How to answer a debt lawsuit in Maine

Deadlines by court, filing, fees and defenses, with a calculator.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

District or Superior Court: 20 days. File a written answer with the court at the location on the summons and mail a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer.

Time to answer
20 days
Official answer form
Defendant's ANSWER to Complaint (Credit Card or Student Loan Collection Actions), form BCCP-2021 from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection; for other debts, a written answer under M.R. Civ. P. 12(a)
Fee to answer
The court fee schedule (Admin. Order JB-05-26) lists filing fees for plaintiffs and does not list a fee for filing an answer.

How long you have to answer in Maine

  • District or Superior Court: 20 days.

20 days after you are served with the summons and complaint.

Law: M.R. Civ. P. 12(a); 32 M.R.S. § 11020(3); Maine Judicial Branch Admin. Order JB-05-26

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Count your exact deadline

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The court's name is at the top of your summons.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

Defenses you can raise in Maine

The BCCP answer form lets you deny the claims and assert all affirmative defenses that apply. A debt collector must sue within 6 years of your last activity on the account, and the period cannot be revived; for medical debt, a collector cannot sue unless it first gave you notice and 30 days to show your household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. A collection action on medical debt must be suspended if you qualify for free or charity care.

Law: 32 M.R.S. § 11013(8); 32 M.R.S. § 11013(3)(O)-(Q); 32 M.R.S. § 11013(11)

In Maine, the time limit to sue on a written contract is 6 years. A debt older than that can be a defense, but you must raise it in your answer.

Debt buyer lawsuits in Maine: the full rules

Filing an answer in Maine

File a written answer with the court at the location on the summons and mail a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer. In a credit card or student loan collection case, the collector must attach a one-page answer form to the front of the complaint; you can check the box, sign it, return it to the court and mail a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer, and you do not need a more formal answer. Filing an answer does not mean you admit the debt.

Mediation and settlement in Maine

In consumer collection actions (debt buyer suits, and credit card or student loan suits by debt collectors), once you appear, answer or ask for mediation, the court may order mediation through the Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES). It can be held at the courthouse or by video or phone, attendance is mandatory, and the mediation fee is already included in the plaintiff's filing fee.

Law: M.R. Civ. P. 92(g)

Fill in Maine's official answer form: a helper

Start with the official form: Defendant's ANSWER to Complaint (Credit Card or Student Loan Collection Actions), form BCCP-2021 from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection; for other debts, a written answer under M.R. Civ. P. 12(a)

This helper is not a court form and does not file anything. It lists what to copy onto the official form, in plain words.

Which of these are true? (optional)
What to put on the official form

Service of the court papers in Maine

Service means officially getting the court papers. Your deadline usually starts that day.

The plaintiff can mail you the summons and complaint by first-class mail with an acknowledgment form to sign and return. If you do not return the acknowledgment within 20 days, you must be served by a sheriff or deputy, another authorized person, or a person appointed by the court.

Law: M.R. Civ. P. 4(c)(1)-(2)

Fees and fee waivers in Maine

Fee to answer

The court fee schedule (Admin. Order JB-05-26) lists filing fees for plaintiffs and does not list a fee for filing an answer.

If you can't pay the fees

Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees (CV-067): https://mjbportal.courts.maine.gov/CourtForms/FormsLists/DownloadForm?strFormNumber=CV-067

Steps to answer in Maine

  1. Check the court papers

    Write down the court, the case number and who is suing you.

  2. Mark your deadline

    Maine's rule: District or Superior Court: 20 days.

  4. Ask for the documents

    Send a documents request letter to the plaintiff's lawyer.

Federal rules in every state

  • Where a collector must sue. A debt collector that sues you over a consumer debt must file where you signed the contract or where you live when the suit starts. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1692i(a)(2)
  • Old debts. A debt collector must not sue you, or threaten to sue you, on a debt that is too old to sue on. Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)

Free help in Maine

Questions about answering in Maine

What is the deadline to answer a debt suit in Maine?

20 days after you are served with the summons and complaint.

How do I answer a debt lawsuit in Maine?

File a written answer with the court at the location on the summons and mail a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer. In a credit card or student loan collection case, the collector must attach a one-page answer form to the front of the complaint; you can check the box, sign it, return it to the court and mail a copy to the plaintiff's lawyer, and you do not need a more formal answer. Filing an answer does not mean you admit the debt.

Where is Maine's answer form?

Defendant's ANSWER to Complaint (Credit Card or Student Loan Collection Actions), form BCCP-2021 from the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection; for other debts, a written answer under M.R. Civ. P. 12(a): https://mjbportal.courts.maine.gov/CourtForms/FormsLists/DownloadForm?strFormNumber=BCCP-2021

Is there a fee to answer in Maine?

The court fee schedule (Admin. Order JB-05-26) lists filing fees for plaintiffs and does not list a fee for filing an answer.

Can Maine courts waive my fees?

Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees (CV-067): https://mjbportal.courts.maine.gov/CourtForms/FormsLists/DownloadForm?strFormNumber=CV-067

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Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

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