Maine small claims
How to fill out Maine's SC-001 (Statement of Claim)
Official form: SC-001 — Statement of Claim · Walkthrough written against SC-001, Rev. 10/21
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Get the official SC-001 from the court's site →Link verified 2026-07-04. If it has moved, the court's forms index and clerk's office will have the current version — verify with the court before filing.
What this form is
The SC-001 — "Statement of Claim (Small Claims)" — is the statewide form that starts a small claims case in Maine's District Court under Maine Rule of Small Claims Procedure 3(a). You file it with the District Court clerk, and the clerk notifies both parties of the hearing date by mail.
Maine small claims covers money claims up to $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs — the limit rose from $6,000 to $10,000 on January 1, 2026 (14 M.R.S. § 7482). The form also lets you ask for certain non-money relief: an order to repair or return property, to refund money, or to amend or cancel an agreement.
The form is three pages: page 1 is the claim itself, page 2 collects mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and email for everyone in the case (this is where the court sends the hearing notice), and page 3 is a return-of-service section completed by a deputy sheriff, not by you. Each page carries the Judicial Branch header "CONTAINS NONPUBLIC DIGITAL INFORMATION," reflecting how Maine courts handle the contact details on page 2.
The form, field by field
What each part of the form asks for, in the form's own order. These are descriptions of the questions — what to answer depends on facts only you know, and the court clerk or the form's own instructions are the authoritative sources.
The caption — parties and court
Plaintiff / Defendant name lines
Who is suing and who is being sued, in the "Plaintiff v. Defendant" caption at the top of page 1.
District Court location (Town) and Docket No.
The town of the District Court where you are filing. The docket number is assigned by the clerk, not by you.
The claim
"Briefly describe your claim, including relevant dates"
An open block for a plain-language description of what happened, when, and why the defendant owes you money.
"The plaintiff requests a judgment against the defendant in the amount of $___ plus costs"
The dollar amount you are claiming. Costs are added separately — they are not part of this number.
Equitable relief line
The form's own words: "If you are asking for an order to repair or return property, to refund money, or to amend or cancel an agreement, state that request here." This is where any non-money relief is written out.
Debt-collection affirmation
Pre-printed text stating: "The plaintiff affirms that this is not a debt collection action under Title 32 of the Maine Revised Statutes." Regulated debt-collection suits follow different requirements and don't use this affirmation.
Signature and the attorney question
Date, signature, printed name
You date and sign the Statement of Claim and print your name below the signature line.
"Is the person signing this Statement of Claim an attorney representing the plaintiff in this action?" — Yes / No
A checkbox question. The form explains the consequence: if "Yes," all notices and communications from the court go to the attorney; if "No," they go to the filing party.
Page 2 — contact information for the case
Attorney for Plaintiff block (bar number, mailing address, telephone, email)
Completed only when an attorney files; self-represented plaintiffs leave it blank.
Plaintiff's and Defendant's mailing address, telephone, email
Where the court reaches each party. The page's own notice explains why this matters: the clerk mails the notice of hearing to the address listed here by regular mail, and if the address is wrong or changes, you MUST notify the clerk in writing. The notice also states the stakes — if the plaintiff fails to appear, the case is dismissed; if the defendant fails to appear, a default judgment may be entered for the relief requested.
Page 3 — return of service (not yours to fill)
Deputy sheriff's service section
Checkboxes and lines recording how the Statement of Claim was served on the defendant — in hand, or by leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the defendant's dwelling — with the deputy sheriff's signature, printed name, date, and cost lines for service, travel, and postage. The sheriff's office completes this page, not the plaintiff.
Common reasons clerks reject this form
Clerks bounce filings for mechanical, fixable reasons. These are the patterns that come up with this particular form:
- ⚠Leaving the page-2 contact block incomplete or stale — the hearing notice goes by regular mail to the address listed there, and the form warns that you must notify the clerk in writing of any change.
- ⚠Claiming more than $10,000 exclusive of interest and costs — larger claims are outside Maine's small claims definition (14 M.R.S. § 7482) and belong in a regular civil action.
- ⚠Using the SC-001 for a debt collection action under Title 32 — the form's affirmation states the case is not one, and a filer who can't truthfully affirm that needs the debt-collection track instead.
- ⚠Skipping the attorney Yes/No question — it controls where the court sends every notice in the case.
- ⚠Asking for repair, return, refund, or contract changes only in the description block — the form has a dedicated line for that request, and an order not asked for there isn't before the court.
- ⚠Filing without a signature and printed name — the claim block on page 1 requires both.
What filing costs, and where it happens
The District Court clerk collects a filing fee set by the Judicial Branch's statewide court fee schedule, and service on the defendant adds its own cost — page 3 of the form itemizes the sheriff's service, travel, and postage charges. Fee amounts change with the schedule, so the clerk's office quotes the current total.
You file the SC-001 with the District Court clerk for the proper location — the form's caption asks for the court's town. After filing and service, the clerk notifies both parties of the hearing date and time by mail, per the notice printed on page 2 of the form. The clerk can confirm the current fees and the right court location before you file — verify before filing.
Published fees and court locations for your county are in our Maine small claims guide and the court directory. Fees change — verify the current amount with the clerk before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the SC-001?
From the Maine Judicial Branch forms portal (courts.maine.gov) — the official PDF is free and linked on this page. A variant code MJ-SC-001 also appears in the portal; District Court clerk offices provide paper copies as well.
How much can I sue for in Maine small claims?
Up to $10,000, exclusive of interest and costs. The limit rose from $6,000 on January 1, 2026, under 14 M.R.S. § 7482 as amended.
Can I ask for something other than money?
The form itself provides for it: a dedicated line asks you to state any request for an order to repair or return property, to refund money, or to amend or cancel an agreement.
Does the SC-001 need to be notarized?
No jurat appears on the form — you sign and print your name, and answer the attorney question. The one pre-printed affirmation is that the case is not a Title 32 debt collection action.
What happens after I file?
The defendant is served with a copy of the Statement of Claim (page 3 is the deputy sheriff's return of service), and the clerk mails both parties the hearing date. The form's notice explains the consequences of not appearing: dismissal for an absent plaintiff, possible default judgment against an absent defendant.
Related guides
Form link verified: 2026-07-04. Reviewed against our Editorial Standards.
This is general information to help you understand the form — not legal advice, and not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. Courts revise forms, fees, and procedures; the court's own instructions and your court clerk are the authoritative sources. Always verify with the court before filing.