| Superior Court Clerk | Penobscot County Superior Court — Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Register of Probate | Penobscot County Registry of Probate |
| Clerk address | Superior Court & Bangor District Court (Penobscot Judicial Center): 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, ME 04401. Registry of Probate: 97 Hammond Street, Bangor, ME 04401 |
| Phone | Superior Court and Bangor District Court (207) 561-2300; Registry of Probate (207) 942-8769 |
| Hours | Superior Court and District Court: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Registry of Probate: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., last transaction accepted at 4:00 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page (Superior and District Court) |
| Certified copy fee | $5.00 attestation fee per document, in addition to the copy fee (Superior and District Court) |
Penobscot County's trial courts sit together at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor. The Penobscot County Superior Court clerk keeps felony criminal, civil, and family cases, while Bangor District Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, and Family Division matters. Separately, the elected Penobscot County Register of Probate, at a different address in Bangor, keeps wills, estates, guardianships, and adoption records going back to 1836.
Penobscot County's eCourts conversion has been partial: the Judicial Branch's re:SearchMaine portal currently shows only family and civil cases for Penobscot County Superior Court and Bangor District Court, not criminal cases. Anyone searching for a criminal case should expect to contact the clerk's office directly rather than relying on an online search returning nothing. Probate records are handled entirely separately from re:SearchMaine, and Penobscot's Register of Probate office offers its own remote access to redacted probate records.
Search Penobscot County court records online
Superior Court Clerk
Penobscot County Superior Court — Clerk's Office
- Cost
- Free to search civil and family cases on re:SearchMaine after registration
- Coverage
- Civil and family cases filed in Penobscot County Superior Court; criminal cases are not yet part of the online search
- Records
- Civil, Family
eFiling is mandatory for attorneys, government agencies, and parties who file more than six cases a year.
Register of Probate
Penobscot County Registry of Probate
- Cost
- Free to search; fees apply for copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship, and adoption records dating back to 1836
- Records
- Probate
A county office headed by an elected Register of Probate. The office offers remote access to public probate records after private/sensitive information has been redacted.
Other courts
Bangor District Court
- Cost
- Free to search civil and family cases on re:SearchMaine after registration
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, protection orders, Family Division matters, and traffic infractions; online search currently limited to civil and family case types
- Records
- Civil, Family, Traffic
Located at the Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, along with the Superior Court; (207) 561-2300. All case types are scheduled to move to eCourts on February 1, 2027.
What is available online
re:SearchMaine currently covers only civil and family cases for Penobscot County Superior Court and Bangor District Court; criminal case information must be requested from the clerk directly until criminal records are added to the online system. The Registry of Probate maintains its own separate remote-access system for redacted public probate records, independent of re:SearchMaine.
Which clerk has your record
In Maine, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Maine page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court (one per county, 17 sittings across 16 counties) | Felony criminal cases; Civil actions of any dollar amount; Divorce, custody, and other family matters | Clerk of the Superior Court for the county |
| District Court (44 locations statewide) | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Small claims and civil actions up to the statutory limit; Family Division matters (divorce, parental rights, protection from abuse) | Clerk of the District Court |
| Probate Court (one per county) | Wills and estate administration; Guardianship and conservatorship of adults and minors; Adoption, name changes, and termination of parental rights tied to adoption | Register of Probate for the county |
Request records in person or by mail
Penobscot County clerk offices
Superior Court & Bangor District Court (Penobscot Judicial Center): 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, ME 04401. Registry of Probate: 97 Hammond Street, Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: Superior Court and Bangor District Court (207) 561-2300; Registry of Probate (207) 942-8769
Hours: Superior Court and District Court: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Registry of Probate: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., last transaction accepted at 4:00 p.m.
Superior Court and Bangor District Court records. For civil and family cases, register for a free re:SearchMaine account. For criminal cases or anything not yet online, contact or visit the clerk's office at the Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, or mail a request to the Judicial Branch Service Center, P.O. Box 266, Lewiston, ME 04240, with the case number, the documents needed, and whether you want a certified copy.
Probate records. Contact the Penobscot County Registry of Probate at 97 Hammond Street, Bangor. Remote access is available for public probate records once sensitive information has been redacted; the office accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for copies.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Maine |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page (Superior and District Court) |
| Certified copy | $5.00 attestation fee per document, in addition to the copy fee (Superior and District Court) |
Set statewide by Supreme Judicial Court Administrative Order JB-05-26 (effective March 9, 2026) for Superior and District Court records. Probate Courts are exempt from that statewide fee schedule and set their own copy and certification fees; confirm the current amount with the specific county's Register of Probate before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Maine court records are generally open, but the Judicial Branch's Rules of Electronic Court Systems (MRECS) and Administrative Order JB-20-03 (Public Access and Confidentiality) draw a distinction between "public court information," "confidential" information restricted to parties or courthouse viewing, and records that are fully sealed or impounded by statute, rule, or court order. Maine's Freedom of Access Act does not apply to the judiciary — court records are governed by these Judicial Branch rules, not a public-records request.
The Maine guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Can I search Penobscot County criminal cases online?
Not yet through re:SearchMaine, which currently covers only civil and family cases for Penobscot County. For a criminal case, contact the Superior Court or Bangor District Court clerk directly.
Where is the Penobscot County Registry of Probate?
At 97 Hammond Street in Bangor, a separate address and a separate elected office from the Superior Court and District Court, which sit together at the Penobscot Judicial Center on Exchange Street.
How far back do Penobscot County probate records go?
The Registry of Probate holds original records dating back to 1836, and offers remote access to redacted public records for research.
Who has my Bangor District Court case file?
The Bangor District Court clerk, located at the Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange Street. Civil and family cases may be searchable on re:SearchMaine; other case types require contacting the clerk.
Sources
- Penobscot County Superior Court — https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/superior/penobscot-sc.html
- Bangor District Court — https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/district/bangor-dc.html
- Penobscot County Registry of Probate — https://www.penobscot-county.net/departments/registry_of_probate/
- Penobscot County official website — https://www.penobscot-county.net/
- Maine Judicial Branch — Courts overview — https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/index.html
- Maine eCourts — rollout status by region — https://www.courts.maine.gov/ecourts/
- Accessing Electronic Court Records (re:SearchMaine) — https://www.courts.maine.gov/ecourts/access.html
- re:SearchMaine public search — https://researchmaine.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch
- Maine State Police State Bureau of Identification — https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/about/sbi
- Maine Criminal History Record Request — https://apps1.web.maine.gov/online/pcr/
- Supreme Judicial Court Published Opinions — https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/sjc/opinions.html
- Court Records — how to get copies — https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/records.html
- Maine Judicial Branch — eCourts implementation schedule (news release) — https://www.courts.maine.gov/news/article.html?id=13350582
- Administrative Order JB-05-26 — Court Fees Schedule — https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-05-26.pdf
- Administrative Order JB-20-03 — Public Access and Confidentiality — https://www.courts.maine.gov/adminorders/jb-20-03.pdf
- Title 15 M.R.S. §3308-C — Sealing of juvenile case records — https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/15/title15sec3308-C.html
See also: all Maine counties.