§3121-A. Venue

1.  Commencement of proceedings.  Notwithstanding Title 4, section 155 and any provisions set forth elsewhere, and except as provided in subsection 2 and Title 19-A, section 2361, subsection 2, any proceeding under this chapter must be commenced in a division of the District Court as follows.

A. Except as provided in paragraph D, if the judgment debtor is an individual who resides within this State, the proceeding must be commenced in the division in which the judgment debtor resides.   [PL 1995, c. 419, §7 (AMD).]

B. Except as provided in paragraph D, if the judgment debtor is a nonresident individual, the proceeding must be commenced in the division in which the debtor is commorant.   [PL 1995, c. 419, §7 (AMD).]

C. Except as provided in paragraph D, if the judgment debtor is not an individual, the proceeding must be commenced in a division in which the debtor maintains a place of business. If the judgment debtor does not maintain a place of business in this State, the proceeding must be commenced in a division in which a civil summons could be served upon the debtor or in any division in which the action resulting in the judgment could have been brought.   [PL 1995, c. 419, §7 (AMD).]

D. Any proceeding under this chapter may be commenced in the division where the judgment creditor, if an individual, resides or, if not an individual, has a place of business, except that a consumer debt proceeding must be commenced, at the option of the creditor, in the division where the consumer transaction occurred or where the judgment debtor resides. Consumer debts are limited to debts arising from purchases that are primarily for personal, family or household purposes.   [PL 1989, c. 655 (AMD).]

[PL 1995, c. 694, §17 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

2.  Civil order of arrest; contempt.  Any proceeding under this chapter in which the judgment debtor is an individual who resides in this State shall be transferred to the division in which the debtor resides immediately after:

A. The issuance of a civil order of arrest pursuant to section 3134, subsection 1, or section 3136; or   [PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW).]

B. The filing of a motion for contempt pursuant to section 3134, subsection 2.   [PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW).]

The division in which the judgment debtor resides shall be set forth in the affidavit or statement under oath required by section 3134, subsection 1 or 2, or section 3136, subsection 1. Any civil order of arrest issued pursuant to section 3134, subsection 1, or section 3136, and any contempt subpoena or civil contempt order issued pursuant to section 3134, subsection 2, shall be returnable only to the division in which the judgment debtor resides if that debtor is an individual who resides in this State. Any proceedings in which the judgment debtor is not such a resident individual shall be maintained as provided in subsection 1.

[PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW).]

3.  Improper venue, transfer, objection.  If any proceeding under this chapter is brought or continued in the wrong division, the court, upon motion or its own initiative, may transfer the proceeding to the proper division. Any objection to improper venue is waived if not made before the entry of any order under this section after the appearance of the judgment debtor before the court. The court, at any time and upon motion or its own initiative, may transfer a proceeding under this subsection to another division for the convenience of the parties or witnesses, or in the interest of justice or equity.

[PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW).]

4.  Consent.  With the approval of the court, any proceeding under this chapter may be commenced or continued in any division consented to by the judgment debtor and the judgment creditor.

[PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 184, §4 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 655 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 419, §7 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §D17 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF).