Sagadahoc County, Maine: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $10,000 (District Court small claims (as of January 1, 2026) only). Court: Maine District Court (West Bath) - Small Claims.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$10,000 (District Court small claims (as of January 1, 2026) only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Maine	6 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after end of tenancy under written rental agreement (or shorter time stated in the agreement). 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. tenancy at will (no written rental agreement).
Penalty formula	failure to provide written statement or return deposit within the statutory time: landlord forfeits right to withhold any portion; if landlord still fails to return entire deposit within 7 days after tenant's pre-suit notice of intent to sue, wrongful retention is presumed and landlord is liable for double the portion wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; landlord bears burden to prove withholding was not wrongful. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039 (esp. §§ 6032-6034)

Where to file

Maine District Court (West Bath) - Small Claims

Courthouse city: West Bath

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.

Official court website

Court page checked 2026-09-20

See how to file in Maine for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Sagadahoc County

County median gross rent: $1,050 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
Studio	$770
1 bedroom	$853
2 bedrooms	$1,095
3 bedrooms	$1,600
4 bedrooms	$2,196

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,095; two months is $2,190. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,095.

State legal maximum deposit in Maine: Not more than the equivalent of 2 months' rent ($2,190 at the example rent) for a dwelling intended for human habitation.

Total households in Sagadahoc County: 16,175.

Renter households: 3,596 (22.2% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 15.5%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Sagadahoc County, $1,095 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $10,000 (District Court small claims (as of January 1, 2026) only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Bath

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

Courthouse details

Address: 101 New Meadows Road, West Bath, ME 04530

Phone: (207) 442-0200

Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address and phone checked against the court's own page on 2026-09-21

Court contact source

Statewide help

Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
free civil legal help for low-income people in Maine, including evictions, landlord/tenant problems, and unsafe housing
Phone: (207) 774-8211
Avesta Housing Development Corporation
HUD-certified housing counseling, including rental housing counseling and eviction-prevention planning for renters
Phone: (800) 339-6516
Coastal Enterprises, Incorporated
HUD-approved rental housing counseling
Phone: (877) 340-2649

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Maine security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Maine: 6 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Maine law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Maine letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Maine small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

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Free Maine template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Maine law (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6031-6039), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [30 calendar days / 21 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Sagadahoc County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. Official court website

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Maine: 6 years.

Where do I file?

Maine District Court (West Bath) - Small Claims. Courthouse city: West Bath. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.