Maine Laws Supporting Military Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families

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Are you being deployed?  
Or looking for spousal support from a retired service member? 
Or you may be the child of a disabled veteran in need of financial aid? 

Many people with connections to the U.S. Military are unaware of current laws that are meant to help them cope with the sacrifices of military service. 

On this page you will find links to Plain English versions of selected Maine laws. Glance through the list below to see if you find a law that may apply to your military-related legal needs.

Deployment Issues

Family Concerns

• Parents on Active Duty: Legal Considerations How will your children be cared for while you're away from home?  Sometimes this becomes complicated when the servicemember and the other parent are divorced or separated.  Maine law provides several options.
• Family Military Leave  Close family members can take time off work before, during or after deployments.
• The Education Compact  Learn about the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. It may help you with moving your children from one school to another when they need to relocate.

Work-related Concerns

• What Happens to Your Job if You Get Called to Active Duty or Required Military Training? Maine law protects you when you are in the National Guard or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces and receive orders.
• What Happens to Your Professional or Occupational Licenses When You Get Called to Active Duty?  National Guard and Reserve members are protected under Maine law.

Legal Concerns

• What if you are scheduled to appear in court while on active duty?  Both Maine and the federal government have laws regarding postponing court dates while on duty, or for other ways to participate in court when you can't physically be there.

Support for Veterans and Family Members of Veterans

• Maine Homestead Exemption for Veterans Find out if you qualify for this $6,000 property tax exemption for Maine Veterans. 
• Benefits for Veterans and Their Families in State & Local Government Jobs Learn about state hiring preferences for veterans and some spouses, widows and parents of veterans.
• Tuition Benefits for the Families of Maine Veterans Some spouses, children and step-children of certain Maine veterans (deceased, permanently disabled, MIA) can attend a state-supported Maine college or vocational school tuition-free.

More Family-Related Issues

• Protection from Abuse Actions in Maine: Special Considerations When the Defendant is in the Military  How Maine's Domestic Protection from Abuse law works and special rules about possessing weapons when alleged abuser in is the military.
• Military Retirement Pay and the Collection of Child and Spousal Support  Ways for children and former spouses of retired servicemembers to claim support.

Find more legal information and help for servicemembers, veterans and families on Stateside Legal

Thanks to the Tibor and Anna Doby Veteran Support Fund for supporting our efforts to educate our military servicemembers and veterans about their legal rights.

Updated April 2013
PTLA # 771