Maine (ME) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Maine, serve a written notice (7 days for nonpayment or lease violations, 30 days for no-cause termination), then file a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) complaint in District Court if the tenant does not leave. The hearing is set at least 14 days after the tenant receives the summons, and the entire process typically takes 3 to 8 weeks from notice to lockout.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, nuisance, illegal activity, no-cause (at-will tenancy) |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 7 days (nonpayment or violation) |
| Where to file | District Court (Forcible Entry and Detainer) |
| Filing fee | About $100 to $175 |
| Typical timeframe | 3 to 8 weeks |
Used when rent is at least 7 days late; the notice is void if the tenant pays in full within the 7-day window.
Used for substantial property damage, nuisance, or an illegal activity violation on the premises.
Required to end a month-to-month or at-will tenancy when the landlord has no specific legal cause.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the Written Notice | Day 1 | Deliver the correct written notice (7-day or 30-day) to the tenant by hand or by leaving it at the rental unit. |
| 2. Wait for the Notice Period to Expire | 7 or 30 days | If the tenant pays, cures the violation, or vacates, no further action is needed; if not, proceed to court. |
| 3. File FED Complaint in District Court | 1 to 3 days after notice expires | File a Forcible Entry and Detainer complaint and summons at the District Court where the property is located; pay the filing fee of about $100 to $175. |
| 4. Tenant Is Served and Hearing Is Scheduled | Hearing set at least 14 days after service | The court clerk schedules the hearing at least 14 days after the tenant receives the complaint and summons; a sheriff or process server handles service. |
| 5. Attend the Court Hearing | 1 day (the hearing date) | Both parties present their case; if the landlord wins, the judge issues a Judgment for Possession. |
| 6. Obtain and Execute the Writ of Possession | 7 days after judgment, then 48 hours after service | The landlord purchases the writ from the court clerk after 7 days; a sheriff serves it and the tenant has 48 hours to vacate before the sheriff removes them. |
Filing a Forcible Entry and Detainer case in Maine costs about $100 to $175 in court fees, plus $5 per summons for each named defendant. Additional costs include process server or sheriff fees for serving notice and the writ of possession, which can add $50 to $150 depending on the county.
After a Judgment for Possession, the landlord buys a Writ of Possession from the court clerk, which can be issued 7 days after the judgment. A county sheriff (not the landlord) serves the writ and the tenant has 48 hours to move out before the sheriff carries out the physical lockout. Self-help eviction, such as changing locks or removing belongings without a writ, is illegal in Maine.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, Chapter 709 (sections 6001 to 6016). Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Maine eviction FAQ
Most Maine evictions take **3 to 8 weeks** from the day the notice is served to the day the sheriff executes the lockout. The minimum math is 7 days (notice) plus at least 14 days (pre-hearing service period) plus 7 days (post-judgment before the writ issues) plus 48 hours after writ service, so even an uncontested case rarely closes in under a month.
Plan on **$100 to $175** in court filing fees, plus **$5 per summons**, plus sheriff or process server costs of roughly **$50 to $150**. A contested case that requires an attorney can easily push total costs past **$1,000** when you add legal fees.
No. Maine law requires a court judgment and a sheriff-executed Writ of Possession before a tenant can be removed. A landlord who changes the locks, shuts off utilities, or removes the tenant's belongings without a writ is committing an illegal self-help eviction and can face civil liability.
FED is the official legal term Maine uses for an eviction lawsuit. Landlords file a **Forcible Entry and Detainer complaint** in District Court, and the case moves on an accelerated schedule compared to other civil matters, with the hearing set within a few weeks of the tenant being served.
Yes. In a nonpayment case, paying all rent owed **within the 7-day notice window** voids the notice entirely. Tenants can also raise defenses at the hearing, such as the landlord accepting rent after the notice (waiver), retaliation, improper notice, or a habitability violation under **14 M.R.S. section 6021**.
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