Maine Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type

All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues and not afterwards, except actions on a judgment or decree of any court of record of the United States, or of any state, or of a justice of the peace in this State, and except as otherwise specially provided.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Maine Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim, Maine Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability, Maine Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights

Actions for slander and libel must be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues. [PL 2021, c. 207, §1 (AMD).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Maine Defamation Laws: Libel, Slander & Suing (2026)

Except as provided in Title 11, sections 2‑725 and 3‑1118, subsection (1), personal actions on contracts or liabilities under seal, promissory notes signed in the presence of an attesting witness, or on the bills, notes or other evidences of debt issued by a bank must be commenced within 20 years after the cause of action accrues. [PL 2017, c. 251, §1 (AMD); PL 2017, c. 251, §2 (AFF).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

All civil actions for malpractice or professional negligence against architects or engineers duly licensed or registered under Title 32 shall be commenced within 4 years after such malpractice or negligence is discovered, but in no event shall any such action be commenced more than 10 years after the substantial completion of the construction contract or the substantial completion of the services provided, if a construction contract is not involved. The limitation periods provided by this section shall not apply if the parties have entered into a valid contract which by its terms provides for limitation periods other than those set forth in this section. [PL 1975, c. 434 (NEW).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

All civil actions for property damage, bodily injury or death against a ski area owner or operator or tramway owner or operator or its employees, as defined under Title 32, chapter 133, whether based on tort or breach of contract or otherwise, arising out of participation in skiing or hang gliding or the use of a tramway associated with skiing or hang gliding must be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues. [PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. H, §5 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. H, §17 (AFF).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

1. No limitation. Actions based upon sexual acts toward minors may be commenced at any time. 2. Sexual acts toward minors defined. As used in this section, "sexual acts toward minors" means the following acts that are committed against or engaged in with a person under the age of majority: A. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (RP).] B. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (RP).] C. Gross sexual assault, as described in Title 17‑A, section 253; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] D. Sexual abuse of a minor, as described in Title 17‑A, section 254; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] E. Unlawful sexual contact, as described in Title 17‑A, section 255‑A; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] F. Unlawful sexual touching, as described in Title 17‑A, section 260; [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] G. Sexual exploitation of a minor, as described in Title 17‑A, section 282; or [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] H. Incest, as described in Title 17‑A, section 556. [PL 2023, c. 475, §1 (NEW).] 3. Application. This section applies to all actions based upon sexual acts toward minors regardless of the date of the sexual act and regardless of whether the statute of limitations on such actions expired prior to the effective date of this subsection.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

A cause of action arising out of any harm or injury caused by a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance accrues on the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered such harm or injury. For the purposes of this section, "perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance" means any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. This section does not affect application of notice requirements for filing under section 8107 or the limitation on actions against a government entity under section 8110. [PL 2021, c. 328, §1 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 328, §2 (AFF).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

1. Time when statute starts to run, generally. In actions alleging professional negligence, malpractice or breach of contract for legal service by a licensed attorney, the statute of limitations starts to run from the date of the act or omission giving rise to the injury, not from the discovery of the malpractice, negligence or breach of contract, except as provided in this section or as the statute of limitations may be suspended by other laws. 2. Rendering of title opinion. In an action alleging professional negligence in the rendering of a real estate title opinion, the statute of limitations starts to run on the date the negligence is discovered, but in no event may an action be commenced more than 20 years after the act or omission giving rise to the injury. 3. Drafting of last will and testament. In an action alleging professional negligence in the drafting of a last will and testament that has been offered for probate, the statute of limitations starts to run on the date the negligence is discovered.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

If a person entitled to bring any of the actions under sections 752 to 754, including section 752‑C, and under sections 851 and 852 and Title 24, section 2902 and, until July 1, 2017, section 2902‑B is a minor, mentally ill, imprisoned or without the limits of the United States when the cause of action accrues, the action may be brought within the times limited herein after the disability is removed. [PL 2013, c. 329, §1 (AMD).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Every judgment and decree of any court of record of the United States or of any state or justice of the peace in this State is presumed to be paid and satisfied at the end of 20 years after any duty or obligations accrued by virtue of such judgment or decree, except for a child support order. For the purposes of this section, "child support order" means a judgment, decree or order, whether temporary, final or subject to modification, issued by a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction for the support and maintenance of a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing state, that provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages or reimbursement and may include related costs and fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, attorney's fees and other relief. [PL 2017, c. 102, §1 (AMD).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

1. It is a defense that prosecution was commenced after the expiration of the applicable period of limitations provided in this section, except that the following prosecutions may be commenced at any time: A. A prosecution for murder or criminal homicide in the first or 2nd degree; or [PL 2019, c. 483, §1 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 483, §4 (AFF).] B. If the victim had not attained the age of 18 years at the time of the crime, a prosecution for incest; unlawful sexual contact; sexual abuse of a minor; rape or gross sexual assault, formerly denominated as gross sexual misconduct; unlawful sexual touching; or sexual exploitation of a minor. [PL 2023, c. 475, §2 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 475, §3 (AFF).] 2. Except as provided in subsection 1 or 2‑A, a prosecution for a Class A, Class B or Class C crime must be commenced within 6 years after it is committed and a prosecution for a Class D or Class E crime must be commenced within 3 years after it is committed. A. [PL 2019, c. 483, §2 (RP); PL 2019, c. 483, §4 (AFF).] B. [PL 2019, c. 483, §2 (RP); PL 2019, c. 483, §4 (AFF).] 2-A.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Every claim against a governmental entity or its employees permitted under this chapter is forever barred from the courts of this State, unless an action therein is begun within 2 years after the cause of action accrues, except that, if the claimant is a minor when the cause of action accrues, the action may be brought within 2 years of the minor's attaining 18 years of age. [PL 2001, c. 249, §2 (AMD).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

1. Notice requirements for filing. Within 365 days after any claim or cause of action permitted by this chapter accrues, or at a later time within the limits of section 8110, when a claimant shows good cause why notice could not have reasonably been filed within the 365-day limit, a claimant or a claimant's personal representative or attorney shall file a written notice containing: A. The name and address of the claimant, and the name and address of the claimant's attorney or other representative, if any; [PL 1989, c. 327 (AMD).] B. A concise statement of the basis of the claim, including the date, time, place and circumstances of the act, omission or occurrence complained of; [PL 1977, c. 2, §2 (NEW).] C. The name and address of any governmental employee involved, if known; [PL 1977, c. 2, §2 (NEW).] D. A concise statement of the nature and extent of the injury claimed to have been suffered; and [PL 1977, c. 2, §2 (NEW).] E. A statement of the amount of monetary damages claimed. [PL 1977, c. 2, §2 (NEW).] 2. Incapacity.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

1. Liability notwithstanding death. Whenever the death of a person is caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, then the person or the corporation that would have been liable if death had not ensued is liable for damages as provided in this section, notwithstanding the death of the person injured and although the death was caused under circumstances that amount to a felony. 2. Wrongful death action; damages; limitations. Every wrongful death action must be brought by and in the name of the personal representative or special administrator of the deceased person, and is distributable, after payment for funeral expenses and the costs of recovery including attorney's fees, directly to the decedent's heirs without becoming part of the probate estate, except as may be specifically provided in this subsection.

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-06 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Also relied on in: Medical Malpractice Laws in Maine (2026): Deadlines & Caps, Truck Accident Laws in Maine (2026): Deadlines & Liability, Maine Wrongful Death Laws (2026): Deadlines & Who Can Sue

(1). An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within 4 years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one year but may not extend it. (2). A cause of action accrues when the breach occurs, regardless of the aggrieved party's lack of knowledge of the breach. A breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is made, except that where a warranty explicitly extends to future performance of the goods and discovery of the breach must await the time of such performance the cause of action accrues when the breach is or should have been discovered. A cause of action for personal injuries arising under this Article for breach of warranty occurs when the injury takes place and is governed by the limitation of action period under Title 14, section 752. (3).

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov

Notwithstanding Title 17‑A, section 8, prosecution of any crime defined in this Title must be commenced within 6 years after it has been committed. [PL 1987, c. 772, §6 (NEW).]

Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.maine.gov