Rights of Maine Renters: Tips Before You Rent
Are you about to rent a place in Maine? Brush up on your rights, and other things you should know before you rent with our Tips for Tenants in Maine! Here’s Pine Tree Legal’s checklist of questions to ask about any house, apartment, or mobile home you might rent.
Child Abuse and Neglect in Maine: DHHS Substantiation and Indication
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:
LGBTQ Family Law Guide
Introduction
This guide covers many family law topics with information specific to LGBTQ people and families. We also link to other helpful resources.
Contents
Maine Parentage Act: Who can be a parent?
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 and a parent. So, to “establish parentage” means to prove that someone is the legal parent of a child. A child's parents have legal rights and… More
The Tax Consequences of Divorce or Separation
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 mind if you are recently divorced or separated.
Do you owe $500 or more to your electric company?
If you're more than $500 in debt on your electric bill, this program may be able to help you. You pay just your current monthly electric bill, each month and on time. For each month that you pay your current bill, your electric utility company will wipe out 1/12 of what you owe them on your back bill. Learn about how to enroll!
Same-sex marriage: How does the Social Security Administration look at my marriage?
Updated information about how the Social Security Administration treats same-sex marriages.
Can I Get an Assistance Animal if I am a Renter?
Who is covered by the “assistance animal” law?
The law applies to people with disabilities. Under this law, you have a disability if:
What Concerned Adults Can Do to Protect an Endangered Child
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 the Court to order DHHS or a third party like a relative to take custody of and provide services to a youth...
Public Housing: Some Frequently Asked Questions
This information applies to you only if you live in HUD-subsidized public housing. Examples in Maine are: Cape Hart in Bangor, Kennedy Park in Portland, and Hillview in Lewiston.