Official Court Forms Guide

Maine Small Claims Court Forms

Master Forms CV-002 & CV-007 with Line-by-Line Instructions

Form CV-002

Statement of Claim

Your complaint form

Form CV-007

Small Claims Summons

Notice to defendant

Complete Forms Guide

Detailed instructions for Maine's small claims court forms

Form CV-002: Statement of Claim
This is your primary complaint form that starts the case

Section 1: Case Caption

District Court Location

Enter the name of the District Court where you're filing (e.g., "Portland District Court")

Docket Number

Leave blank - the clerk will assign this when you file

Section 2: Party Information

Plaintiff (You)

  • • Full legal name (as on driver's license)
  • • Complete mailing address
  • • Phone number where court can reach you
  • • Email address (optional but recommended)

Defendant

  • • Exact legal name (verify business entity names)
  • • Physical address (not P.O. Box for service)
  • • If business: Include "d/b/a" names
  • • Multiple defendants: List all on separate lines
Critical: Wrong defendant name = failed service. For businesses, check Maine Secretary of State website for exact entity name.

Section 3: Statement of Claim

Writing Your Claim (The Most Important Part)

Paragraph 1: State the facts - who, what, when, where

"On [date], I [hired/purchased/rented] from defendant..."

Paragraph 2: Explain what went wrong

"Defendant failed to [deliver/repair/pay] as agreed..."

Paragraph 3: Describe your damages

"As a result, I have suffered damages of $[amount] consisting of..."

Section 4: Amount Claimed

Principal Amount

The main damages (max $6,000)

Interest

Pre-judgment interest if contract specifies

Court Costs

Filing fee + service costs (recoverable)

Total Claim

Sum of all amounts claimed

Section 5: Signature & Verification

  • • Sign your full name as it appears at top
  • • Date the form
  • • Check the verification box confirming truth
  • • Understand that false statements = perjury
CV-002 Checklist
Court location selected based on proper venue
Plaintiff name and address complete
Defendant name verified (check business records)
Clear statement of facts in chronological order
Specific damages calculated and itemized
Total claim under $6,000 (excluding interest/costs)
Supporting documents attached as exhibits
Form signed and dated

Common Form Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' errors to ensure your case proceeds smoothly

Mistake

Incorrect defendant name/address

Consequence

Service failure, case dismissal

Solution

Verify business entity names, use registered agent address

Mistake

Claiming over $6,000

Consequence

Case rejected or transferred

Solution

Calculate carefully, waive excess if needed

Mistake

Missing filing deadline

Consequence

Statute of limitations expires

Solution

File within 6 years of incident

Mistake

Incomplete service

Consequence

Hearing postponed or case dismissed

Solution

Serve at least 10 days before hearing

Mistake

No supporting documents

Consequence

Weak case, possible loss

Solution

Attach all contracts, receipts, photos

Pro Tips for Maine Court Forms

Form Preparation

  • Type or print in black ink only
  • Make 3 copies: court, defendant, yourself
  • Number exhibits (Exhibit A, B, C...)
  • Staple, don't paperclip documents

Protecting Your Case

  • Keep originals of all evidence
  • Get receipts for all filings
  • Track all deadlines in calendar
  • Document all contact attempts

Need Help with Maine Court Forms?

Don't risk mistakes that could derail your case. Our service helps you complete forms correctly, calculate damages, and prepare for filing.