How much can you claim in small claims court in Maine?

An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from 14 M.R.S. §7482.

What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Maine?

$70 for a claim up to $10,000. That comes from Me. Admin. Order JB-05-26, I(A)(3)(n).

How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Maine?

The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under 11 M.R.S. §2-725(1). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.

Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Maine?

No, Maine does not require it, per Maine Judicial Branch, A Guide to Small Claims Cases (PUB-006). Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.

Which court handles small claims in Maine?

District Court, Small Claims. The small claims session of the District Court where the other side lives or does business, or where the dispute happened.

Small claims in Maine

The court

District Court, Small Claims: The small claims session of the District Court where the other side lives or does business, or where the dispute happened.

The court's own small claims page

The most you can claim

The small claims limit in Maine
Claiming as	Most you can claim	Rule
An individual	$10,000	14 M.R.S. §7482
A business	$10,000	14 M.R.S. §7482
A public agency	$10,000	14 M.R.S. §7482

What it costs to file

The fee runs from $70 to $70, set by the size of the claim.

Me. Admin. Order JB-05-26, I(A)(3)(n) · The fee to start a small claims case is $70, which includes the mediation fee. Serving the other side costs extra.

How long you have

The shortest window in this state is 4 years from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken.

11 M.R.S. §2-725(1) · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.

Also worth knowing

A claim for damages against the State, a city, a town, or another governmental entity needs a written notice of claim filed with that body within 365 days of the event. 14 M.R.S. §8107(1)

Does small claims fit your dispute in Maine?

Pick what it is about. The next screens ask the amount and the dates. Nothing is saved, and no account is needed.

The detail

The limit
The limit is the most the court can award on one claim. It depends on who is claiming, and in some states on which court hears it.
What it costs
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
How long you have
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.

Common questions

How much can you claim in small claims court in Maine?: An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from 14 M.R.S. §7482.
What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Maine?: $70 for a claim up to $10,000. That comes from Me. Admin. Order JB-05-26, I(A)(3)(n).
How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Maine?: The shortest window is 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under 11 M.R.S. §2-725(1). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
Do you have to ask for the money before filing in Maine?: No, Maine does not require it, per Maine Judicial Branch, A Guide to Small Claims Cases (PUB-006). Sending a demand letter first is still the usual first step, and it is often what gets the money paid.
Which court handles small claims in Maine?: District Court, Small Claims. The small claims session of the District Court where the other side lives or does business, or where the dispute happened.

Verify with your court

Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Maine's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.

Open the court's small claims page

Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2026-03-09.

14 M.R.S. §7482 · effective 2026-01-01 · Small claims court in Maine hears money claims of up to $10,000, not counting interest and costs. The limit rose from $6,000 on January 1, 2026.
Me. Admin. Order JB-05-26, I(A)(3)(n) · effective 2026-03-09 · The fee to start a small claims case is $70, which includes the mediation fee. Serving the other side costs extra.
11 M.R.S. §2-725(1) · effective 1973-10-03 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
Maine Judicial Branch, A Guide to Small Claims Cases (PUB-006) · effective 2026-01-01 · Maine does not require a written demand before filing a small claim. The guide asks you to try to work it out directly first, and asking in writing is the usual first step.
14 M.R.S. §8107(1) · effective 2019-09-19 · A claim for damages against the State, a city, a town, or another governmental entity needs a written notice of claim filed within 365 days of the event.

FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.