FormsPal
Browse forms

Statute of Limitations in Maine

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Maine? In Maine, the statute of limitations is 6 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 2 and 6 years. Every period below is linked to its official Maine statute.

6 yrs injury 6 yrs contracts 2 yrs defamation Official citations Verified Jun 13, 2026How we keep this currentEvery limitation period is checked against its official statute and dated. We re-verify against the primary sources and update when the law changes.Last full review: Jun 13, 2026

This tool provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Limitation periods depend on discovery rules, tolling, statutes of repose, and the specific facts. Always verify against the cited statute or consult a Maine attorney.

Maine statute of limitations by claim type

Every Maine civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified Jun 13, 2026 against the official Maine statutes (legislature.maine.gov).

Maine statute of limitations by claim type
Claim typeLimitation periodStatuteNotes
Personal injury6 years14 M.R.S. § 752general 6-year period; assault/battery/slander 2 yrs (§ 753)
Wrongful death3 years18-C M.R.S. § 2-8073 years from death (raised from 2 by P.L. 2023, c. 390)
Written contract6 years14 M.R.S. § 752
Oral contract6 years14 M.R.S. § 752
Property damage6 years14 M.R.S. § 752
Medical malpractice3 years24 M.R.S. § 29023 yrs after the act or omission (Maine Health Security Act)
Defamation (libel/slander)2 years14 M.R.S. § 753
Debt collection6 years14 M.R.S. § 752

Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.

Maine deadlines at a glance

In Maine, civil filing deadlines run from 2 years (defamation) to 6 years (personal injury, written contract, oral contract, property damage and debt collection). Its 6 years personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states.

Several Maine claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:

  • Personal injury (6 years): general 6-year period; assault/battery/slander 2 yrs (§ 753) (14 M.R.S. § 752).
  • Wrongful death (3 years): 3 years from death (raised from 2 by P.L. 2023, c. 390) (18-C M.R.S. § 2-807).
  • Medical malpractice (3 years): 3 yrs after the act or omission (Maine Health Security Act) (24 M.R.S. § 2902).

New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.

The most-searched Maine deadlines

  • Personal injury & car accidents: 6 years. Injury claims must be filed within 6 years of the incident (14 M.R.S. § 752).
  • Debt: 6 years. Most debt is time-barred after 6 years (14 M.R.S. § 752). A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so respond to a collector with a validation or dispute letter. Find a letter template →
  • Defamation: 2 years. Libel and slander (14 M.R.S. § 753).
  • Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (14 M.R.S. § 752).

Count the exact filing date

A limitation period gives you the year; the deadline calculator counts the precise date (answer windows, court days, and holidays included) and exports it to your calendar.

Open the Maine deadline calculator →

Statute of limitations in other states

Limitation periods differ in every state. Browse the full 50-state lookup, or jump to a nearby state.

← All 50 states & DC

Nearby states: New Hampshire · California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois

Maine statute of limitations FAQ

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Maine?
It depends on the claim. In Maine, personal injury is 6 years (14 M.R.S. § 752); written contract is 6 years (14 M.R.S. § 752); defamation is 2 years (14 M.R.S. § 753). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.
What is the statute of limitations in Maine?
A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Maine it varies by claim type: 6 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation, with most other civil claims between 2 and 6 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official Maine statute above.
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Maine?
A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Maine deadline is 6 years from the date of the accident under 14 M.R.S. § 752.
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Maine?
In Maine, most debt has a statute of limitations of 6 years under 14 M.R.S. § 752. After it expires the debt is time-barred and a collector generally cannot win a lawsuit to force payment. A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so be careful on an old debt.
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Maine?
3 years under 24 M.R.S. § 2902 (3 yrs after the act or omission (Maine Health Security Act)).

Filing in Maine? Get the document.

FormsPal has 16,000+ free, ready-to-fill legal templates: complaints, answers, demand letters, and more.

Browse templates