Maine · Unpaid wages

Unpaid wages in Maine small claims

Q: What is the small-claims limit for a unpaid wages case in Maine?

In Maine, you can sue for up to $10,000 in the Small Claims Court (a session of the District Court) (effective January 1, 2026).

Q: What is the deadline to file a unpaid wages case in Maine?

The Written contract in Maine is 6 years (14 M.R.S. § 752). An unpaid wages claim can be framed as a contract claim (you worked under an agreement and were not paid) or as a statutory wage claim under your state's labor laws. The applicable statute of limitations may differ depending on the theory used; state wage statutes sometimes provide their own shorter or longer deadlines. Confirm which period governs your situation with the court or your state's labor agency.

Employer didn't pay what you're owed? Small claims can help.

If an employer has not paid wages, final paychecks, overtime, or promised bonuses, small claims court is one avenue to recover — and in many states, wage claims can also be filed with the state labor or wage-and-hour agency as a separate (sometimes faster) process. Your strongest evidence is documentation of the hours worked, the agreed pay rate, and what was actually paid, along with any employment agreement or pay stubs.

In Maine, small-claims cases are heard in the Small Claims Court (a session of the District Court) and you can sue for up to $10,000 (effective January 1, 2026).

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.

Unpaid wages: steps that matter

Gather your employment agreement, pay stubs, timesheets or other hours records, and any written communication about your pay rate or the amount owed.
Calculate the exact amount you are owed: hours worked times rate, minus any payments already received.
Check whether your state's labor or wage-and-hour agency offers a separate wage claim process that may be faster or recover more.
Send a written demand to your employer stating the amount owed and a deadline to pay, and keep proof you sent it.
File in the court for the county where you worked or where the employer is located, within the applicable deadline.

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.

Deadline that applies to your unpaid wages

An unpaid wages claim can be framed as a contract claim (you worked under an agreement and were not paid) or as a statutory wage claim under your state's labor laws. The applicable statute of limitations may differ depending on the theory used; state wage statutes sometimes provide their own shorter or longer deadlines. Confirm which period governs your situation with the court or your state's labor agency.

Written contract: 6 years (14 M.R.S. § 752)

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.

All Maine small-claims deadlines

The table below lists the filing deadlines Small Claims Court (a session of the District Court) applies by claim category. Confirm the exact rule that applies to your unpaid wages claim with your court before relying on any figure.

Claim type	Filing deadline
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

Maine small-claims forms for your unpaid wages case

These forms are published by the Small Claims Court (a session of the District Court). Download and complete them before filing.

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.