $2 for the first page; $1 per subsequent page
- Attestation with the court's seal: $5 per document
- Probate Court photocopies: $1 per page
- Exemplified copies: $20 per document
Kennebec County Courthouse Locations
The following courts serve residents of Kennebec County:
Kennebec County Superior Court
Suite 101
1 Court Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 213-2800
Suite 101
1 Court Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 213-2800
18 Colby Street
Waterville, ME 04901
Phone: (207) 873-2103
Criminal Records Access in Kennebec County
There are various custodians of criminal records, such as police agencies that create and maintain arrest information, and court record custodians that keep criminal trial case files, which also include some arrest information. Details about recent arrestees are also maintained by the Sheriff's Office, which manages the county jail.
Obtaining arrest information involves approaching the arresting agency or requesting inmate details from the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff publishes an inmate list on its website displaying the booking dates, booking numbers, and names of people currently detained in the county jail. Individuals looking for more information about these detainees, such as their arrest date, alleged offense, and bail details, can contact the Sheriff's Intake division at (207) 623-2270 ext.1111.
The Maine Judiciary does not maintain electronic records of criminal cases. Instead, interested parties must visit courthouses or use the mail-in request option. They can also contact the clerk of the court that handled the case for details about other request methods.
The Maine State Bureau of Identification, a division under the Maine State Police, manages the state's criminal history repository. The repository contains details about a person's interactions with the justice system, from their initial arrest to post-conviction activities.
The bureau provides an online public Criminal History Record search system that displays the criminal histories related to crimes for which individuals were convicted as adults. It also shows information about crimes related to felony juvenile adjudications.
Accessing the online service attracts a $31 fee for regular searches and a $41 fee for notarized searches that may be required for international adoptions or visa applications.
Kennebec County Probate Records
The Kennebec County Probate Court produces probate records when it handles the estates of deceased residents, trusts, adoptions, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, name changes, and other related family matters.
The state's Probate Court system runs an online search tool where site visitors can find basic probate case details by name or case number. For each case, the tool displays details of every party involved, including name, address, and role. The Docket section contains the dates and descriptions of case events, along with viewable images of filed documents.
It should be noted that not every image or case detail is available, as probate records are also subject to the Supreme Court's Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems and administrative orders, such as the Public Information and Confidentiality order (JB-05-20).
Kennebec County Family Court Records
Family Court records refer to case files that emanate from District Court proceedings related to dissolution of marriage (divorce, annulment, and Judicial separation), child protection, paternity, emancipation, grandparents' visitation, and domestic relationships (unmarried partners).
Apart from using the judiciary's online search system, individuals can also access public family court records by sending their requests by mail or visiting the courthouse.
Federal Court Records in Kennebec County
Federal court records in Kennebec County are properties of the federal judiciary. They function as historical references to cases heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, which include civil disputes litigated under federal law, criminal trials initiated by the U.S. Justice Department, and bankruptcy cases.
Access to these records is available through PACER, the federal court system's paid online service that allows registered users to view case documents and listen to audio recordings. People can also contact the clerk's office in Portland for inquiries about viewing physical case files and ordering copies.
