Which Maine court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claims Eff. 2026-01-01 (raised from $6,000). | Up to $10,000 | 14 M.R.S. § 7482 |
| General civil | Superior Court / District Court Over $10,000. | No limit | 4 M.R.S. § 152 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (M.R. Civ. P. 12(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
18 Maine forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Maine practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Complaint(pattern) M.R. Civ. P. 3, 8: initiating pleading, District or Superior Court
- SummonsM.R. Civ. P. 4 / 12(a): 20-day answer
- Civil Summary SheetMaine Superior Court: required with filings
- Return of ServiceM.R. Civ. P. 4(h): return of service
- Application to Proceed Without Payment of FeesM.R. Civ. P. 91: in forma pauperis
- Notice of DismissalM.R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1): voluntary dismissal
- Request for Entry of Default and Motion for Default JudgmentM.R. Civ. P. 55(a)/(b): two-stage default
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentM.R. Civ. P. 55(b): interest per 14 M.R.S. § 1602-C
- Motion for Disclosure / Wage Withholding Order14 M.R.S. §§ 3120-3127: disclosure hearing required; 40x fed min wage exempt (§ 3126-A)
- Motion for Turnover / Trustee Process After Disclosure14 M.R.S. § 3131: turnover of bank funds identified at disclosure
- Disclosure Subpoena14 M.R.S. § 3123: post-judgment disclosure of assets
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Maine matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Complaint · Summons · Civil Summary Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Complaint · Summons · Civil Summary Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Request for Entry of Default and Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Motion for Disclosure / Wage Withholding Order · Motion for Turnover / Trustee Process After Disclosure · Disclosure Subpoena
Fee Waiver
Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Maine county are in the 1Court Directory: Maine.
How it works
Upload your case document
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.