Hancock County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Hancock County?

Public records in Hancock County, Maine, are defined under Maine Revised Statutes Title 1, § 402 as any written, printed, or graphic matter, or any mechanical or electronic data compilation, made or received by a public agency in connection with the transaction of public business. This definition encompasses a broad range of documents maintained by county, municipal, and state offices operating within Hancock County.

Members of the public may access the following categories of records through the appropriate custodial offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Hancock County Superior Court and the Maine District Court
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the Hancock County Registry of Deeds
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates maintained by the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention's vital records program and local town clerks
Business records — Licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations maintained by the Maine Secretary of State and local municipal offices
Tax records — Property tax assessments and payment histories maintained by individual municipal assessors within Hancock County
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results maintained by the Hancock County Clerk and municipal clerks
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commissioner meeting minutes, board agendas, and related documents maintained by the Hancock County Administrator's Office
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports maintained by the Hancock County Finance Office
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, maintained by the Hancock County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Permits, variances, and planning documents maintained by individual municipal planning offices throughout the county

Is Hancock County an Open Records County?

Hancock County fully operates under Maine's statewide open records framework, which guarantees public access to government documents. Under Maine Revised Statutes Title 1, § 408-A, every person has the right to inspect and copy any public record, and all public agencies are required to respond to records requests promptly. The statute establishes that public records are presumed to be open unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Key provisions of Maine's Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) include:

Public agencies must acknowledge a records request within five business days of receipt
Agencies must provide access to non-exempt records or explain in writing why access is denied
The burden of proof for withholding any record rests with the agency, not the requester
Maine's sunshine laws further require that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions

Hancock County government offices adhere to these requirements and do not impose additional local restrictions beyond those authorized by state statute. The Hancock County Administrator's Office coordinates compliance with FOAA obligations across county departments.

How to Find Public Records in Hancock County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Hancock County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial office.

In Person: Requesters may visit the relevant county or municipal office during regular business hours and submit a written or verbal request. Staff are required to assist members of the public in identifying the appropriate records.

By Mail: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the custodial office. Requests should include a clear description of the records sought, the requester's contact information, and any preferred format for delivery.

Online: Several record types are currently available through online portals. Property records may be searched through the Hancock County Registry of Deeds online search system. Court records may be accessed through the Maine eCourts platform, which provides online access to many public court filings, online fee payment, and email tracking for case updates. Members of the public seeking electronic access to criminal, juvenile, and civil violations case records should review the Maine Judicial Branch's guidance on accessing electronic court records, as availability varies by county and case type.

By Email or Fax: Many offices accept written FOAA requests submitted by email. Contact information for each office is listed in the agency directory sections of this page.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Hancock County?

Current fees for public records in Hancock County are governed by Maine Revised Statutes Title 1, § 408-A, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for the production and copying of records. Standard fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Photocopies: Typically $0.10 to $0.20 per page for standard black-and-white copies
Certified copies: Vital records certified copies are subject to fees set by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services; birth and death certificates currently carry a fee of $15.00 per certified copy
Registry of Deeds copies: Recorded document copies are subject to per-page fees established by the Registry; current fees are posted at the Registry's public counter
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing electronic copies, including staff time for retrieval and preparation
Extensive requests: If a request requires more than two hours of staff time to fulfill, agencies may charge for the additional labor at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit card payments. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requesters or for requests determined to be in the public interest; requesters seeking a waiver should submit a written explanation with their request.

Does Hancock County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under Maine law. Agencies are not permitted to charge a fee solely for the act of inspecting records on-site; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

Online property record searches through the Hancock County Registry of Deeds allow members of the public to search deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments by name, document number, date range, or municipality at no charge
Court case information is accessible through Maine eCourts for many public filings without a fee for basic case lookup
Corrections records — Members of the public may search for individuals currently under Maine Department of Corrections supervision through the Maine Adult Resident and Community Corrections Client Search at no cost
Meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the Hancock County website and municipal websites at no charge
Voter registration information may be inspected at the office of the relevant municipal clerk during business hours without a fee for in-person review

Who Can Request Public Records in Hancock County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Hancock County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Maine's Freedom of Access Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requesters to provide identification or explain the reason for their request in most circumstances. Specific eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Non-residents of Maine and non-residents of Hancock County retain full rights to request and inspect public records
Identification: Agencies generally may not require requesters to identify themselves as a condition of access to public records, except where a specific statute authorizes such a requirement
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types; however, certain records — such as voter registration data — may be subject to use restrictions under state law
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as criminal history or corrections records, may be required to provide identification to verify identity before certain personal records are released
Requesting records about others: Access to records concerning other individuals is subject to applicable privacy exemptions; records containing personal identifying information, medical data, or other protected content may be withheld or redacted in accordance with state law

Minors and legal entities, including corporations and nonprofit organizations, are also entitled to submit public records requests under Maine law.

What Records Are Confidential in Hancock County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Maine law. Maine Revised Statutes Title 1, § 402(3) and related statutes identify the following as confidential or exempt from the general right of public access:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Maine court rules and statute
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records compiled as part of an active criminal investigation are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released records
Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Records related to adoption proceedings are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services relating to child protective investigations are confidential
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for records relating to final disciplinary actions or terminations of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in confidence is protected from disclosure
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities or critical infrastructure are exempt where disclosure could endanger public safety

When an agency withholds a record or portion of a record, it is required to notify the requester in writing and identify the specific statutory basis for the exemption. Maine courts apply a balancing test in disputed cases to weigh the public interest in disclosure against the interest in confidentiality.

Hancock County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Hancock County Registry of Deeds serves as the principal office for recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments. The Registry is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Hancock County Registry of Deeds 50 State Street, Suite 9, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (207) 667-8353 Hancock County Registry of Deeds

Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Hancock County Superior Court 50 State Street, Suite 2, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (207) 667-7141 Hancock County Superior Court

Hancock County Sheriff's Office 50 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605 (207) 667-7576 Hancock County Sheriff's Office

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention – Vital Records 244 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 557-8956 Maine Vital Records