Guide to Small Claims Proceedings in the District Court

Revised and Printed September 2009
Revised for the Internet September 2009
Published by: Administrative Office of the Courts, Portland, Maine

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Guide to Small Claims Proceedings in the District Court (PDF)

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GENERAL INFORMATION

This booklet should be read in its entirety by all persons involved in a small claims proceeding. The term "plaintiff" refers to the person who files the case, and the term "defendant" refers to the person being sued. While this booklet is directed primarily to the plaintiff (referred to as "you" in this booklet), the information is important to both parties.

The purpose of the small claims law is to provide a simple, speedy, and informal court procedure. A small claims proceeding is held in the District Court. Formal rules of evidence are not applied at a small claims hearing. There are no juries in District Court. The plaintiff in a small claims proceeding gives up his/her right to a jury trial. If the plaintiff wins the small claims case in the District Court, the defendant is entitled to appeal and have a jury trial in the Superior Court in those types of cases for which a jury trial is usually available.

The small claims law is found in Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, (sections 7481-7487). In addition, the Supreme Judicial Court has established rules of procedure which are contained in the most recent edition of the Maine Rules of Court (small claims procedure rules-PDF). These books are available in any county law library and in most public libraries in the state.

Clerks in the District Court cannot give legal advice. However, they may be able to answer some questions about the procedure in a small claims case.

It is important for the parties in a small claims case to notify the District Court clerk's office, in writing, if there is a change of address while the case is pending in court because the clerk will mail notice of the hearing date to the address listed on the small claims complaint. If you do not tell the clerk our new address,you may not receive the notice of the trial date. If you do not appear a the hearing, an order my be entered in favor of the other party.

Example of Address Change Memo:
DATE 3/2/08
TO: Clerk of Court
Maine District Court, Courtown, ME 04000
FROM: Jane Doe, Plaintiff
DOCKET# SC-2008-1234
I am the plaintiff in the above named Small Claims case. My address
as of this date is: 123 New Street, Differentown, ME 04000
cc: Joe Smith, d/b/a Joe's Used Car's, defendant

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