Rule 3. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION
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Maine Rules of Court › Maine Rules of Civil Procedure › Me. R. Civ. P. 3
Text
Except as otherwise provided in these rules, a civil action is commenced
in one of two ways:
(a) Service. A civil action may be commenced by the service of a
summons, complaint, and notice regarding Electronic Service. If so
commenced, the complaint must be filed with the court within 20 days after
completion of service of the summons, complaint, and notice regarding
Electronic Service.
(b) Filing. A civil action may be commenced by filing a complaint
with the court. If so commenced, the return of service shall be filed with the
court within 90 days after the filing of the complaint. If the complaint or the
return of service is not timely filed, the action may be dismissed on motion and
notice, and in such case the court may, in its discretion, if it shall be of the
opinion that the action was vexatiously commenced, tax a reasonable attorney
fee as costs in favor of the defendant, to be recovered of the plaintiff or the
plaintiff’s attorney.
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.