| Answers |
How are mortgage liens treated in Maine?
Maine is known as alien theory state where the property acts as security for the underlying loan. The document
that places the lien on the property is called amortgage. Maine has a power of sale provision which relates to
commercial mortgages only.
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How are Maine mortgages foreclosed?
In Maine, the lenders go to court in what is known as ajudicial foreclosure proceeding
where the court must issue a final judgment of foreclosure. The property is then sold as part of a publicly noticed sale.
A complaint is filed in court along with what is known alis pendens. A lis pendens is a recorded document that
provides public notice that the property is being foreclosed upon. The bower must be provided with 30 days notice of any
foreclosure sale and the proposed sale date must be advertised for three (3) successive weeks prior to the sale date.
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What are the legal instruments that establish a Maine mortgage?
The documents are known as themortgage,note, and in a commercial transaction, asecurity agreement.
Sometimes the mortgage document is combined with the security agreement. Amortgage is filed to evidence the
underlying debt and terms of repayment, which is set forth in thenote.
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How long does it take to foreclose a property in Maine?
Depending on the court schedule, it usually takes approximately 180-200 days to effectuate an uncontested foreclosure.
This process may de delayed if the borrower contests the action, seeks delays and adjournments of hearings, or files forbankruptcy.
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Is there a right of redemption in Maine?
Maine has astatutory right of redemption, which allows a party whose property has been foreclosed to reclaim that
property by making payment in full of the sum of the unpaid loan plus costs. There is a time limit to undertake such
redemption of one (1) year or three (3) months depending on when the mortgage was executed. The right of redemption must
expire before certain actions are taken to complete the foreclosure sale.
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Are deficiency judgments permitted in Maine?
Yes. Adeficiency judgment may be obtained when a property in foreclosure is sold at a public sale for less than the
loan amount which the underlying mortgage secures. This means that the borrower still owes the lender for the
difference between what the property sold for at the sale and the amount of the original loan. Deficiency judgments are
limited by the fair market value of the property sold at foreclosure as determined by appraisal.
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What statutes govern Maine foreclosures?
The laws that govern Maine foreclosures are found in Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, part 4, Chapter 403
(Title to Real Estate by Levy and Execution).
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/14/title14ch403sec0.html
Power of sale provisions related to non-residential mortgages is found in Title 33 (Mortgages of Real Property), Chapter 9, §501-§553A.
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/33/title33ch9sec0.html
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