Named after William, Duke of Cumberland, a son of King George II, Cumberland County, established in 1760, is located in the southwestern part of Maine, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Cumberland County is Maine’s most populous county, with over 300,000 residents. Its county seat in Portland is known for its historic maritime industry, and it is an important port city in the United States.

Courts in Cumberland County

Cumberland County's judiciary system is comprised of Superior Courts, District Courts, and Probate Courts. The Cumberland County Superior Courts adjudicate all criminal and civil cases, including felonies and civil disputes involving large sums. The Superior Court conducts jury trials and has the authority to issue injunctions, orders, and other forms of relief. The court handles appeals from the District Courts.

The Cumberland County District Courts handles some civil and criminal cases, including landlord/tenant disputes, enforcement of liens, ordinance violations, and misdemeanor offenses. The District Court has a Family, Juvenile, Small Claims, and Traffic Divisions. The Family Division presides over divorce, paternity, and emancipation of minors lawsuits. The Juvenile Courts deal with criminal cases involving minors.  The Small Claims Division presides over civil disputes for amounts below $4,500, while the Traffic Division adjudicates traffic violations and infractions.

The Probate Court in Cumberland County presides over the legitimacy, or will and testaments, and the distribution of the decedent’s estates. The court handles name changes, guardianship, and conservatorship cases.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Cumberland County

Public court records are documents from the courts open to the general public. Public access to Cumberland County civil court records is available electronically using the re:SeachMaine online platform. Persons seeking all other publicly available court records must be in the courthouse where the lawsuit was filed. Record seekers can access public court records from the Probate Courts through the Maine Probate Records web tool.

Types of Public Court Records in Cumberland County

Access to public court records allows citizens to see how laws are applied and how justice is administered in the county. Publicly accessible court records in Cumberland County include:

• Civil Court Records: Personal injury claims, breach of contract, property disputes, employment disputes and landlord/tenant disputes
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanor records, including drug trafficking, murder, petty theft, and vandalism
• Probate Records: Trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, estates, and wills
• Family Court Records: Divorce, annulments, legal separation, child custody, and spousal and child support
• Traffic Records: Seatbelt violations, driving under the influence, speeding tickets, parking violations, and driving with a suspended license

Confidential Court Records in Cumberland County

Confidential documents are documents maintained by the courts that are inaccessible to the general public due to their sensitive nature. Confidential court records are sealed to protect the privacy of the record holder or prevent bias in ongoing legal proceedings. Confidential court records in Cumberland County include:

• Juvenile Court records
• Mental health commitment proceedings
• Grand jury proceedings
• Trade secrets in business disputes
• Adoption records

Public court records contain personal identifying information. Personal identifiers are specific information used to identify an individual. Personal identifiers are redacted from public court records to prevent identity theft, fraud, or potential harm. Personal data excluded from public court records includes:

• Bank account and credit card information
• Driver’s license numbers
• Medical records
• Tax identification numbers
• Birthdates, phone numbers, and personal email addresses

Juvenile Delinquency in Cumberland, ME

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Cumberland County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Maine often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 534 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Cumberland County. Of that total, 75% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 401 court cases. Another 25% were dependency cases that accounted for 133 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Cumberland County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Cumberland County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Cumberland County, ME

http://maine.gov/

County Seat:	Portland
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1760
Total Square Miles:	1,217
2019 Population:	292,500
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	142 Federal St Cumberland Superior Court Portland , ME 04101-4151 http://www.cumberlandcounty.org

Cumberland County, ME Courts