SueYou
For Lawyers

Resources · Small Claims

Maine Small Claims Court

Maine District Court (small claims), for claims up to $10,000.

Last checked November 1, 2026

The most you can ask for$10,000
LawyersLawyers allowed
Time to sue on a contract6 years
Good to know

Raised to $10,000 as of January 1, 2026. Not counting interest and costs. Claims over title to real estate aren't allowed. If you reduce a claim to fit, the judgment covers the whole debt.

How it works in Maine

  1. Complete a Statement of Claim (SC-001), or start online through Guide & File.
  2. Serve the defendant with notice of the case.
  3. Once service is verified, file the Statement of Claim with the clerk within 20 days and pay the fee, or ask for a waiver.
  4. The clerk mails both sides a Notice of Small Claims Hearing.
  5. Try mediation through CADRES if both sides agree. If it doesn't resolve the case, go to the hearing.
  6. If you win and the defendant doesn't pay, you can ask for a Disclosure Hearing.

What it costs

$70, which includes a $15 mediation fee. Service costs are extra, and clerk service, where available, is $15 per party. Debt collectors may also owe a $127 surcharge.

How long you have to sue

Written contract6 years
Spoken agreement6 years
Damage to property6 years
Personal injury6 years

14 M.R.S. § 752. These are general limits. The clock can start late, pause or be much shorter, as it is for claims against a government agency.

If you lose

Either side can appeal to Superior Court within 30 days of the judgment, but a plaintiff can appeal only on questions of law. A defendant can also appeal on the facts and ask for a jury trial.

P.L. 2025, ch. 261 amended 14 M.R.S. § 7482 to raise the limit to $10,000. The courts' help page dates it as of January 1, 2026. Court fees were revised in Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), effective March 9, 2026.

Sources

Have a dispute in Maine?

A demand letter settles many disputes before court. Build one here, or compare lawyers and their prices.

Demand Letter BuilderHire a Lawyer

General information to help you get organized, last checked November 1, 2026. It isn't legal advice, and SueYou isn't a law firm. Laws change and every case is different, so confirm anything important with a lawyer or the court. No lawyer has reviewed this page yet.