Me. Fees Sch. & Doc. Mgmt. P. I

As amended through November 25, 2024
Rule I - FEES

Beginning on July 1, 2018, certain fees listed in this section are increased to include a $15 or $25 amount that will be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A(3); P.L. 2017, ch. 284. The fees that include the $15 increase are marked *, and the fees that include the $25 increase are marked **. Also, effective July 1, 2018, a $15 surcharge on any fine imposed in a civil or criminal matter or in an administrative enforcement or licensing action will be assessed and deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A(3); P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

A. Filing and Similar Fees and Surcharges on Fines
1. Fees in the Supreme Judicial Court

a.

Filing a Motion to Reconsider in the Supreme Judicial Court (M.R. App. P. 14(b))

**$125.00

b.

Appearance Pro Hac Vice

$700.00

This amount includes a $100 fee to be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A; P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

2. Fees in the Superior Court

a.

Filing a General Civil or Real Estate action or Filing a Third-Party Complaint

**$175.00

b.

Filing a Debt Collection action when brought by a debt buyer or debt collector as defined in 32 M.R.S. §11002(5-A) or (6).

**$302.00

c.

Filing/Registering a Foreign Judgment on a General Civil action

**$175.00

d.

Filing a Pre-Judgment Motion to decide a case on the merits pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), 12(c), or 56, or a Pre-Judgment Motion or Request for Default and Default Judgment pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 55(e)

**$225.00

e.

Appearance Pro Hac Vice

$700.00

f.

Filing an action under 14 M.R.S. §8601(3)(E) (Actions for filing false recordable instruments against public employees and public officials)

$25.00

g.

Filing a Criminal Action, Traffic Infraction, or Civil Violation

No fee

h.

Late Waiver Fee (applicable to a waiver filed more than 5 business days after failure to appear in a Criminal Action), 4 M.R.S. §§164, 164-A

$100.00

i.

Court Management System Surcharge (imposed in addition to any fine imposed in a civil or criminal matter or in an administrative enforcement or licensing action)

$15.00

j.

Filing a Petition for Forfeiture filed by AG or DA in Criminal Drug Cases

No fee

k.

Jury Trial Fee in Superior Court

$300.00

l.

Medical Malpractice Notice of Claim (per party)

**$225.00

m.

Filing a Motion or Request pursuant to M.R. Civ.P. 55(b)(2), 59, 60(b), 62, or 66

$60.00

A surcharge of $127.00 on debt buyers or debt collectors bringing debt collection actions is included along with the ordinary civil action filing fee. This surcharge will be deposited in the Civil Legal Services Fund as required by 4 M.R.S. §18-A(3-A)(C). The filing fee includes a $45 mediation fee.

This amount includes a $100 fee to be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A; P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

All surcharges collected relating to this subsection shall be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A; P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

3. Fees in the District Court

a.

Filing a General Civil or Real Estate action or Filing a Third-Party Complaint

**$175.00

b.

Filing a Debt Collection action when brought by a debt buyer or debt collector as defined in 32 M.R.S. §11002(5-A) or (6).

**$302.00

c.

Filing/Registering a Foreign Judgment on a General Civil action

**$175.00

d.

Filing a Pre-Judgment Motion to decide a case on the merits pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), 12(c), or 56, or a Pre-Judgment Motion or Request for Default and Default Judgment pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 55(e)

**$225.00

e.

Appearance Pro Hac Vice

$700.00

f.

Filing an action under 14 M.R.S. §8601(3)(E) (Actions for filing false recordable instruments against public employees and public officials)

$25.00

g.

Filing a Criminal Action, Traffic Infraction, or Civil Violation

No fee

h.

Late Waiver Fee (applicable to a waiver filed more than 5 business days after failure to appear in a Criminal Action), 4 M.R.S. §§164, 164-A

$100.00

i.

Court Management System Surcharge (imposed in addition to any fine imposed in a civil or criminal matter or in an administrative enforcement or licensing action)

$15.00

j.

Filing, by AG or DA, a Petition for Forfeiture in a Criminal Drug Case

No fee

k.

Entry of a Family Matter Action

$120.00

l.

Entry of an Emancipation Action

No fee

A surcharge of $127.00 on debt buyers or debt collectors bringing debt collection actions is included along with the ordinary civil action filing fee. This surcharge will be deposited in the Civil Legal Services Fund as required by 4 M.R.S. §18-A(3-A)(C). The filing fee includes a $45 mediation fee.

This amount includes a $100 fee to be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A; P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

All surcharges collected relating to this subsection shall be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A; P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

Includes a grandparents or great-grandparents visitation petition under 19-A M.R.S. §§1801-1805, which must be filed as a new action. The term also applies to post-judgment termination of parental rights actions brought under 19-A M.R.S. §1658 or 22 M.R.S. §4059, and other actions not otherwise listed in this Schedule initiated under specific statutory authority where no filing fee is set by statute.

m.

Entry of a Forcible Entry and Detainer Action

**$100.00

n.

Entry of a Small Claims Action

*$70.00

o.

Entry of a Small Claims Disclosure per defendant

*$30.00

p.

Service of a Small Claims Action or Disclosure, per party (optional)

$15.00

q.

Entry of a Money Judgment Disclosure

**$85.00

r.

Money Judgment Disclosure-Reactivated

**$55.00

s.

Money Judgment Disclosure in a case brought by a debt buyer or debt collector, as defined in 32 M.R.S. §11002(5-A) or (6), in which the $127 surcharge was not paid at commencement of the action.

**$212.00

t.

Entry of a Protection from Harassment Action

**$55.00

u.

Entry of a Protection from Harassment Action with an allegation of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

No fee

v.

Entry of a Protection from Abuse Action

No fee

w.

Entry of a Child Protection Action

No fee

x.

Filing a Motion for Post-Judgment Relief pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 120 in an action under Title 19-A, including a Stipulated Amendment to a Judgment but excluding a Motion or Stipulation to Modify or Enforce a Child Support Order or any Family Matter Pre-Judgment or Post-Judgment Motion for Contempt

$80.00

y.

Filing a Motion or Request pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2), 59, 60(b), 62, or 66, except there shall be no fee for the following:

Motion to Modify or Enforce a Child Support Order Motion for Contempt alleging the failure to pay child support Motion for Contempt filed by a plaintiff in a Protection from Abuse action Motion for Contempt filed by a plaintiff in a Protection from Harassment action involving domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

$60.00

z.

Filing/Registering a Foreign Judgment

In a family matter, In a Protection from Abuse Action, or In a Protection from Harassment Action based on domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

No fee

aa.

Filing/Registering a Foreign Judgmentin a Protection from Harassment Action that is not based on domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

**$175.00

bb.

Motion to Modify, Extend, or Extinguish a final Order of Protection from Abuse when filed by a plaintiff

No fee

cc.

Motion to Modify or Extinguish a final Order of Protection from Abuse when filed by a defendant

$70.00

dd.

Motion to Modify, Extend, or Extinguish a final Order of Protection from Harassment, except there shall be no fee when filed by a plaintiff in a case involving domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

$70.00

ee.

Filing Action for Recovery of Personal Property

**$85.00

ff.

Filing Petition for Guardianship of Minor

$50.00

gg.

Filing Post-Judgment Petition for Modification of Guardianship, Termination of Guardianship, Removal of Guardian, or Resignation of Guardian

$40.00

hh.

Filing Petition for Adoption of Minor

$65.00

ii.

Filing Petition for Annulment of Adoption Decree

$50.00

jj.

Filing Petition for Name Change of Minor

$40.00

kk.

Filing an Emergency Petition for Blood-Borne Pathogen Testing

No fee

ll.

Filing Petition for Special Findings and Rulings for Certain At-Risk Noncitizen Children

No fee

mm.

Service by the court when the respondent's address is confidential and service by sheriff is required

$30.00

nn.

Service by the court when the respondent's address is confidential and service by sheriff is not required

$10.00

oo.

Filing in Juvenile Court

No fee

pp.

Petition for Sterilization

No fee

Includes a $15.00 mediation fee.

Includes a $15.00 mediation fee.

A surcharge of $127.00 on debt buyers or debt collectors bringing debt collection actions is included along with the ordinary civil action filing fee. This surcharge will be deposited in the Civil Legal Services Fund as required by 4 M.R.S. §18-A(3-A)(C).

A motion or stipulation to modify or enforce a child support order may include a request for attorney fees and still be exempt from the post-judgment filing fee. A fee will be charged for a post-judgment motion or stipulation that raises additional issues. For example, a motion or stipulation seeking both a change in visitation and modification of child support requires payment of the fee.

A Family Matter Pre-Judgment or Post-Judgment Motion for Contempt shall be treated as a motion under Rule 66 that would require the filing fee for a Rule 66 motion. Also, when a Motion for Post-Judgment Relief that requires a fee under subsection x is accompanied by a Registration of a Foreign Judgment, the total fee will still be $80.00.

Whenever this fee applies and is charged, it includes a $20.00 mediation fee.

A motion or stipulation to modify or enforce a child support order may include a request for attorney fees and still be exempt from the post-judgment filing fee. A fee will be charged for a post-judgment motion or stipulation that raises additional issues. For example, a motion or stipulation seeking both a change in visitation and modification of child support requires payment of the fee.

As with a motion to modify or enforce a child support order, a motion for contempt alleging the failure to pay child support may include a request for attorney fees and still be exempt from the motion filing fee. A fee will be charged if the party files a motion for contempt that alleges a basis for contempt in addition to the nonpayment of child support or requests relief relating to non-child support issues. For example, if a motion alleges both the nonpayment of child support and a failure to follow a visitation schedule, or the motion seeks both to recover unpaid child support and to change a visitation schedule, the filing fee will be charged.

Additional charges for background checks and new birth certificates must be paid to entities other than the Judicial Branch.

No fee is charged when a name change is requested as part of a divorce, adoption, or parentage action.

This fee applies only when the filing party who is responsible for effectuating service cannot do so because the responding party's address is confidential, and the court effectuates service on the filing party's behalf. This is the fee that applies whenever service by sheriff is required (for example, in a motion for contempt action).

This fee applies only when the filing party who is responsible for effectuating service cannot do so because the responding party's address is confidential, and the court effectuates service on the filing party's behalf. This is the fee that applies whenever service by means other than sheriff is an option, even if ultimately service by sheriff is used (for example, this fee would apply for the service by the court of a motion to modify, which may be served by certified mail, even if service by the court is unsuccessful and the motion is ultimately served by sheriff).

4.Fees in the Violations Bureau

a.

Violations Bureau Late Payment Fee

$50.00

b.

Violations Bureau Re-Opening Fee (per charge)

$25.00

c.

Court Management System Fee (imposed in addition to original traffic fines only for violations committed on or after February 1, 2018)

$15.00

A late fee will be calculated separately for each charge on which a fine is imposed that remains unpaid.

All fees collected relating to this subsection shall be deposited into an Other Special Revenue account to fund the Court Management System. See4 M.R.S. §17-A(3); P.L. 2017, ch. 284.

5.Mediation-Related Fees

a.

Initial mediation in Pre-Judgment Family Division Matters (for two mediation sessions)

$160.00

b.

Initial mediation in Post-Judgment Family Division Matters, including adoption of minors and guardianships of minors (for two mediation sessions)

$160.00

c.

Additional mediation sessions in Family Division Matters

$160.00

d.

Discretionary Civil Referrals to CADRES

$ 50.00

e.

Mediation in Land Use and Natural Pipeline Matters

$175.00

f

Foreclosure Mediation Fee to be paid by plaintiff in each Foreclosure Action filed on or after June 15, 2009

$200.00

g

Mediation in Environmental Enforcement Matters

$120.00

h.

Mediation in Forcible Entry and Detainer Actions

Included in filing fee

i.

Mediation in Small Claims Actions

Included in filing fee

j.

Mediation in Debt Collection actions when brought by a debt buyer or debt collector as defined in 32 M.R.S. §11002(5-A) and (6), whether filed in District or Superior Court

Included in filing fee

Mediation in adoptions and guardianships of minors is voluntary.

This reflects no change in policy or fee, but has not previously been listed in the fees schedule.

This is an administrative fee.

This is an administrative fee imposed in addition to the filing fee upon all foreclosure action filings in the State of Maine on or after June 15, 2009. The revenue generated by the fee will be used to fund a Foreclosure Diversion Program as authorized by the 124th Legislature (see P.L. 2009, ch. 402). Although the fee is imposed upon all foreclosure actions regardless of the underlying nature of the action or statutory authority for filing, only certain residential foreclosures will be eligible for inclusion in the Diversion Program. Subsequent orders of the Court will outline the contours and requirements of any pilot projects or state-wide efforts.

6. Appeal Fees

a.

Civil Appeal to the Superior Court

**$175.00

b.

Civil Appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court, except as to case types specified below

**$175.00

c.

Workers' Compensation Appeal

*$135.00

d.

Unemployment Compensation Appeal

No fee

e.

Child Protection Appeal

No fee

f.

Protection from Harassment Appeal when the appeal is filed by a plaintiff who was issued a final order of protection based on domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images

No fee

g.

Protection from Abuse Appeal when the appeal is filed by a plaintiff who was issued a final order of protection

No fee

h.

Criminal Appeal

No fee

7.Late Payment of Fines

This section, relating to late payment of fines, applies to all fines imposed after December 31, 2003, without regard to the date of the offense or the date of the charge. When a criminal fine or a juvenile court fine is not paid on the date it is imposed, or on the date that the payment is due, if the time for payment is extended by the Court, there shall be a late payment fee assessed, in addition to the amount due on the fine, the Late Payment Fee is as follows:

a.

For original fines less than or equal to $100

$25.00

b.

For original fines greater than $100 and less than or equal to $500

$50.00

c.

For original fines greater than $500

$100.00

The amount due on any late payment fee shall be determined by the amount of the fine specified on the face of the judgment, without regard to increases from surcharges or decreases from partial payments. When part of a fine is suspended, the amount due shall be determined by the remaining, unsuspended portion of the fine. A late fee will be calculated separately for each charge on which a fine is imposed that remains unpaid.

B.Fees Related to Writs

1.

Preparing a writ and renewal of writ

$25.00

2.

Non-attested copy of a writ (per writ, any number of pages)

$5.00

3.

Attested copy of a writ (per writ, any number of pages)

$10.00

4.

Attestation of each page of a writ (per page after the first page-added to the fee for an attested copy of a writ in subdivision 3 above)

$5.00 per page

C.Fees for Summonses, Subpoenas, Booklets, and Other Forms

1.

Form with Court Seal or Clerk Signature

$5.00

2.

Subpoenas requested by a plaintiff in Protection from Abuse or Protection from Harassment Actions when the complaint includes an allegation of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or unlawful dissemination of certain private images

No fee

3.

Small Claims, Protection from Abuse, and Protection from Harassment Booklets

No fee

4.

Other forms-up to 3 copies (Requests for more than 3 copies shall be refused; requester can arrange copying elsewhere or copy from court website.)

No fee

D.Fee for Ministerial Act (including but not limited to the following):

Signature of Clerk on documents affecting real estate:

o Lis Pendens, 14 M.R.S. §4455 Certificate

o 14 M.R.S. §6321 Certificate (in Foreclosure Action)

o 14 M.R.S. §6653 Certificate (in Quiet Title Action)

$5.00

E.Copying and Attestation Fees

The following copy fees are to be charged for copies of all documents, except that subdivision B above applies to writs, and each party-of-record is entitled to one nonattested copy of a judgment, decision, or order entered by a judge or a default order entered by a Clerk when the copy is provided in lieu of a notice of docket entry pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 77(d).

1.

Exemplifying copies (per document) Form # CR-CV-FM-JV-040

$5.00

2.

Attesting copies (per document) Form # CR-CV-FM-JV-041

$5.00

3.

Copies, including copies generated by a computer

First page Each subsequent page

$2.00

$1.00

Attestation fees and exemplification fees are calculated per attestation and per exemplification and are added to applicable copy fees. Each attested copy, (whether a multiple reproduction of the same document, or one or more copies of different documents) is charged the attestation fee, regardless of the number of pages copied (except where the requestor wants each page separately attested, in which case the fee is charged for each page). The exemplification fee does not include the attestation, and the charges are added together for each document. To exemplify a document, the Exemplification Form CR-CV-FM-JV-040 is used.

Separate documents that are legally part of a larger or legally consolidated document, for example, an Income Withholding Order that is on a separate sheet, but legally a part of a divorce judgment, may either be attested and charged for separately, if requested, or provided as a part of a consolidated document or file. If the copy is provided as a part of a consolidated document or file, it is not charged a separate attestation fee. To attest multiple documents or an entire file, the Attestation Form CR-CV-FM-JV-041 is used.

F. Fees for Certificates and Abstracts

1.

Preparation, signature, and attestation of Short-Form Certificate of Judgment of Divorce Form # FM-170

$5.00

2.

Abstract of Divorce Decree

$10.00

G.Miscellaneous Fees

1.

Fee for action as Notary Public or Dedimus Justice

$10.00

2.

Postage and handling fee for mail requests

$5.00

3.

Schedule, trial list, administrative order

No fee

4.

Attorney Identification Card

Application fee Renewal Fee

$100.00

$25.00

No fee is charged for notarization of papers to be filed with the court.

These fees are to implement the provisions of Me. Admin. Order JB-15-2 section II(C)(2) (effective May 1, 2015).

H. Escrow Accounts

1.

On accounts opened on or after July 1, 1989

5% of total proceeds unless otherwise ordered by the court

2.

On accounts opened before July 1, 1989

1/2 of accrued interest

I.Charge for Requests for Record Checks $ 20.00

Clerk's offices should respond or decline to respond to these requests as provided in the Administrative Order on Public Information and Confidentiality

J.Rates Applicable to Electronic Recordings and Transcript Orders

1.

Charge by Official Court Reporters for Transcripts of any court proceedings

$3.00 per page for an original and one copy

Additional copies

$ .50 per page

2.

Standard charge by the Office of Transcript Operations, or its contractor(s), for transcripts of any court proceedings

Up to $4.50 per page for an original and one copy

Additional copies

Up to $1.00 per page

3.

Additional charges for expedited or supplemental services may be charged, if agreed to by the requesting party/parties. Availability of expedited and supplemental services shall be pursuant to a menu published by the Office of Transcript Operations. Availability of any other services not listed shall be at the discretion of the State Court Administrator or designee.

4.

The rate to be charged for a transcript produced on an expedited basis, such as daily copy, shall be arranged between the Official Court Reporter and parties to an action ordering such a transcript. Availability of a copy of such expedited transcript to other parties shall be under the control of the presiding justice.

5.

Duplicate recordings

First recordings Subsequent recordings in same proceeding Listening to recordings of court proceedings pursuant to Civil Rule 76H(e)

$50.00

$10.00

$25.00 per hour

6.

Postage for items mailed

$5.00

Each page of transcript shall have at least twenty-five typed lines and each full line shall be six inches in length. This order shall not preclude the practice of formatting four pages of transcript on a single sheet of paper, referred to in Maine Rule of Civil Procedure 5(i)(2) as condensed transcripts.

Standard charges apply to transcripts produced in 30 days; charges for expedited transcripts and other supplemental services may be imposed if requested by the party/parties responsible for payment.

Deposits that approximate the total charge shall be made directly with the Office of Transcript Operations or its contractor(s).

Me. Fees Sch. & Doc. Mgmt. P. I

Amended November 7, 2023, effective 11/13/2023; amended January 12, 2024, effective 2/12/2024.