Demand Letter in Maine

A demand letter asks someone to pay or fix a problem before you go to small claims court. Many judges expect one, and it is useful evidence. Your state's small claims limit and fee are shown below.

What Maine law says

Small claims limit	$10,000, not counting interest and costs (effective January 1, 2026). Actions involving title to real estate are not small claims. Raised from $6,000 by PL 2025, c. 261. Small claims also may not be used for a personal injury case against a city or town or to collect a consumer debt under Title 32, Chapter 109-A (Judicial Branch guide). Source: 14 M.R.S. § 7482
Filing fee	$70 to file a small claims action (includes a $15 mediation fee). Optional service by the clerk costs $15 per party. A small claims disclosure (collection) hearing costs $30 per defendant. Fees can be waived by filing an Application to Proceed without Payment of Fees (CV-067). Fee-waiver form described in the Judicial Branch guide: https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/guides/sc-guide-2026.pdf Source: Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), effective March 9, 2026

Small claims limit

$10,000, not counting interest and costs (effective January 1, 2026). Actions involving title to real estate are not small claims.

Raised from $6,000 by PL 2025, c. 261. Small claims also may not be used for a personal injury case against a city or town or to collect a consumer debt under Title 32, Chapter 109-A (Judicial Branch guide).

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 7482

Filing fee

$70 to file a small claims action (includes a $15 mediation fee). Optional service by the clerk costs $15 per party. A small claims disclosure (collection) hearing costs $30 per defendant. Fees can be waived by filing an Application to Proceed without Payment of Fees (CV-067).

Fee-waiver form described in the Judicial Branch guide: https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/guides/sc-guide-2026.pdf

Source: Administrative Order JB-05-26 (A. 3-26), effective March 9, 2026

Fill it in

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[today's date]

To: [person or business name], [their address]

From: [your name], [your address]

This letter is a formal demand for $[amount demanded] for [what happened, with dates].

[Short list of facts and attached documents: contract, receipts, photos, messages.]

Please pay this amount by [payment deadline] by [payment method].

If I do not receive payment by then, I intend to file a claim in [court name] without further notice.

[your name] [phone or email]

Demand Letter for other states · Maine tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.