Divorce, Custody, & Family
Featured Content May 2025
This is a guide for adults in the state of Maine who want to change their legal name and/or gender marker. This guide is especially written for trans or gender non-conforming people - but can be used…
Featured Content March 2025
This guide is for parents in the state of Maine who need someone else to take care of their children if they cannot. You might need someone to take care of your children if you know you’ll be unable…
Featured Content July 2024
Featured Content July 2024
The Family Law and Victim Rights Unit at Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides statewide coverage for the civil legal needs of victim/survivors of sexual assault. In many areas of the state, the Family…
Featured Content July 2024
About DHHS and Child Abuse and Neglect
DHHS Child Protective Services investigates reports of child abuse. There are 5 different things that DHHS can do:
March 2025
Esta guía es para los padres del estado de Maine que necesitan que otra persona cuide de sus hijos cuando ellos no pueden hacerlo. Es posible que necesite a alguien que cuide de sus hijos en caso de…
February 2025
This is the Maine Probate Court form for an adult name change.
December 2024
What is a Power of Attorney? Where can I learn more about Powers of Attorney in Maine?
December 2024
How does domestic violence affect children?
Violence and trauma can have long-lasting effects on children who witness or experience violent events.
December 2024
How can a family member or other responsible adult become the legal guardian of a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to care for them?
December 2024
Lists resources for people in Maine who are separating or going through divorce: where to get legal and financial help, and other support services.
November 2024
How the Maine courts determine child support amounts.
August 2024
This is the Maine form for keeping your address confidential when filing for a Protection from Abuse order. Use this form if you don't want the abuser to know your address.
August 2024
The Maine form for providing information to the court for serving a Protection from Abuse order
August 2024
The Maine form for getting a Protection from Abuse court order
August 2024
The Maine court form for determining the jurisdiction for certain family law and name change cases
August 2024
The Maine court form for a lawyer or self represented person to use to enter their appearance in a case
August 2024
The Maine Probate court form for a name change for a child. Formerly CN-2, it is now called NC-001.
August 2024
This is a sample motion to waive a home study for a second-parent adoption.
August 2024
This is a sample Maine Child Protection Petition for a Maine Three Party Child Protection action.
August 2024
This is a sample Affidavit of Friend for a Maine Three Party Child Protection action.
August 2024
This is a sample Acknowledgment of Receipt of a Child Protection Petition for a Maine Three Party Child Protection action.
August 2024
The form used by the court to set a hearing on a Motion for Contempt.
August 2024
The Maine court form for filing a Motion for Contempt of a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities order
August 2024
This is not a form, but an informational sheet about what to do with the forms for a Motion for Contempt of a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities judgment
August 2024
The Maine court form to file a Motion to Enforce a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities judgment
August 2024
This is not a form, but an informational sheet about what to do with the forms for a Motion to Enforce a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities judgment
August 2024
The Maine court form to file a case to modify a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities judgment (including child support)
August 2024
This is not a form, but an informational sheet about what to do with the forms for a Motion to Modify a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities judgment
August 2024
The set of forms needed to make a Motion to Modify a Maine Divorce or Parental Rights order.
August 2024
Forms Packet to file a Motion to Enforce a family law court order in Maine
August 2024
Forms Packet to file a Motion for Contempt of a family law court order in Maine
August 2024
The Maine court form for amending or changing the order appointing a Guardian Ad Litem
August 2024
The Maine court form for requesting an expedited hearing in a family law case
August 2024
The Maine court form for mutually starting a court action to determine the parentage, and the parental rights and responsibilities before a child is born
August 2024
The Maine court form for requesting a warrant to take physical custody of a child in certain circumstances
August 2024
August 2024
This is Maine court form for ordering the payment of child support
August 2024
The Maine court form used for appointing a Guardian ad Litem
August 2024
This is not a court form, it is a notice from the court about mediation in certain family law cases
August 2024
This is not a court form - it is an instruction sheet about what to do with court forms for getting a Maine court to register a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities order from another st
August 2024
This is not a form - it is the Maine child support table, which is used for calculating child support obligations.
August 2024
This is not a form - it is an instruction sheet for what to do with the Maine court forms for a parental rights and responsibilities case
August 2024
This is not a court form, but it is an instruction sheet for how to accomplish service by alternative means.
August 2024
The Maine court form for making a motion to serve someone court papers through other means than usual.
August 2024
The Maine court form for objecting to a final order from a magistrate in a family law case
August 2024
The Maine court form for requesting a lawyer be appointed for a minor in an emancipation case
August 2024
August 2024
The Maine court form for use when parents provide "substantially equal care" for children.
August 2024
This Maine court form is not interactive. The court rules require that you use an original paper summons, bought from the court clerk's office for $5.
August 2024
The Maine court form to use for requesting a faster child custody determination
August 2024
A fill-able .pdf of Maine court form PB-03, the Jurisdictional Affidavit that must be filed in District court with any adoption, minor guardianship, or minor name change case.
August 2024
This is a fillable template of a motion to waive a home study for a second-parent adoption.
August 2024
The Maine court form for a case to determine the parentage of a child, to establish parental rights and responsibilities and/or child support
August 2024
The Maine court form for an Answer and Counterclaim in a Parental Rights and Responsibilities court case
August 2024
The Maine court form for an Answer and Counterclaim for a divorce case.
August 2024
A Maine court form for an Entry of Appearance for a self-represented defendant in a divorce and/or parental rights and responsibilities case.
August 2024
August 2024
Maine court form for divorcing people with minimal assets and debts
August 2024
This is not a court form, it is important instructions for filling out the Maine court forms for a divorce case without children
August 2024
This is not a court form, but an information sheet about the Case Management Conference in Maine family law cases
August 2024
Maine court form for acknowledging that you have received a Summons and Complaint or Post-Judgment Motion
August 2024
This is not a form to fill out, it is an instruction sheet about how to fill out the Maine court forms for a divorce case with children
August 2024
The Maine court form for filing for divorce if you have children.
August 2024
A form used to disclose Social Security Numbers for certain court cases, including family law cases, but keeping those SSNs confidential
August 2024
August 2024
Complete packet of the fillable forms you will need to file a Complaint for Parentage, Parental Rights & Responsibilities, and Child Support.
August 2024
If you have been served with a Divorce or Parental Rights complaint, and you wish to be heard by the court, you must fill out, file, and serve certain court forms.
August 2024
Complete packet of the fillable forms you will need to file for divorce in Maine if you do not share minor children.
August 2024
Complete packet of the fillable forms you will need to file for divorce with children.
June 2024
This information is to help you if you need to change a Department of Health Human Services (DHHS) Child Support Order.
April 2024
You can file a Three-Person Petition (also called a Three-Party Petition) in District Court. Under the Maine Child Protection laws, three or more people can file a Child Protection petition, asking…
March 2024
This guide is the first in a series about what happens when DHHS gets involved with families.
August 2023
How do I know if my child’s sexual behavior is normal or a sign of abuse?
As a caregiver, you may be worried about a child if they start displaying sexualized behaviors.
July 2023
If you are trying to modify (change) or enforce a final order from a Parental Rights and Responsibilities or Divorce case in Maine, you might find some helpful information here. This guide will walk…
July 2023
To change your name, or the name of a minor in your care, you will usually need to file a petition with the Probate Court in the county where you live. There are some special procedures for changing…
October 2022
Divorce or separation can mean big changes on your taxes. Spousal support, also called alimony, and a name change are just a few things you may need to consider. Here are some tax tips to keep in…
September 2022
Posted and up-to-date on 9/19/2022
September 2022
In 2015 Maine updated its laws about families. This law is called the Maine Parentage Act. It took effect on July 1, 2016. “Parentage” is a legal word. It means the legal relationship between a child…
September 2022
What is the Maine Home Court Act?
The Home Court Act is a Maine law passed in 2016. It is meant to prevent more than one case about the same child from happening in different courts.
September 2022
This page explains how child support collection works in Maine. The law and the process are different in every state.
September 2022
This page explains how child support collection works in Maine. The law and the process differ from state to state. Maine has several tools to collect both current and overdue child support. These…
July 2022
Introduction
This information is for possible parents who are being pursued by DHHS for payment of child support. We also have pages on these related topics:
July 2021
This information is to help you if you need to change a Department of Health Human Services (DHHS) Child Support Order.
November 2020
This page links to all of our divorce and parental rights form kits. We have put together several forms kits - they have all the forms you will need for certain kinds of divorce or parental rights…
November 2020
Whenever you get TANF, you give the State of Maine a temporary claim to your child support. The State keeps some of the child support it collects, and sends some of it to you. This worksheet will…
December 2018
Note: This article is about guardian ad litems in the state of Maine.
December 2018
If you are starting a family law case (such as a divorce or setting parental rights and responsibilities), you must tell the other party that you are bringing a court action against them. You do this…
December 2018
Introduction
DHHS can collect child support for you. They can also help set up child support orders.
December 2018
Your rights as a parent do not stop when you are in the military and called to active duty.
December 2018
Federal and State Law
Federal and state law allow money from military retirement pay to be withheld to meet most child support and spousal support (alimony) obligations.
December 2018
Updated information about how the Social Security Administration treats same-sex marriages.
December 2018
Introduction
This guide covers many family law topics with information specific to LGBTQ people and families. We also link to other helpful resources.
December 2018
This is the second part of our guide to Child Protection proceedings in Maine.
December 2018
In Maine, some grandparents may ask a court to give them contact or visitation with their grandchildren. But, children’s parents usually have the right to decide how to raise their children…
December 2018
What is this information and how will it help me?
This information is for parents who are being pursued by Maine DHHS for payment of child support, especially when there is no order of ch
November 2018
...ما بإمكانك عمله عند إنعدام قدرة او رغبة دائرة الصحة والخدمات البشرية في ولاية مين
November 2018
بموجب قانون ولاية مين، الوالدان البيولوجيان أو المتبنّيان للولد هما الوصيان الطبيعيان على هذا الولد
November 2018
Vous pouvez déposer une pétition a trois personnes (également appelé pétition a trois parties ) en cour de district. En vertu de la loi du Maine sur la protection de l'enfance, trois personnes ou…
November 2018
Usted puede presentar una petición de tres personas (también llamado una Petición a tres) en la Corte de Distrito. Bajo las leyes de Maine de protección infantil, tres o más personas pueden presentar…
November 2018
Êtes-vous préoccupés par la sécurité et la santé de l'enfant que vous aimez?
Conformément à la loi du Maine, les parents biologiques ou adoptifs d'un enfant sont les tuteurs naturels de l'enfant. Les…
November 2018
¿Está Ud. preocupado por la sanidad y seguridad de un menor de edad?
De acuerdo con las leyes de Maine los padres biológicos o adoptivos de un menor de edad son los tutores naturales de el. Los…
October 2018
Maine courts are now using this form, in lieu of the old FM-133 Immediate Withholding Order, as required by the federal government.