What Is the Statute of Limitations for Defamation in Maine?
In Maine, the statute of limitations for defamation is generally 2 years under 14 M.R.S. § 753.
Defamation Deadlines in Maine
How long do you have to file a defamation claim in Maine?
In Maine, the statute of limitations for defamation is generally 2 years under 14 M.R.S. § 753.
When does the clock start for defamation in Maine?
Two years — the only significant carve-out from Maine's six-year general period.
Can the Maine deadline for defamation be extended?
Where the defamation is ongoing, the clock starts when it begins, not when it ends or at any individual repetition. This section is now the sole occupant of the two-year category after the 2021 amendment removed assault and battery.
Is the deadline different if the claim is against the government in Maine?
Often, yes. Notice within 180 days; suit within 2 years under 14 M.R.S. §§ 8107, 8110. The Maine Tort Claims Act requires written notice to the governmental entity within 180 days of accrual under § 8107, and suit within two years under § 8110 — a third of the six years an ordinary Maine claimant gets. The Act also caps damages. A claim against…
How does Maine compare to other states for defamation?
Maine's 2 years is in the middle of the range nationally. Across the 48 jurisdictions with a verified figure, the deadline for defamation ranges from 1 year to 3 years, and 1 year is the most common. Compare all states →
What Does Defamation Cover?
Situations that typically fall under the defamation deadline in Maine:
