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The small-claims court in Washington County handles money disputes up to $6,000, with simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Here you will find the claim limit that applies in Washington County, what filing costs, where the case is heard, how the defendant is served, the deadlines, and the order of steps. Squabble can take the preparation and filing off your hands.
These cases are heard at the single courthouse below. Washington County confirms the venue from the defendant's address or where the events happened.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Locations change. The court publishes its current small-claims address on its own page; Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
Washington County Superior Court, in Machias, is the courthouse listed for Washington County. Washington County covers 32 ZIP codes, including the Addison, Baileyville and Beals areas.
This court takes small-claims filings on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares everything so your packet arrives filing-ready.
The small claims list is heard in person, at the courthouse itself.
Bring copies of your evidence for the judge and the other side; some courts also accept electronic submission ahead of the hearing.
Residents of Washington County, Maine, a county of 31,383 people, can bring small claims cases through the Maine Small Claims Court. Cases in this county are handled at the Washington County Superior Court, located at 85 Court St in Machias, 04654. The claim limit for small claims matters is $6,000. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday, and the clerk's office can be reached at (207) 255-3326. Additional information is posted at https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/superior/washington-sc.html. Electronic filing is not available in this county, so filings are made on paper. The county covers communities including Machias, Calais, Eastport, Lubec, Milbridge, Cherryfield, Jonesport, Baileyville, Danforth, and Princeton, along with ZIP codes such as 04654, 04631, 04619, 04652, and 04658. Washington County lies near Hancock County, Penobscot County, and Waldo County. The court accepts and processes small claims filings, schedules hearings, and maintains case records for matters within the county.
Washington County covers these 32 towns and cities:
Addison, Baileyville, Beals, Brookton, Calais, Cherryfield, Columbia Falls, Cutler, Danforth, Dennysville, East Machias, Eastport, Grand Lake Stream, Harrington, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Lambert Lake, Lubec, Machias, Machiasport, Meddybemps, Milbridge, Pembroke, Perry, Princeton, Robbinston, Steuben, Topsfield, Vanceboro, Waite, Wesley, Whiting.
Of Maine's 16 counties, Washington County is 14th by population at roughly 31,383 people. Washington County Superior Court sits about 25 miles from the Hancock County courthouse in Ellsworth and 32 miles from the Penobscot County courthouse in Bangor.
Neighbouring counties and the courts that serve them:
The small claims track exists for routine money disputes: fewer formalities, and a cap on what can be claimed.
Maximum claim
You can generally file where the dispute happened or where the other party lives.
You can't divide one dispute into several smaller cases to get around the limit.
What this court awards is a sum of money, not an instruction to act or to hand something back.
An attorney may appear at the hearing in Maine, though nobody has to have one. The process assumes you will speak for yourself.
Where a party is under 18, the court appoints a guardian to act.
Over the limit? You can lower your claim to fit and stay in small claims, or file the full amount in regular civil court. Lowering usually means giving up the excess, so weigh it carefully.
These are the limits for Washington County, population about 31,383. Washington County Superior Court is the courthouse listed for Washington County.
Small claims exists for money owed, up to $6,000. The categories below come up more than any others.
Washington County has about 31,383 residents. Washington County takes in Addison, Baileyville and Beals and the rest of the county.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Write up what is owed on the claim form, select the courthouse, and settle the filing fee.
The other side is formally served and has the chance to respond, or to settle before the hearing.
The hearing itself is short and informal. Some courts allow video. The ruling comes then or later in writing.
Everything below applies to a case filed in Washington County, at the Machias courthouse. This is the route a Washington County case takes, whether it starts in 04413 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
After you file, the other party must be formally notified. This is called service of process. You generally cannot serve the papers yourself. In Maine, courts typically use the sheriff or constable, email service where the court allows it, delivery arranged by the court, certified mail or personal delivery by an approved server.
A sheriff, a constable, a professional server, the court clerk using certified mail, or an uninvolved adult can all serve papers, depending on local rules. Fees and permitted methods vary.
How long before the hearing notice must be given is set by the court. That deadline arrives with your hearing date. Service must be completed at least 14 days before hearing.
The person who delivered the papers signs a proof of service. That document goes to the court ahead of the hearing.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Hancock County and Penobscot County are the counties nearest to Washington County. Addresses in Washington County include places such as Addison, Baileyville and Beals.
You have a limited window to file, measured from when the dispute arose. File after it closes and your claim can be barred.
| What the claim is about | Filing deadline |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral contract | 6 years |
| Property damage | 6 years |
| Personal injury | 6 years |
They do not change from one Washington County ZIP code to another, 04413 included. The same periods apply in Washington County as in nearby Hancock County and Penobscot County, which are in the same state.
In Maine, prejudgment interest follows a statutory formula rather than a fixed rate (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14 §1602-B).
To see what interest has added so far, the Squabble interest calculator works out the running total.
The rate above is the one for Washington County, population about 31,383. It is the same rate across all 32 Washington County ZIP codes.
Verify the figure is inside the limit and that you are still within the deadline for this claim type.
Name the correct party, describe what happened, and show how the amount is calculated.
File with the Washington County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $30–$80 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Service comes after the date is set. File the server's proof once the papers have been delivered.
Organize documents and exhibits so you can present them clearly at the hearing.
Attend the hearing, in person or by video if that is offered, make your case, and receive the outcome.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →Three documents recur: the claim form that begins it, the proof of service confirming delivery, and a fee waiver if eligible. Names vary locally; Squabble selects the correct versions.
Washington County has a population of about 31,383. Washington County papers go to Washington County Superior Court in Machias.
The hearing is brief and informal. The judge asks the questions, and most people speak for themselves.
Washington County Superior Court sits at the 04654 address shown above. Addison, Baileyville and Beals are among the Washington County places a hearing can draw parties from.
The ruling establishes the debt. Recovery is a further step, supported by enforcement measures that are set by each state.
Some states permit part of the debtor's wages to be diverted to the judgment until it is cleared.
A court-ordered levy allows funds to be taken from the debtor's bank account.
Filing the judgment with the county can attach a lien to land or buildings the debtor owns.
The court can additionally require the debtor to appear and answer under oath about what they earn and own. An unsatisfied judgment usually carries statutory interest until it is paid.
The judgment in a Washington County case comes from Washington County Superior Court in Machias. Addison, Baileyville and Beals are among the Washington County places a judgment debtor may live in.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Washington County case for you.
