Maine eCourts in Bangor courts this fall

Date: 8/7/2020

The Maine Judicial Branch announced today that Maine eCourts is being rolled out in Bangor courts this fall for many types of civil cases and family matters. The Judicial Branch's new online court case management system first became available in traffic cases in Maine district courts statewide in the fall of 2018. This latest implementation is the next step in making the system available for all case types in all trial courts statewide by 2022.

What is Maine eCourts?

  • A powerful court case management and digital document storage system; and
  • A web-based tool that allows parties to electronically file documents (eFileMaine), access court documents, and pay court fees and fines online.

Which courts will offer eFileMaine next?
eFileMaine and other features of Maine eCourts are on track to be available beginning in the fall of 2020 for most civil cases and family matters in Bangor District Court and Penobscot County Superior Court, as well as the Business Consumer Docket statewide. All trial court case types, including criminal and juvenile dockets, will be available in Penobscot and Piscataquis County courts in spring 2021. Additional courts in other locations throughout the state will follow.

How will Maine eCourts benefit court users?
Maine eCourts will provide attorneys and unrepresented parties with greater access to case records and more convenient ways to manage their cases. Parties and their attorneys will be able to eFile documents, review case files, and search for case-related information from any computer connected to the internet.

Who will use eFileMaine?
When available at your court, eFiling will be required for

  • Attorneys;
  • State, county and municipal governmental entities; and
  • Many businesses.

If I do not have an attorney, do I have to eFile?
If you do not have an attorney you may choose to use eFileMaine, but you will not be required to do so. If you opt not to use eFileMaine, you will be able to fill out and file paper court forms and documents and receive communications from the court the same way you do today.

Help for eFileMaine
No matter who you are - a party in a case without an attorney, or an attorney, legal assistant, legal service provider, public sector user, or other court user there will be support and resources to help with eFileMaine.

  • Help at the courthouse Public Access Computers (PACs) will be available at courthouses offering eFiling and Maine eCourts portal access to court records. Clerks will be available at the courthouse to help unrepresented parties use the terminals.
  • Online tools for unrepresented parties the Maine eCourts "Guide & File" online question and answer tool, designed for unrepresented litigants, will help parties fill out and eFile court forms and documents. Guide & File is currently available for traffic violation cases and will be expanded to include other types of cases.
  • Online trainings and tutorials the Judicial Branch will be offering a variety of hands-on trainings and online tutorials and resources for attorneys and staff, governmental entities, legal service providers, and others interested in learning how to use eFileMaine.
  • Technical support and helplines The Judicial Branch will offer helplines for users during normal business hours. Offsite technical support will also be provided by Tyler Technologies call centers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Stay tuned for more information about trainings, resources, and other Maine eCourts news at www.maine.courts.gov/ecourts.

Contact: Amy Quinlan, Esq., Director of Court Communications
Phone: (207) 822-0716
Email: amy.quinlan@ courts.maine.gov

Supporting documents

Press Release (PDF)