Maine · 33 M.R.S. §551Maine mortgage release: recorded within 60 days, mailed within 30

A Maine mortgage is discharged only by a written, acknowledged instrument signed by the mortgagee or its authorized officer, agent, personal representative or assignee, reciting the parties and the record location of the mortgage (33 M.R.S. §551). Within 60 days after full performance of the mortgage, the mortgagee – meaning both the owner of the mortgage when it's satisfied and any servicer that receives the final payment – records a valid and complete release, with any assignment needed to show its record ownership, and within 30 days after receiving the recorded release from the registry it mails it first class to the mortgagor's address in the mortgage or another address the mortgagor gave in writing. If the release isn't sent to the registry within 60 days, the owner and servicer are jointly and severally liable for exemplary damages of $200 a week after the 60 days, up to $5,000 for all aggrieved parties together, or the actual loss, whichever is greater; failing to mail the recorded release within 30 days costs $500. Costs and reasonable attorney's fees follow a successful action. The mortgagee may charge the mortgagor the recording and postage fees. For an open-end line of credit, the 60 days start when the mortgagor delivers a written request to terminate the line together with payment in full.