Statute of Limitations in Maine
State-specific overview · Contract Law
Maine generally allows six years for most civil actions, with shorter periods for personal injury claims at three years.
How Maine treats Statute of Limitations
Maine sets a six-year deadline for contract and property disputes under 14 M.R.S.A. § 752, but personal injury and negligence claims have only three years under 14 M.R.S.A. § 753. Medical malpractice claims must be filed within three years of discovery, though not more than six years from the negligent act. Real property actions follow their own extended timelines for boundary and title disputes.
The general definition of Statute of Limitations
A law setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit can be filed after an injury or breach occurs.
Every type of legal claim has a deadline. Once that deadline passes, you lose the right to sue, even if you have a valid claim. The statute of limitations varies depending on the type of case—contract disputes might have a different deadline than personal injury claims, for example. These time limits exist to protect defendants from being sued years or decades after an event, when evidence may be lost and memories fade. Once the deadline expires, the claim is essentially dead, and courts will dismiss any lawsuit filed after that point.
Read the full Statute of Limitations entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Maine.