Up to $6,000 · 6 years to file.
A landlord who kept your deposit past the legal return deadline. In Maine, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims (District Court), where you can sue for up to $6,000.
Your deadline: Maine generally gives you 6 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $70 (About $70 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 7482; deadlines: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 752, 753. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: General civil limit is 6 yrs for contract, property damage, and most personal injury.
Suing for something else in Maine: Maine unpaid loan · Maine property damage · Maine unpaid rent · Maine contractor dispute.
Suing for security deposit in nearby states: New Hampshire ($10,000, 3 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026