Are Autopsy Reports Public in Maine? (2026 Guide)

Maine autopsy reports are not open public records. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) within the Maine Attorney General's Office releases a completed report to the deceased's next of kin at no charge, and to other parties for a fee. Homicide cases are the exception: the OCME does not release the report to next of kin through its normal request process, and any report can be held while the death is under active investigation by the Attorney General or a district attorney.

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Maine?

No. A Maine autopsy report is not an open public record that anyone can request. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner releases completed reports to the deceased person's next of kin and, in non-homicide cases, to other requesters who pay the applicable fee.

Homicide cases are different. The OCME's guidance excludes homicides from the reports next of kin may request, so a homicide autopsy report is generally not released through the normal process. Access is controlled by the investigating Attorney General or district attorney while the criminal matter is open, which protects the integrity of the case.

While a death is under active investigation, the OCME may also withhold the report until the matter is resolved. Reports are not finalized until all diagnostic testing is complete.

Who Performs Autopsies in Maine? (Medical Examiner vs Coroner)

Maine uses a statewide medical examiner system. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, established under Title 22, section 3022, sits within the Attorney General's Office and handles death investigations across the entire state. Maine does not use county coroners.

An autopsy is not performed for every death. The OCME investigates "medical examiner cases," which under Title 22, section 3025 include deaths that are violent, sudden while in apparent good health, or otherwise unexplained, including deaths suspected to involve injury or poisoning whether the manner is homicide, suicide, or accident. Deaths of children and improperly certified deaths can also be medical examiner cases.

Once a case is reported, the OCME decides whether an autopsy is necessary after gathering initial information. Under Title 22, section 3028, an autopsy is ordered when a medical examiner, the Chief Medical Examiner, a district attorney, or the Attorney General finds it advisable and in the public interest. The law also requires an autopsy when a child under 3 years old dies without medical attendance or a specific natural cause.

Who Can Request a Maine Autopsy Report?

The next of kin can request a Maine autopsy report. In Maine practice, next of kin is defined in priority order as the partner, an adult child, a parent, and then an adult sibling.

For deaths that are not homicides, other parties may also request the report by paying the fee. This can include attorneys, insurers, or researchers with a legitimate need.

Homicide cases are the exception. The OCME's guidance excludes homicides from the reports next of kin may request, so even next of kin generally cannot obtain a homicide autopsy report through the normal process. Those records are controlled by the investigating Attorney General or district attorney while the case is open.

How to Get an Autopsy or Toxicology Report in Maine

You request a Maine autopsy report directly from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which is the legal custodian of these records. The OCME accepts requests by fax, email, or mail.

Your request should include:

• The deceased person's full name
• The date of death
• Your full name and your relationship to the deceased
• How you want the report delivered (fax, email, or mail)

There is no charge to next of kin. All other parties pay $35 for an autopsy report or $15 for an examination report, with checks payable to "Treasurer, State of Maine." Toxicology findings are incorporated into the final report rather than sold as a separate document.

Expect a wait. A final report is not available until all diagnostic testing, including toxicology, is complete. The OCME notes this typically takes several weeks, and in some cases a month or longer. If the death is still under active investigation, the report may be held until the investigation concludes.

Autopsy Report vs Death Certificate in Maine

These are two different documents from two different agencies. The autopsy report is a detailed medical findings document produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The death certificate is the official vital record issued by the Maine Office of Vital Records within the Department of Health and Human Services.

The death certificate lists a brief cause and manner of death on a single line. The autopsy report contains the full examination, including internal findings and toxicology results. For more on how vital records and autopsies are treated nationwide, see Are Autopsies Public Records?

Disclaimer: This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Fees, definitions, and release procedures can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner before relying on this information.

More Maine Death Records

For other Maine records, see Maine Death Records and the national hub Death Records by State.

Sources

This article draws on the Maine Attorney General's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner autopsy guidance and Maine Revised Statutes Title 22, sections 3022, 3025, and 3028.