IF you live in Maine, you can find divorce laws, divorce forms, lawyers, and support services here. You can also find more information in the divorce articles section.

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DIVORCE & SEPARATION FORMS

Divorce & Separation Forms - uslegalforms link
Online Divorce - divorcesource link

FAMILY LAW RESOURCES

Maine Child Support Guidelines
Maine Child Support Calculator
Maine Child Support Enforcement

DIVORCE LAWYERS & FIRMS

Need a Divorce Lawyer? LegalMatch allows you to present your case, and respond only to attorneys who want to help you. It's Free & Confidential. You can post your legal issues with LegalMatch and receive a reply from qualified attorneys who can handle your case. LegalMatch is a good directory that empowers consumers to locate and thoroughly review the experience, availability and price of pre-screened attorneys before deciding whom to contact.

DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION

Divorces can be painful and complicated, but they do not have to be. LegalZoom can help you obtain your uncontested divorce if you simply follow their three-step plan. They'll prepare your divorce forms, and other documentation that may be needed, review them for consistency and completeness, and provide you with all of the necessary paperwork within 7-10 business days. Start your Maine divorce form preparation today.

COUNSELING

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Conduct Background Checks and Investigations - Find people, unlisted phone numbers, obtain vital statistics, criminal record checks, credit record checks, sex offender searches, driving and vehicle records, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES

Maine Domestic Violence Crisis and Support Resources
Maine Shelters and Hotlines
Maine Coalition To End Domestic Violence

SUPPORT

Support Groups

MAINE DIVORCE LAW RESOURCES

Maine Complete Online Domestic Relations Statutes

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: A person may file for divorce in Maine if: (A) The plaintiff has resided in good faith in this State for 6 months prior to the commencement of the action, (B) The plaintiff is a resident of this State and the parties were married in this State, (C) The plaintiff is a resident of this State and the parties resided in this State when the cause of divorce accrued; or (D) The defendant is a resident of this State. A complaint for divorce is filed with the District Court. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 901]

LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: A divorce may be granted for one of the following causes:

1. Irreconcilable marital differences;
2. Adultery;
3. Impotence;
4. Extreme cruelty;
5. Utter desertion continued for 3 consecutive years prior to the commencement of the action;
6. Gross and confirmed habits of intoxication from the use of liquor or drugs;
7. Nonsupport, when one spouse has sufficient ability to provide for the other spouse and grossly, wantonly or cruelly refuses or neglects to provide suitable maintenance for the complaining spouse;
8. Cruel and abusive treatment; or
9. Mental illness requiring confinement in a mental institution for at least 7 consecutive years prior to the commencement of the action. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 902]

LEGAL SEPARATION: The District Court has jurisdiction to enter a separation decree: (A.) Upon the petition of a married person who lives apart or who desires to live apart from that person's spouse for a period in excess of 60 continuous days; or (B.) Upon joint petition of a married couple who live apart or who desire to live apart for a period in excess of 60 continuous days. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 851]

SPECIAL DIVORCE PROCEDURES: When children are involved, the court may request the department to investigate conditions and circumstances of the child and the child's parents. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 905]

MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: If one party alleges that there are irreconcilable marital differences and the opposing party denies that allegation, the court upon its own motion or upon motion of either party may continue the case and require both parties to receive counseling by a qualified professional counselor to be selected either by agreement of the parties or by the court. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 953]

PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Maine is an equitable distribution state and shall divide the marital property in proportions the court considers just after considering all relevant factors, including:
The contribution of each spouse to the acquisition of the marital property, including the contribution of a spouse as homemaker;
The value of the property set apart to each spouse; and
The economic circumstances of each spouse at the time the division of property is to become effective, including the desirability of awarding the family home or the right to live in the home for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody of the children.

"Marital property" means all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage, except: (A.) Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent; (B.) Property acquired in exchange for property acquired prior to the marriage or in exchange for property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent; (C.) Property acquired by a spouse after a decree of legal separation; (D) Property excluded by valid agreement of the parties; and (E) The increase in value of property acquired prior to the marriage and the increase in value of a spouse's non-marital property. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 953]

ALIMONY/SPOUSAL SUPPORT: The court may, after consideration of all factors set forth in subsection 5, award or modify spousal support for one or more of the following reasons.

General support: There is a rebuttable presumption that general support may not be awarded if the parties were married for less than 10 years as of the date of the filing of the action for divorce. There is also a rebuttable presumption that general support may not be awarded for a term exceeding 1/2 the length of the marriage if the parties were married for at least 10 years but not more than 20 years as of the date of the filing of the action for divorce.

Transitional support may be awarded to provide for a spouse's transitional needs, including, but not limited to: (1) Short-term needs resulting from financial dislocations associated with the dissolution of the marriage; or (2) Reentry or advancement in the work force, including, but not limited to, physical or emotional rehabilitation services, vocational training and education.

Reimbursement support may be awarded to achieve an equitable result in the overall dissolution of the parties' financial relationship in response to exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to: (1) Economic misconduct by a spouse; and (2) Substantial contributions a spouse made towards the educational or occupational advancement of the other spouse during the marriage.

Nominal support may be awarded to preserve the court's authority to grant spousal support in the future.

Interim support may be awarded to provide for a spouse's separate support during the pendency of an action for divorce or judicial separation.

The court shall consider the following factors when determining an award of spousal support: The length of the marriage, the ability of each party to pay; the age of each party; the education, training, income and employment history and future potential of each party; the provisions for retirement and health insurance benefits of each party; the tax consequences of the division of marital property, including the tax consequences of the sale of the marital home and the award if spousal support, if applicable; the health and disabilities of each party; the contributions of either party as homemaker; the contributions of either party to the education or earning potential of the other party; economic misconduct by either party resulting in the diminution of marital property or income; the standard of living of the parties during the marriage; the ability of the party seeking support to become self-supporting within a reasonable period of time; and any other factors the court considers appropriate. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 951-A]

SPOUSE'S NAME: Upon the request of either spouse to change that person's own name, the court, when entering judgment for divorce, shall change the name of that spouse to a former name requested; or to any other name requested. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 1051]

CHILD CUSTODY: Either parent may be awarded custody. When the parents have agreed to an award of shared parental rights and responsibilities, the court shall make that award unless there is substantial evidence that it should not be ordered. The court, in making an award of parental rights and responsibilities with respect to a child, shall apply the standard of the best interest of the child. In making decisions regarding the child's residence and parent-child contact, the court shall consider as primary the safety and well-being of the child. In applying this standard, the court shall consider the following factors:

1. The age of the child;
2. The relationship of the child with the child's parents and any other persons who may significantly affect the child's welfare;
3. The preference of the child, if old enough to express a meaningful preference;
4. The duration and adequacy of the child's current living arrangements and the desirability of maintaining continuity;
5. The stability of any proposed living arrangements for the child;
6. The motivation of the parties involved and their capacities to give the child love, affection and guidance;
7. The child's adjustment to the child's present home, school and community;
8. The capacity of each parent to allow and encourage frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent, including physical access;
9. The capacity of each parent to cooperate or to learn to cooperate in child care;
10. Methods for assisting parental cooperation and resolving disputes and each parent's willingness to use those methods;
11. The effect on the child if one parent has sole authority over the child's upbringing;
12. The existence of domestic abuse between the parents, in the past or currently, and how that abuse affects the child emotionally, and the safety of the child;
13. The existence of any history of child abuse by a parent;
14. All other factors having a reasonable bearing on the physical and psychological well-being of the child; [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Section 1653]

CHILD SUPPORT: Maine uses the Income Shares Model for determining child support. After the court or hearing officer determines the annual gross income of both parties, the 2 incomes must be added together to provide a combined annual gross income and applied to the child support table to determine the basic support entitlement for each child.

Termination of support: A court order requiring the payment of child support remains in force as to each child until the order is altered by the court or until that child: (A) Attains 18 years of age. For orders issued after January 1, 1990, if the child attains 18 years of age while attending secondary school as defined in Title 20-A, section 1, the order remains in force until the child graduates, withdraws or is expelled from secondary school or attains 19 years of age, whichever occurs first; (B) Becomes married; or (C) Becomes a member of the armed services.

The court may require the payment of part or all of the medical expenses, hospital expenses and other health care expenses of the child. The court order must include a provision requiring at least one parent to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage for medical, hospitalization and dental expenses, if reasonable cost health insurance is available to that parent. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Sections 1653 and 2006]

PREMARITAL AGREEMENT: A premarital agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration. Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to:

1. The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located;
2. The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of or otherwise manage and control property;
3. The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event;
4. The modification or elimination of spousal support;
5. The making of a will, trust or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement;
6. The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy;
7. The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement; and
8. Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a law imposing a criminal penalty.

A premarital agreement is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves that: That party did not execute the agreement voluntarily; or that the agreement was unconscionable when it was executed and, before execution of the agreement, that party:

1. Was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party;
2. Did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided; and
3. Did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party. A premarital agreement becomes effective upon the marriage of the parties. The right of a child to receive support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement. [Based on Maine Revised Statutes - Title 19-A - Sections 603 to 608]

You can find more divorce information in the following articles: