Maine runs a single statewide court system, and that shapes how the courts work here. There are no city or town courts. A traffic ticket in Caribou, a divorce in Belfast and a felony charge in Portland all go through the same state-run Maine Judicial Branch, under the same rules and with the same forms. What changes from place to place is the building, the sitting schedule and how far you have to drive.

This page explains how the pieces fit together, which court handles which problem, and how to prepare for a visit. The courthouses in our directory run from York County in the south to the St. John Valley on the Canadian border, and using them feels different depending on where you live.

How the Maine Judicial Branch Is Organized

The Judicial Branch is a state agency led by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, which has a chief justice and six associate justices. Sitting as the Law Court, the justices hear appeals, and arguments are often held in Portland. The court also writes the procedural rules every courthouse follows, and a state court administrator's office manages budgets, staffing and technology for all locations. Because the system is centralized, a form that works in Bangor works the same way in Alfred.

Below the Supreme Judicial Court, three trial-level courts handle nearly all everyday business.

Superior Court. Each of Maine's 16 counties has a Superior Court, usually sitting in the county seat. It tries the most serious criminal cases, which Maine classifies as Class A, B and C crimes, and it hears major civil lawsuits and land disputes. Defendants charged with lower-level crimes who ask for a jury trial are generally moved here as well. Examples in our directory include York County Superior Court on Kennebunk Road in Alfred and Oxford County Superior Court on Western Avenue in Paris.

District Court. District Courts are the busiest in the state, and there are more of them than Superior Courts. They handle misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, evictions, protection orders and, through the Family Division, divorce, parental rights and child support. Judges decide these cases without a jury. Lewiston District Court on Lisbon Street and Bangor District Court on Exchange Street are two examples.

Probate Court. Probate is the exception to the state-run model. Each county operates its own Probate Court, led by an elected part-time judge and a register of probate. These courts handle wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions and name changes.

Justices and judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, Superior Court and District Court are nominated by the governor, confirmed by the Senate, and appointed to seven-year terms. Only probate judges are elected, and they serve four-year terms.

Which Maine Court Handles Your Problem

Going to the wrong courthouse costs time, so match your problem to the right court first.

Courts in Southern and Central Maine: Portland, Alfred, Bath and Augusta

Southern Maine has the densest concentration of courthouses, and caseloads are heavier here. In Cumberland County, Cumberland County Superior Court I sits at 205 Newbury Street in Portland, the state's largest city. Further west, Bridgton District Court at 3 Chase Street serves the Lakes Region, so lakeside residents do not have to drive into Portland for District Court matters.

York County Superior Court is at 45 Kennebunk Road in Alfred, a small inland town. Biddeford District Court at 25 Adams Street is a separate stop for misdemeanors, traffic and family cases in the same county. Check which of the two you need, because they are not in the same town.

Sagadahoc County's West Bath District Court is at 147 New Meadows Road and is listed under Bath in our directory. The courthouse is in West Bath, not downtown Bath, so enter the right address in your GPS. In Androscoggin County, the Superior Court is at 2 Turner Street in Auburn, while Lewiston District Court is at 71 Lisbon Street across the river in Lewiston.

In Kennebec County, Augusta District Court is at 145 State Street in the capital city. Augusta is also where the Legislature's Judiciary Committee holds hearings on judicial nominees.

Rural and Northern Maine: Aroostook, Penobscot and Washington Counties

Distance is the defining issue north and east of Bangor. Aroostook County is Maine's largest county by area, and its courts are spread out to match. Our directory lists Caribou District Court at 144 Sweden Street, the Houlton court at 26 School Street, Fort Kent District Court at 139 Market Street and Madawaska District Court at 645 East Main Street. A resident of the upper St. John Valley may have a far shorter trip to Fort Kent or Madawaska than to Caribou or Houlton, so confirm which court covers your town before you leave.

Penobscot County has Bangor District Court at 78 Exchange Street, Lincoln District Court at 52 Main Street and Millinocket District Court at 207 Penobscot Avenue. Bangor is the regional hub for eastern and northern Maine, while Lincoln and Millinocket spare people in the Penobscot River valley and the Katahdin region a trip to the city.

Farther south and east, Washington County Superior Court is at 47 Court Street in Machias, Ellsworth District Court in Hancock County is at 50 State Street, and Piscataquis County Superior Court is at 159 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft. Inland, Franklin County Superior Court is at 140 Route 46 in Farmington and Somerset County Superior Court is at 41 Court Street in Skowhegan. On the midcoast, Knox County Superior Court is at 62 Union Street in Rockland and Lincoln County Superior Court is at 32 High Street in Wiscasset.

Smaller courthouses may hold sessions only on set days, and winter weather can change schedules. Call the clerk's office before you travel.

Practical Steps Before You Visit a Maine Courthouse

A little preparation prevents most problems on court day. Read your notice or summons first and find the date, time, session and the court's full name. Then call the clerk's office to confirm the details.

Plan to arrive early. Maine courthouses screen visitors at the entrance, and weapons are not allowed inside. Bring photo identification, your paperwork and copies of anything you want the judge to see. Dress neatly, silence your phone and expect to wait, since many cases are called in the same session.

Clerks can explain procedure and hand you forms, but they cannot give legal advice. If you cannot afford a lawyer, Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project help low-income residents with civil problems, and the court can waive filing fees if you qualify. In criminal cases, ask the judge about appointed counsel at your first appearance.

Courts in Maine operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Maine Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 31 cities across Maine. They are spread across 16 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Portland, Farmington, Bangor, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Maine should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Maine who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Maine to find the nearest location.

A Seat-by-Seat Look at Maine's Courthouse Towns

Maine's county seats are often small towns, which surprises people used to big-city courthouses. Alfred, Wiscasset, Machias, Paris, Skowhegan and Dover-Foxcroft each host a Superior Court even though none is a large city. The courthouse map follows historic county lines rather than population, so Portland and Lewiston are among the busiest locations while places like Machias serve a wide, thinly settled area.

In Washington County, Machias and Calais divide the work. Washington County Superior Court is at 47 Court Street in Machias, and Calais District Court is at 382 South Street. Someone living near Calais should confirm which court a notice refers to before setting out, because the two sit in different towns.

Use the county as your starting point. Find your county, then compare the street address and phone number in the listing with the ones on your paperwork. Superior Court cases are filed with the clerk of courts, and District Court filings go to the clerk of that District Court. Confirm opening hours by phone, since holiday closures and weather can change the schedule. Some deadlines start the day you are served, not the day you reach the courthouse, so write down that date and count forward carefully.

Small claims cases in Maine are heard in the District Court, and the limit is $6,000. You file with the clerk at the court that usually covers where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, using forms the clerk supplies. You do not need a lawyer, and the hearing is informal. A judge listens to both sides and looks at receipts, photos, texts and written agreements, so bring organized copies. Mediation is often offered before the hearing. Winning a judgment does not automatically put money in your hands, so ask the clerk how post-judgment collection works before you leave.

In Maine, protection from abuse requests are filed at the District Court, and there is no filing fee. Go to the clerk's office at the courthouse nearest you during business hours and complete the complaint form describing what happened. A judge can issue a temporary order quickly, sometimes the same day, and a full hearing is then scheduled where both sides can be heard. If you are in danger outside court hours, call 911 or contact local police, who can explain emergency options. The Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-4357 offers confidential advocacy and can help you plan for safety and court.

Probate in Maine is handled by county Probate Courts, not the state District or Superior Courts. File a will or open an estate in the county where the person lived at the time of death. Each county has a register of probate who accepts filings and can explain forms and procedure, though not give legal advice. Maine's probate rules are found in the Maine Probate Code, Title 18-C of the Maine Revised Statutes. Simple estates can often use informal procedures, and smaller estates may qualify for streamlined options. Call the county probate office first, because its contact details and hours can differ from the nearby Superior Court.

The consequences depend on the case type, and the key is to act fast. In a criminal case, a missed appearance can lead to an arrest warrant and added charges, so contact your lawyer or the clerk immediately and ask how to reschedule or have the warrant addressed. In a civil case, missing a hearing or an answer deadline can lead to a default judgment against you. For a traffic infraction, ignoring the ticket can bring further penalties. Courts are far more willing to listen when you call right away with a real reason than when you wait weeks. Keep the notice and any proof of illness or emergency.

The ticket itself explains your choices. Many Maine traffic infractions can be resolved through the Maine Violations Bureau, which accepts payment without a court appearance, but paying means you accept responsibility and the violation can affect your driving record and insurance rates. If you want to contest the ticket, follow the instructions printed on it to request a hearing, which is held at the District Court covering the area where you were stopped, such as Lewiston, Bangor or Biddeford. Bring the ticket, photos or diagrams, and any witness information. Do not ignore the deadline, since unpaid infractions can lead to further action.

Yes, several groups help. Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Mainers on issues such as housing, family safety and public benefits. The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project connects volunteer attorneys with people who qualify, and Legal Services for the Elderly serves older residents. If you cannot pay court filing fees, ask the clerk about a fee waiver request. In criminal cases where jail is a possibility, tell the judge at your first appearance that you cannot afford a lawyer, and the court will review whether counsel should be appointed. Apply early, because these programs can have waiting lists.