APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 21, 2021 316
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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S.P. 485 - L.D. 1508
An Act To Reduce Homelessness by Reducing Evictions
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §6004, as amended by PL 2015, c. 22, §1, is repealed and the
following enacted in its place:
§6004. Commencement of action
1. Summons and complaint; service. The process of forcible entry and detainer must
be commenced and service made in the same manner as other civil actions, except that if
at least 3 good faith efforts on 3 different days have been made to serve the defendant,
service may be accomplished by both mailing the summons and complaint by first-class
mail to the defendant's last known address and leaving the summons and complaint at the
defendant's last and usual place of abode. If service has been made by mailing and posting
the summons and complaint, the plaintiff shall file with the court an affidavit demonstrating
that compliance with the requirement of service has occurred. When the plaintiff lives out
of the State and a recognizance is required of the plaintiff, any person may recognize in the
plaintiff's behalf and is personally liable.
2. Form notice. If the defendant is a residential tenant, the plaintiff shall attach to the
summons and complaint that is served on the defendant as provided in subsection 1 a one-
page to 2-page form notice provided by the judicial branch in consultation with other
resources and posted on the publicly accessible website of the judicial branch, written in
language that is plain and readily understandable by the general public, that contains at a
minimum the following:
A. A description of the court procedure to be followed in the case, including a clear
explanation of the process that must be followed before a tenant is required to vacate a
rental unit;
B. A statement that failure to appear at any scheduled status conference or hearing
may result in the entry of judgment in favor of the landlord, which would require the
tenant to leave the rental unit;
C. A list of rental assistance programs available to residential tenants;
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D. A list of resources that provide legal information and representation available to
residential tenants;
E. A list of resources that provide housing counseling available to residential tenants;
F. A statement that either party may request, or the court may at any time refer the
parties to, mediation on any issue; and
G. A court-approved form to request mediation.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1508, SP 485: 14.6004, 30-A.4852
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 316: 14.6004