Hancock County, Maine: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Maine District Court (Ellsworth) - Small Claims in Ellsworth. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $10,000. Maine return time: 30 calendar days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,044. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Maine District Court (Ellsworth) - Small Claims
City	Ellsworth
Address	50 State Street, Suite 2, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone	(207) 667-7141
Hours	Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$10,000 (District Court small claims (as of January 1, 2026) only)
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement). Applies when: written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period. 21 calendar days after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later. Applies when: tenancy at will (no written rental agreement).
Time limit to sue	6 years
Deposit statute	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $10,000 (District Court small claims (as of January 1, 2026) only).

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Details of the return rules

Maine statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
I had a written lease or rental agreement	30 days	after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement)
I had no written agreement (a tenancy at will)	21 days	after termination of the tenancy or surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs later

Maine return rule: 30 calendar days (written rental agreement; statutory outer limit is 30 days; lease may set a shorter period). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Maine District Court (Ellsworth) - Small Claims. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Hancock County.
The Maine business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Hancock County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$831	$831	$1,662	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
2	$1,044	$1,044	$2,088	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
3	$1,317	$1,317	$2,634	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim
4	$1,380	$1,380	$2,760	Fits under the $10,000 limit for this illustrated claim

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Hancock County compare with other Maine counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,044: rank 9 of 21 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 21.2% of households rent in Hancock County.

Hancock County two-bedroom rent $1,044, rank 9 of 21 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Penobscot County	$1,098
Sagadahoc County	$1,095
Hancock County	$1,044
Androscoggin	$1,038
Androscoggin County	$1,038
Kennebec	$1,019

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 21 of 21 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Hancock County

Ellsworth

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Penquis: HUD-certified rental counseling and eviction prevention, including tenant rights, leases, landlord disputes, and the eviction process
Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.: free civil legal help for low-income people in Maine, including evictions, landlord/tenant problems, and unsafe housing
Avesta Housing Development Corporation: HUD-certified housing counseling, including rental housing counseling and eviction-prevention planning for renters
Coastal Enterprises, Incorporated: HUD-approved rental housing counseling

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Hancock County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Hancock County?

Maine District Court (Ellsworth) - Small Claims is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.