Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, §§ 6000–6016-A § 6005
Writ of possession; service
Operative Text
When the defendant is defaulted or fails to show sufficient cause, judgment must be rendered against the defendant by the District Court for possession of the premises. Seven calendar days after the judgment is entered, the court shall issue the writ of possession to remove the defendant. The writ may be served by a sheriff or a constable. 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 notice by first-class mail to the defendant's last known address and leaving the writ of possession at the defendant's last and usual place of abode. A writ of possession may not issue in any case in which the ground for termination of the tenancy at will was rent arrearage and the defendant paid the amount necessary to reinstate the tenancy as provided by section 6002 . An additional writ of possession may be issued by the clerk at the request of the plaintiff after issuance of the first writ. When a writ of possession has been served on the defendant by a constable or sheriff, and the defendant fails to remove himself or his possessions within 48 hours of service by the constable or sheriff, the defendant is deemed a trespasser without right and the defendant's goods and property are considered by law to be abandoned and subject to section 6013 .
Under Maine law at 14 M.R.S. § 6005, when a tenant loses an eviction case in District Court—either by default or by failing to present adequate defenses—the court enters a judgment for possession in favor of the landlord. Seven calendar days after that judgment, the court issues a writ of possession, which a sheriff or constable may serve; if direct service proves difficult after at least three good-faith attempts on three separate days, alternative service by mail and posting at the tenant's last known residence is permitted. Importantly, no writ may issue when the eviction was based solely on rent arrearage and the tenant has paid the amount required to reinstate the tenancy under § 6002. Once served, a tenant who does not vacate within 48 hours is legally considered a trespasser and their belongings may be treated as abandoned under § 6013.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6005, compliant operators understand that the writ of possession cannot be executed until seven calendar days after the District Court enters judgment, and that service must be carried out by a sheriff or constable—not by the landlord directly. If the constable or sheriff documents at least three good-faith service attempts on three different days without success, alternative service methods become available, and a second writ can be requested from the clerk if needed. Operators also recognize that when an eviction was grounded solely in rent arrearage, the writ process is blocked if the tenant has paid the reinstatement amount under § 6002, making it important to track payment status throughout the proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 14 M.R.S. § 6005, tenants have a guaranteed seven-calendar-day window after a District Court judgment before a writ of possession can be issued, providing a brief period to respond to the outcome of the case. Tenants whose eviction was based entirely on unpaid rent should be aware that paying the amount required to reinstate the tenancy under § 6002 can prevent a writ of possession from being issued at all. Once a writ is served by a constable or sheriff, the 48-hour clock begins, after which belongings may be treated as abandoned under § 6013—tenants facing this situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation