Accessing electronic court records in Maine is streamlined through the Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS) and Administrative Order JB-20-03. These regulations carefully balance public access with the crucial need to protect privacy within the electronic court system. MRECS categorizes access into three tiers:
- Exclusive Access: For attorneys of record and involved parties only.
- Public Remote Access: Records accessible to the general public online.
- Public Courthouse Access: Records viewable by the public solely at courthouses equipped with eFiling.
It’s important to note that MRECS designates certain information, documents, and case types as “nonpublic,” meaning they are restricted from public viewing.
Navigating re:SearchMaine
The primary platform for accessing electronic court records in Maine is re:SearchMaine. This online portal is the successor to the Maine eCourts Odyssey Portal and serves as the gateway to electronic court documents where eFiling is implemented.
Access for Attorneys of Record
Attorneys who utilize eFileMaine for electronic document filing (eFiling) gain seamless access to their case records through re:SearchMaine. Remote access is automatically granted to attorneys of record; their existing eFileMaine credentials (username and password) are used for login. Downloading case documents for their own cases is free of charge for attorneys.
Access for Parties Involved
Parties involved in civil, family, child protection, or protection order cases can typically access their electronic case records remotely. This eliminates the need to visit the courthouse in person for many case types.
- Important Note: Currently, electronic access does not extend to records in criminal, juvenile, and civil violations cases.
To enable remote access, parties must register for a re:SearchMaine account and provide their email address to the court. Similar to attorneys, parties can download their own case documents without incurring any fees.
Public Access for General Members
Members of the public currently have limited access through re:SearchMaine, primarily for searching public civil cases within courts utilizing eFiling. Public users can view:
- Registry of Actions (ROA): A chronological list of court events in a case.
- Remotely Accessible Records: Documents specifically designated by the court for online public access.
To utilize re:SearchMaine for public searches, registration is required. Account registration and conducting searches are free. For comprehensive access to all publicly available electronic court documents, members of the public must visit a courthouse where eFiling is in place.
- Key Point: Public users can request paper copies of public electronic court records at no cost at courthouses with eFiling capabilities.
Access to sealed, impounded, or legally restricted case records requires a court order. Individuals seeking access to non-public records must file a motion for access in accordance with relevant court procedures. Any access granted in these instances will not be remote.
Scope of Remotely Accessible Electronic Records
The public can currently search and view electronic Registry of Actions (ROA) for various public civil case types, including:
- Statewide traffic tickets (citations)
- Business and Consumer Docket cases
- Personal injury tort cases
- Non-personal injury tort cases
- Contract disputes
- Declaratory or equitable relief cases
- Constitutional/civil rights matters
- Real estate title and related proceedings
- 80B/80C appeals and other civil appeals
- Money judgments
- Post-judgment (plaintiff prevailing): Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED or eviction), small claims, and foreclosure cases.
Furthermore, the public can access records in public civil cases that the court has specifically made available for remote viewing.
Courthouse-Exclusive Electronic Records Access
For civil and family cases, the public can access electronic court records directly at a courthouse where eFiling is active. This access is subject to records not being classified as “nonpublic” under MRECS or otherwise confidential by law.
Understanding Legacy Cases
Electronic records are generally not available for closed or inactive cases (“legacy cases”), with the exception of traffic cases. To obtain records for legacy cases, requests should be directed to the clerk’s office in the court where the case was originally handled. The Request for Records Search form and instructions provide further guidance.
Seeking Assistance
For any inquiries or issues related to accessing electronic court records, please contact [email protected].
re:SearchMaine Register/Sign In
Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS)
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