How to Find Owners of Properties
in Maine
A property owner search is more than an exercise for finding owners; it is also a way to filter out fraudulent transactions when renting or buying a property. Thankfully, Maine's property records are publicly accessible under the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). This statute allows anyone to access public records.
However, because a Maine house owner lookup is a unique type of information search, the procedure is different from a regular public records search. Below is a guide on how to conduct a property owner search in Maine by personally going through public records or via third-party service providers:
Start With the Registry of Deeds
Maine is organized into 18 registry districts, each managed by an elected Registrar of Deeds. All documents related to real estate ownership within a district are recorded at the Registry of Deeds.
The Registry of Deeds offers two primary services to county residents. First, it securely microfilms all property-related documents and survey plans. Once recorded, these documents receive a sequential identifying number, referred to as the book and page number, and are scanned into the registry's computer system.
You can view the scanned images and print copies from public terminals at the registry. You can also view it remotely from your home or office.
The Registry of Deeds also handles the collection and distribution of transfer taxes and provides deed copies to towns to help tax assessors update their records.
Here are links to some of Maine's Registrars of Deeds:
Check the Statewide Portal
The Maine Registers of Deeds Association offers an official statewide single web portal, allowing the public to access and copy land records from the 17 County Registries of Deeds across Maine. This website serves as a unified entry point for all registries. Each Registry of Deeds manages and operates this statewide single web portal.
Do you want to find the owner of the property free? All County Registries of Deeds websites offer the first 500 pages per calendar year free. Beyond this limit, a fee of $0.50 per page applies. When printing or downloading, you should select non-subscriber unless you want to set up a monthly subscription.
Visit the County Assessor's Office
Each year, the Assessor's Office reviews and updates property valuations to account for any additions or removals. Serving as an information hub, the office provides building and land records, monthly sales data, and valuation details used by other town departments, the public, and professionals like appraisers, brokers, attorneys, surveyors, and title companies.
Reports are frequently generated from commitment files for various town departments. The Assessor's Office also manages all street naming and numbering. Valuation reports, which include assessment and ownership information, along with individual tax maps, are available upon request.
Get Help From a Title Search Company
Property owner search in Maine is much more complicated than a typical Google search. It often involves sifting through various online databases, and any necessary documents may not even be available online. To obtain the required title records, one often has to visit a courthouse in person for physical copies.
A title search company can streamline the entire process for you. Instead of spending hours navigating a fragmented system of online and offline title documents, a title company takes care of all the work for you.
The benefits of working with a title search company go beyond simply relieving you of the search burden. It also provides clear, easy-to-read reports, addressing the common frustration of inconsistent traditional title searches that require careful interpretation due to their many variations.
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Outsource to a Commercial Service Provider
Commercial service providers like PropertyChecker.com can assist with Maine homeowner lookup. PropertyChecker.com has access to an up-to-date database of Maine properties. Use multiple search options, including parcel ID, owner's name, phone number, or email. PropertyChecker.com can also help your property owner search in Maine by identifying current and past property owners, including owners hidden behind legal or business entities.
What Are the Different Types of Property Ownership in Maine?
Title to real property, typically detailed in the deed, establishes legal ownership, showing who owns the property and the nature of that ownership. Property ownership means more than just acquisition. It also involves various forms and structures that carry distinct practical, financial, and legal implications.
Property rights are governed by state law and can also be influenced by marital status. At different stages — such as when buying property in Maine, transferring it during your lifetime, or passing it on through your estate after death — you may need to consider how to title the property.
Besides sole ownership, Maine recognizes several forms of property co-ownership, including joint tenancy (with right of survivorship), tenancy in common, and trusteeship.
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Sole Ownership
In this ownership structure, one individual or entity holds complete ownership of the property without any co-owners. Although this arrangement appears simple, there is a subtlety that can affect sole ownership. If the owner is married and the property is designated as the family's homestead, the spouse might need to sign the deed when the property is sold or refinanced.
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Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship
Co-owners who hold title in this manner are referred to as joint tenants. The defining feature of Maine joint tenancy is the right of survivorship. When one owner dies, their interest in the property disappears, allowing the remaining owners to continue owning the property without any claim from the deceased.
The deceased owner's interest does not transfer to their heirs, become part of their estate, fall under the control of their will, or require a deed to be given to the surviving owners.
Married couples often prefer this form of ownership, as it enables the surviving spouse to maintain full ownership of the property without the delays and costs associated with court proceedings. However, joint tenancy can also involve more than two parties and is not restricted to married individuals.
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Tenancy in Common
In this ownership structure, ownership interest transfers to the owner's estate upon their death according to their will. If there is no will, the laws of intestate succession dictate who inherits the assets of a deceased person.
To transfer the title of the property, a deed from the decedent's personal representative is required, necessitating the filing of a probate case to appoint this representative.
Couples with children from previous relationships, siblings, and others who want to ensure that their heirs inherit a share of the property upon the owner's death often choose this ownership structure.
While the right of survivorship is typically a significant factor in determining how to hold title, considerations such as estate planning may also be important.
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Trusteeship
Two or more individuals can establish a trust to hold title to real estate in Maine, granting both parties a beneficial interest. For instance, a married couple might record a deed that titles their property in both their names as co-trustees of a revocable living trust.
As co-trustees, the spouses maintain control over the property and can use it as beneficiaries of the trust. This arrangement allows the property to bypass probate when the second spouse passes away, with a successor trustee transferring title according to the instructions outlined in the trust document.
Summary Table of Common Types of Property Ownership in Maine
| Ownership Structure | Description | Benefits | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole Ownership | A single individual or entity holds full ownership of the property, with no other co-owners. | Full control of the property | If the sole owner is married, the spouse may be required to sign the deed when the property is sold or refinanced. |
| Joint Tenancy With Rights of Survivorship | Two or more people hold joint titles to one property. | Enables a surviving co-owner to maintain full ownership of the property without probate proceedings | When one owner dies, the remaining owners continue owning the property without any claim from the deceased. |
| Tenancy in Common | Two parties purchase real estate together, such as for rental purposes, and both hold ownership rights. | Each owner has the right to occupy and use all of the property, while the ownership percentages define the financial ownership of the real estate. | If there is no will, the laws of intestate succession dictate who inherits the assets of a deceased person. |
| Trusteeship | Two or more individuals establish a trust to hold title to real estate, granting all parties a beneficial interest. | Co-trustees maintain control over the property and can use it as beneficiaries of the trust. | Trusteeship allows the property to bypass probate when one co-trustee passes away. |
Common Methods of Property Transfer in Maine
In Maine, a person who owns real estate can convey their interest through a written deed. The state recognizes various types of deeds, each serving a specific purpose. Three common forms used for transferring real estate during the owner's lifetime are warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds with covenants, and quitclaim deeds without covenants. The main difference between these forms lies in the warranty of the title they provide.
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Warranty Deed
A Maine warranty deed offers the strongest warranty of title among the state's deed forms. This warranty assures the new owner that they will receive a valid and clear title to the property. The warranty encompasses the entire history of the property, covering any potential title issues that are not explicitly excluded in the deed.
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Quitclaim Deed with Covenants
A Maine quitclaim deed with covenant serves as the state's version of what other states refer to as a special warranty deed or limited warranty deed. In this arrangement, the property owner guarantees a good title, but this assurance only applies to the period during which they owned the property.
Essentially, the owner promises that no issues arose to affect the property's title while they held it. However, a quitclaim deed with covenants does not address any title problems that may have existed before the owner took possession.
This type of deed divides the risk of title issues between the current owner (the grantor) and the new owner(the grantee). The balanced approach makes quitclaim deeds with covenant a popular choice for commercial real estate transactions.
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Quitclaim Deed Without Covenants
A Maine quitclaim deed without covenants conveys to the new owner whatever interest the current owner can legally transfer. This type of deed does not make any assurances regarding the clarity of the property's title or whether the current owner has a legitimate interest to convey. The current owner does not provide any warranties or covenants of title.
When a new owner accepts property through a quitclaim deed without covenants, they assume all the risks associated with any potential title issues. The current owner, on the other hand, takes on none of that risk.
Quitclaim deeds without covenants are commonly used when no consideration is exchanged for the property, such as when transferring property to a trust, gifting it to a family member, or conveying it to a spouse during divorce proceedings.
Step-by-Step Guide to Property Transfer in Maine
Property transfers typically occur for various reasons, such as sales, inheritance, or divorce. A deed functions as the official legal instrument used to convey ownership.
Here are important steps when transferring property in Maine:
- Obtain the deed: To transfer property, you'll need a copy of the current property deed. If you own the property, you might already have this document. If you don't, you can reach out to the current owner or the register of deeds in the county where the property is situated.
- Indicate property description: Find the legal description of the property on the current deed. This description should include the city, town, or location of any unincorporated property. It is essential for recording purposes. If the property is a condominium or another type of unit, be sure to include both the land description and the unit identification number.
- Prepare disclosure statement: Maine law mandates that the grantor provide specific property disclosures when selling real estate to a new owner. These disclosures cover crucial information about systems such as heating, insulation, water supply, and waste disposal. They also inform the buyer about the presence of hazardous materials, known defects, and any public access to the property.
- Complete the deed form: After obtaining the property description, you can prepare a quitclaim deed form that meets the requirements set by the Maine Registry of Deeds.
- Notarize the deed: For the document to be valid, the grantor must sign the quitclaim deed in the presence of a notary or other approved individual. The names of each signer must be printed or typed clearly below their signatures.
- File the deed: File the deed with the Registrar of Deeds where the property is located. Ensure you have paid all required transfer taxes. Maine's transfer tax rate is $2.20 for each $500.00 of consideration.
Maine Homeowner Lookup
- Owner(s)
- Deed Records
- Loans & Liens
- Values
- Taxes
- Building Permits
- Purchase History
- Property Details
- And More!
Maine Homeowner Lookup
- Owner(s)
- Deed Records
- Loans & Liens
- Values
- Taxes
- Building Permits
- Purchase History
- Property Details
- And More!