Medical Debt Statute of Limitations in Maine

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: 14 M.R.S. § 752 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

6 years

from Date the cause of action accrues — typically date of last service or when payment was first due, under 14 M.R.S. § 752.

If you're researching medical debt collection in Maine, the single most important number is 6 years. That's how long 14 M.R.S. § 752 gives you to sue over unpaid medical bills, counted from Date the cause of action accrues — typically date of last service or when payment was first due. File even one day late and the court will almost certainly dismiss the case, no matter how strong it is.

Maine Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Medical Debt	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
Car Accident	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752
Medical Malpractice	3 yrs	24 M.R.S. § 2902
Wrongful Death	3 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C, § 2-807
Personal Injury	6 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752
Dog Bite	6 yrs	7 M.R.S. § 3961
Slip and Fall	6 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 752
Defamation	2 yrs	14 M.R.S. § 753
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752

When the Clock Starts

In Maine, the limitations period for medical debt collection generally begins on Date the cause of action accrues — typically date of last service or when payment was first due. Maine does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.

Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline

Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.

All civil actions including contract-based medical debt are subject to the 6-year general SOL under § 752. This is distinct from medical malpractice, which has a 3-year SOL under 24 M.R.S. § 2902. Creditors collecting unpaid medical bills use § 752. Minor tolling under 14 M.R.S. § 853 suspends the period while the plaintiff is under disability (minority, mental illness, imprisonment, or outside the US).

Source: 14 M.R.S. § 752, official Maine statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Maine government defendants).
If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.

How Maine Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Maine	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
New Hampshire	3 yrs	RSA 508:4
Massachusetts	6 yrs	M.G.L. c. 260, § 2
Vermont	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to sue over unpaid medical bills in Maine?

You have 6 years from Date the cause of action accrues — typically date of last service or when payment was first due, under 14 M.R.S. § 752.

Can I still sue after 6 years in Maine?

Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.

What if the victim was a minor?

Maine generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.

Sources

Official 14 M.R.S. § 752 — Six Years (Maine Legislature Official Statutes)
Corroborating Maine Rev. Stat. Title 14 § 752 — Justia US Law
Corroborating 14 M.R.S. § 752 — Six Years (FindLaw)
Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Maine attorney.