Maine · Small Claims Court (a session of the District Court)
How to file a small-claims case in Maine
You can sue for up to $10,000 in Maine (effective January 1, 2026). Here is where to file, what the deadlines are, and how to keep your case organized.
Good to know: Maine small claims court is not a separate court but a session of the District Court. Filings are made with the District Court clerk; small claims appeals are filed in the Superior Court.
Filing your Statement of Claim (Form SC-001) in Maine
- Complete the Statement of Claim (SC-001). Fill out the Statement of Claim (SC-001) with a brief account of what happened, when, and what you want the court to do. Get the form free from any District Court clerk or the Forms page.
- Serve the defendant. Before filing, serve the defendant by certified mail with restricted delivery, hand delivery with an Acknowledgment of Receipt, or sheriff service in the defendant's county.
- File the claim and pay the fee. Once service is verified, file the Statement of Claim with the clerk within 20 days and pay the fee. If you cannot afford it, file an Application to Proceed without Payment of Fees (CV-067).
- Receive the hearing notice. Both parties get a Notice of Small Claims Hearing by mail with the date, time, and place. Be ready to present your case and evidence.
Filing fees: The fee to enter a small claims action is $55 (including a $15 mediation fee), set statewide by the Supreme Judicial Court (Administrative Order JB-05-26). Service costs are separate.
Key Maine deadlines
| Case type | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract (14 M.R.S. § 752) | 6 years |
| Oral contract / debt (14 M.R.S. § 752) | 6 years |
| Property damage (14 M.R.S. § 752) | 6 years |
| Personal injury (general negligence) (14 M.R.S. § 752) | 6 years |
| Slander and libel (note: 2-year exception) (14 M.R.S. § 753) | 2 years |
Answering a lawsuit: No written answer is required; the defendant must be prepared to respond at the hearing.
Serving the defendant: You must serve the defendant before filing, by certified mail with restricted delivery, hand delivery with an Acknowledgment of Receipt, or the county sheriff. File proof of service, then file the claim with the clerk within 20 days of verified service.
Appeals: Either side may file a Notice of Appeal within 30 days. A plaintiff may appeal on a question of law only; a defendant on a question of law or fact. Appeals are filed in the Superior Court.
Maine small-claims forms
Official Maine forms, free from the court.
- Statement of Claim (SC-001): The initial document a plaintiff files to start a small claims case, stating the facts and the relief requested.
- Information Regarding Service in Small Claims Actions (SC-010): Official guidance on how to serve the defendant under M.R.S.C.P. 4 before filing.
- Notice of Appeal (SC-007): Used by either party to appeal a small claims decision to the Superior Court within 30 days.
- Application to Proceed without Payment of Fees (CV-067): Used to ask the court to waive the filing fee (file together with Financial Affidavit CV-191).
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Maine Judicial Branch: Small Claims. Last reviewed 2026-06-24.