Statute of Limitations
Maine: PERMANENT elimination of civil SOL for childhood sexual abuse (effective February 2023). No filing deadline — claims can be brought at any time.
No deadline — permanent elimination of civil SOL (effective February 2023)
Where to File in Maine
Maine enacted legislation effective February 2023 that permanently eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. This means Maine survivors — including survivors of Catholic clergy abuse — can file civil lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred and regardless of how old the survivor is. There is no deadline. The Diocese of Portland (Maine) has published a credibly accused clergy list. No Maine diocese has filed for bankruptcy as of February 2026. Maine survivors who have been told their claims are too old should know that, as of February 2023, there is no time bar for childhood sexual abuse civil claims in Maine.
Exposure in Maine
Source: Maine PL 2021 ch. 731
Source: Diocese of Portland disclosure