Small Claims

If your creditor is suing you for a debt of $6,000 or less, they may sue you in small claims court.

Small claims court is designed to be user-friendly and is less formal than regular district court. Usually, people are not represented by an attorney. You can get the court forms you’ll need to bring a small claim at your local district court or on the Maine Judicial Branch’s website. The Maine Judicial Branch has a guide to small claims which is also available at the district courts and online.

If you have questions about the small claims court forms or the small claims court process, please contact Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353.

What to do if you are being sued on your debt

This Guide will give you an idea of what will happen if you are sued for your debt. It provides a brief description of the steps a debtor will face in a typical debt collection case in a Maine court. It covers only debt collection actions for unsecured debt, such as credit card and medical debt.

Click here to get the "Guide to Debt Collection Actions in Maine Courts " [1], or find the Guide in the Quicklinks menu to the left.

If you are being sued on a debt or if you have any questions about a debt, call the Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353 to talk to an attorney for free.

Money that is protected from being used for debt repayment

If you are sued on a debt, there are laws that say what can, or cannot be used to pay your debt. Certain income sources and certain equity in property are protected from collection. You need to talk to an attorney to find out if you are protected by these laws. Call the Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353 to talk to an attorney for free.

Resources

Legal Services for the Elderly
If you are a Maine resident who is 60 or older and you have a debt problem, or if you have questions about your debt, call the Legal Services for the Elderly Helpline at 1-800-750-5353 to speak to an attorney for free.

Maine Judicial Branch
Check out the State of Maine Judicial Branch’s step-by-step guide on how to bring a small claims action on your own. Get the guide by clicking here. [2]