State records guide
Property title search in Maine
Facts below are taken from Maine statutes and official sources, each linked, each checked on the date shown. General information, not legal advice.
A Maine title search runs through the registry of deeds for the county, or registry district, where the land lies. Most mortgages are foreclosed by civil action, with 90 days to redeem after judgment and before the sale. A recorded municipal tax lien certificate forecloses automatically after 18 months unless paid.
What a Maine title search has to account for
| Where deeds are recorded | Deeds and leases are recorded in the registry of deeds for the county where the land lies. Land in 2 or more counties is recorded in each county, and in a county with 2 or more registry districts the instrument goes to the district that covers the parcel. Source: 33 M.R.S. s. 201, checked 2026-11-06. |
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| Recording jurisdictions | Maine has 16 counties, so the search is run in the registry of deeds that covers the parcel's county. Source: Maine Emergency Management Agency, County Emergency Management Agencies, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Mortgage foreclosure process | A Maine mortgage is foreclosed by a civil action against all parties in interest, filed in the Superior Court or the District Court for the division where the land lies. Within 60 days of starting the case the lender records a copy of the complaint or a clerk's certificate of its filing in the registry of deeds. Source: 14 M.R.S. s. 6321, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Redemption after a mortgage foreclosure sale | Maine's redemption period runs before the sale, not after it. The judgment of foreclosure and sale gives the owner the period of redemption to pay the sum the court found due, and for mortgages executed on or after October 1, 1975 that period is 90 days from the date of the judgment. The lender proceeds to the sale only if the owner does not pay within it. Source: 14 M.R.S. s. 6322, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Delinquent property tax sales | A Maine town enforces unpaid property taxes by written demand followed by a recorded lien, not by auctioning a certificate or a deed. The tax collector demands payment within 30 days, and after that period records a tax lien certificate in the registry of deeds of the county or registry district where the land lies. Source: 36 M.R.S. s. 942, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Redemption after a tax sale | Filing the tax lien certificate creates a tax lien mortgage in favor of the municipality with priority over all other mortgages and liens. If the taxes, interest and costs are not paid within 18 months after the filing, the tax lien mortgage is deemed foreclosed and the right of redemption has expired; the statutory notice tells the owner that the municipality will then own the property and may sell it. Source: 36 M.R.S. s. 943, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Maine authorizes transfer on death deeds. The deed must have the elements and formalities of a recordable deed, must state that the transfer to the beneficiary occurs at the transferor's death, and must be recorded before the transferor's death in the registry of deeds for the county where the property is located. Source: 18-C M.R.S. s. 6-409, checked 2026-11-06. |
| Marital property system | In a divorce the court sets apart each spouse's own property and divides the marital property in the proportions it considers just. A nonowner spouse's claim to real estate as marital property does not affect the owner spouse's title until the nonowner spouse records the claim in the appropriate registry of deeds. Community property in Maine: marital property, a spouse's signature and recorded divorce decrees, section by section. Source: 19-A M.R.S. s. 953, checked 2026-11-06. |
| HOA assessment lien priority | A Maine condominium association's lien for assessments is prior to other liens except liens recorded before the declaration, a first mortgage recorded before or after the assessment became delinquent, and real estate taxes and other governmental charges. Recording the declaration perfects the lien, so no separate claim of lien appears in the registry. Source: 33 M.R.S. s. 1603-116, checked 2026-11-06. |
Where are Maine deeds recorded?
Land instruments are recorded at the county level in a registry of deeds run by a Register of Deeds, and some counties are split into more than one registry district. Section 201 of Title 33 makes a conveyance in fee or for life, or a lease for more than 2 years, effectual against anyone other than the grantor, the grantor's heirs and devisees and persons having actual notice only once the deed or lease is acknowledged and recorded in the registry of deeds for the county where the land lies. Land in 2 or more counties is recorded in each, and in a county with more than one registry district the deed belongs in the district that covers the parcel.
The report traces the chain of title as far back as the registry's records go, with document images of the key instruments, and verifies findings with the assessor, tax office, recorder and courts.
How does a Maine mortgage foreclosure run?
Most mortgages are foreclosed by civil action. Section 6321 lets the mortgagee sue all parties in interest, except those with priority over the foreclosing mortgagee, in the Superior Court or the District Court for the division where the land lies, and the mortgagee records a copy of the complaint or a clerk's certificate of its filing within 60 days of commencing the case. Parties with superior priority are not joined, and in that case the sale is of the mortgagor's equity of redemption only.
A second route exists for some business borrowers. Section 6203-A provides a power of sale procedure for a mortgage granted by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trustee of a trust that contains a power of sale, and for mortgage deeds executed on or after October 1, 1993, only if the deed states it is given primarily for business, commercial or agricultural purposes.
In the court route the redemption period comes before the sale. After a judgment of foreclosure and sale, section 6322 gives the mortgagor the period of redemption to pay the sum the court found due, 90 days from the judgment for mortgages executed on or after October 1, 1975, and the sale follows only if that period expires. Under section 6323 the deed from the sale conveys the premises free and clear of the interests of the parties in interest joined in the action. An auction title report reports the foreclosing lien's position and the liens that would survive, in dollars, for the bidder's attorney.
What happens when Maine property taxes go unpaid?
Municipalities can enforce the tax lien on real estate through a recorded certificate, one of the methods the law allows. Under section 942 of Title 36, the tax collector may, after 8 months and within one year after the tax was committed, demand payment within 30 days; after those 30 days, and within 10 days thereafter, the collector records a tax lien certificate in the registry of deeds of the county or registry district where the real estate is situated.
Filing the certificate creates a tax lien mortgage to the municipality with priority over all other mortgages, liens, attachments and encumbrances. Section 943 deems it foreclosed, and the right of redemption expired, if it is not paid with interest and costs within 18 months after the filing, and the treasurer must notify the party named and each record mortgage holder 30 to 45 days before the foreclosing date. If the section 942 notice was not given, the record mortgagee, or a record owner to whom the property was not assessed, may redeem within 3 months after receiving actual knowledge of the recording.
A sale after foreclosure now follows section 943-C, as amended by Public Law 2023, chapter 640. Unless the municipality sells the property back to the former owner, it lists it with a real estate broker or agent at the highest reasonable price, conveys it by quitclaim deed, pays the former owner the sale proceeds above the taxes, interest, fees and other amounts the section lists, and within 10 days of that payment records a notice of payment of proceeds in the registry. The report verifies tax sales and redemptions with the tax office and states the surviving liens, taxes and assessments in dollars.
How does title pass when a Maine owner dies or divorces?
An owner can name who takes the property at death without probate. Under the statute linked above a transfer on death deed must carry the formalities of an ordinary recordable deed, state that the transfer happens at the transferor's death, and be recorded in the registry of deeds for the county before the transferor dies. Section 6-411 lets it be revoked by a later transfer on death deed, an instrument of revocation or an inter vivos deed that expressly revokes it, on that section's conditions. A probate title search finds the decedent's property by name and reports vesting at death, how title passes, including joint tenancy, a transfer on death deed, a trust or a life estate, and the liens to pay.
On divorce, section 953 has the court set apart each spouse's property and divide the marital property in the proportions it considers just after weighing the statutory factors. A nonowner spouse's claim to real estate as marital property does not affect title to the owner spouse's real estate until the nonowner spouse records in the appropriate registry of deeds a copy of the divorce complaint, a clerk's certificate of it, or a decree or abstract of the decree. Rights a party acquires under the section in the other party's real estate are effective against a person when the decree or an abstract is filed in the registry for the county or registry district where the real estate is situated. The report states the recorded deed or decree it finds, and an attorney reads the effect.
Does a Maine condominium lien outrank the mortgage?
A condominium association holds a lien for unpaid assessments, and under section 1603-116 recording the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien; no further recordation of a claim of lien is required, so the registry index will not show the running balance.
The lien is prior to other liens except liens and encumbrances recorded before the declaration, a first mortgage recorded before or after the assessment became delinquent, and real estate taxes and other governmental charges. It is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce it begin within 6 years after the full amount becomes due. The current balance comes from the association, since the lien needs no recorded claim.
Which package fits a Maine property?
Every package covers Maine property wherever it is recorded. Pick by situation:
- Probate law firm: Find every property a decedent held, how it was vested and what has to be paid before it passes. $595 per estate.
- Real estate law firm: A preliminary report with schedule-style exceptions and print-ready exhibits for your matter. $695 per property.
- Builders and developers: Multi-parcel research on access, easements, restrictions, mineral reservations and entity ownership. $995 first parcel.
- Auction buyer: Know the total cost to own, which liens survive the sale and whether to bid at all. $395 for 1 property.
- Home buyer: Confirm the seller owns the home and learn what has to be cleared before you pay. $449 per property.
- Home seller: Find the old mortgage, judgment or name mismatch before a buyer's title company does. $449 per property.
Questions about a title search in Maine
Which office records deeds in Maine?
The Register of Deeds for the county where the land lies. A deed binds people other than the grantor, the grantor's heirs and devisees and those with actual notice only once it is acknowledged and recorded in that county's registry. Land in more than one county is recorded in each, and in a county with more than one registry district the deed goes to the district that covers the parcel.
Can a Maine homeowner redeem after a foreclosure sale?
In a court foreclosure the redemption period runs before the sale. After a judgment of foreclosure and sale, the mortgagor has the period of redemption to pay the sum the court found due, 90 days from the judgment for mortgages executed on or after October 1, 1975, and the public sale follows only if that period expires. The deed then conveys free of the interests of the parties joined in the action.
When does a Maine town tax lien foreclose?
The tax collector may demand payment within 30 days, after 8 months and within one year from commitment of the tax, then record a tax lien certificate within 10 days after those 30 days. That filing creates a tax lien mortgage to the municipality with priority over other mortgages and liens. If it is not paid within 18 months after filing, the statute deems it foreclosed and the right of redemption expired.
Does Maine allow a transfer on death deed?
Yes. The Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act as adopted in Maine lets an owner transfer property to one or more beneficiaries effective at death by a transfer on death deed. The deed must have the formalities of a recordable deed, say the transfer takes effect at the transferor's death, and be recorded before the death in the registry of deeds for the county where the property is located.
How does Maine divide property on divorce?
In a divorce the court sets apart each spouse's property and divides the marital property in the proportions it considers just after weighing the statutory factors. A nonowner spouse's marital property claim does not affect title to real estate in the owner spouse's name until the nonowner spouse records a copy of the divorce complaint, a clerk's certificate of it, or a decree or abstract in the appropriate registry of deeds.
Does a Maine condominium lien come ahead of a first mortgage?
No. Under the Maine Condominium Act the association's lien for assessments is prior to other liens except liens recorded before the declaration, a first mortgage recorded before or after the assessment became delinquent, and real estate taxes and other governmental charges. Recording the declaration perfects the lien with no further filing, so the registry will not show the balance, and the lien is extinguished unless enforcement begins within 6 years.