Portland District Court: Family Law Post-Judgment Motions

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How to Enforce or Modify a Divorce Judgment
in Portland District Court

If you are trying to change or enforce a divorce order in the Portland District Court, you might find some helpful information here.

First, watch this short video. Then read some tips that may also help you to navigate the court process.

This information also applies if you are an unmarried parent, trying to get a "parental rights" or "paternity" order.

More About Court Forms:

Online Court Forms
You can get interactive online forms. This includes a self-calculating "Child Support Worksheet". More on completing, filing and serving court forms.

Child Support Worksheet
You must complete this form if you are requesting a change in child support. This is a complicated form. First you must know the other parent's income. Also, you need to know about child care expenses, medical coverage, ongoing medical expenses, and other child support payments, if any. If you have all of this information, you can use a self-calculating version of the form or get help from the Volunteer Lawyer's Project. If you are still having trouble completing this form, ask the Court Magistrate for help with it when you go to your "initial court appearance."

Financial Statement

• If you are not married, you do not have to fill out this form. This is for divorces only.
• If you do not own real estate, you are not asking for alimony, and your financial picture is simple enough, you do not have to fill out this form. Instead, you can use the much shorter form: Certificate in Lieu of Financial Statement.
• If your property issues are complicated (including real estate, pensions, businesses or large debts), you should get help from a lawyer.
• Get interactive version of Financial Statement. Here is a blank version, if your computer cannot handle the interactive version.

Entry of Appearance Form
This applies only to the person who is responding to the Motion. If you have not filed this form with the Court Clerk before your "initial appearance," bring it with you to court. Get online interactive version of this form. 

More on Family Law in Maine: Post-Judgment Motions

 December 2007
PTLA # 323A