Small claims court in Maine (2026)
In Maine you can sue for up to $10,000 in small claims. Court: Maine District Court (small claims). Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: either side, 30 days. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .
Maine small claims at a glance
- Most you can sue for
- $10,000
- Court
- Maine District Court (small claims)
- Filing fee
- $70
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Appeal
- Either side, 30 days
Can you sue in Maine small claims?
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Maine small claims limit
$10,000
Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.
The rule: Up to $10,000, not counting interest and costs. Claims about title to real estate are not allowed. A plaintiff who cuts a claim down to fit the limit cannot later sue for the rest. Rules may not cap the number of claims filed.
Deadline to sue (general rule)
6 years for this kind of claim in Maine. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.
Most civil actions must be filed within 6 years. Contracts under seal, promissory notes signed before an attesting witness and bank notes: 20 years. Sale-of-goods contracts (UCC): 4 years.
Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.
Appeal: Notice of appeal to Superior Court within 30 days from entry of the judgment (court may extend up to 30 more days for excusable neglect; other parties get 14 days after a first notice). Plaintiff: questions of law only, on the record. Defendant: questions of law, or a jury trial de novo if demanded in writing on the notice of appeal.
Filing fee: Statewide $70 to file a small claims action (includes a $15 mediation fee). A plaintiff who files fewer than three small claims a month may ask the clerk to arrange service for $15 per party; sheriff service fees are set by each sheriff's office. Fee waiver is available.
The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Where to file and how much
- Court. Small claims are heard by a judge in the District Court. File in the District Court division where the transaction happened, where the defendant lives or has a place of business, or, for a corporation or partnership, where its registered agent is.
- Limit. Up to $10,000, not counting interest and costs. Claims about title to real estate are not allowed. A plaintiff who cuts a claim down to fit the limit cannot later sue for the rest. Rules may not cap the number of claims filed. (in force since January 1, 2026)
- Filing fee. Statewide $70 to file a small claims action (includes a $15 mediation fee). A plaintiff who files fewer than three small claims a month may ask the clerk to arrange service for $15 per party; sheriff service fees are set by each sheriff's office. Fee waiver is available.
Who can sue and who can speak in court
- Any party may use an attorney. A corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or government entity may appear through an officer or employee who is not a lawyer, and a parent or guardian may represent a child. A family member or friend who is not a party cannot help at the hearing.
- Before you file. No pre-filing demand is required by the statute or rules. The court guide suggests trying to negotiate or using the Attorney General's free Consumer Mediation Service first.
- Jury and moving the case. The judge decides without a jury. A defendant who appeals on questions of fact may demand a jury trial de novo in Superior Court.
How long you have to sue in Maine
The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Most civil actions must be filed within 6 years. Contracts under seal, promissory notes signed before an attesting witness and bank notes: 20 years. Sale-of-goods contracts (UCC): 4 years.
| Kind of claim | Time to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 6 years |
| Damage to property | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 6 years |
Law: 14 M.R.S. §§752, 751; 11 M.R.S. §2-725
After the hearing: appeals and collecting
- Who can appeal
- Either side can appeal.
- Kind of appeal
- Depends on the court — see below
- Deadline
- Notice of appeal to Superior Court within 30 days from entry of the judgment (court may extend up to 30 more days for excusable neglect; other parties get 14 days after a first notice). Plaintiff: questions of law only, on the record. Defendant: questions of law, or a jury trial de novo if demanded in writing on the notice of appeal.
- Collecting the money
- After the 30-day appeal period the creditor may request a disclosure hearing (repeatable every six months) where the judge can order payment or installments, liens or turnover; missed payments can lead to an order to the employer to withhold and deliver wages. A judgment may be enforced for up to 20 years.
Good to know in Maine
- Limit rose from $6,000 to $10,000 on January 1, 2026 (P.L. 2025, c. 261).
- The court may send parties to mediation before the hearing; a mediated settlement is a final judgment that cannot be appealed.
- A plaintiff who bought the debt must list the original creditor's name and address with the claim.
- The court guide says small claims may not be used to collect a consumer debt under Title 32, chapter 109-A, or for personal injury claims against a town.
- Post-judgment interest is added if the judgment is not paid within 30 days.
- The plaintiff serves the defendant first (restricted-delivery certified mail, sheriff, clerk-arranged mail, or first-class mail with a signed Notice of Service), then must file the Statement of Claim with proof of service and the fee within 20 days after service is completed.
Official help and forms
- Maine courts: small claims self-help
- Maine small claims forms
- Write a demand letter before you file (free, stays in your browser)
Sources
- 14 M.R.S. §7481 Small Claims Act; jurisdiction (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §7482 Definition of a small claim (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §7483 Venue (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §7484-A Procedures (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §7485 Effect of judgment (read October 18, 2026)
- P.L. 2025, c. 261 (LD 654) An Act to Increase the Maximum Small Claim Limit (read October 18, 2026)
- Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure (2024-11-01) (read October 18, 2026)
- Administrative Order JB-05-26 Court fee schedule (read October 18, 2026)
- Maine Judicial Branch, A Guide to Small Claims Cases (2026) (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §752 Six years (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §751 Twenty years (read October 18, 2026)
- 11 M.R.S. §2-725 Contracts for sale (read October 18, 2026)
- 14 M.R.S. §864 Presumption of payment after 20 years (read October 18, 2026)
- Maine Judicial Branch, Small Claims (read October 18, 2026)
Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.
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