Icon for content type Article

Rights of Maine Renters: Unsafe or Unfit Housing

Maine law gives tenants an "implied warranty of habitability." This means that your landlord must promise that your home is safe and fit to live in.

Divorce & Parental Rights

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 and responsibilities cases. You can use these kits, or you can find a particular form you need from the All Court Forms page.
Icon for content type Article

Maine Sexual Assault Resources: Child Sexual Abuse & Normal Child Sexual Behavior

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. Your instinct may be to think something has happened to the child, but that is not always the case. Some child sexualized behavior is healthy.
Icon for content type Article

Maine Child Protection: What happens when DHHS investigates a household?

This is the second part of our guide to Child Protection proceedings in Maine. It covers what can happen when DHHS investigates a household because they believe that a child may be at risk of being harmed.
Icon for content type Article

Maine Child Protection: What does DHHS do when they get a complaint of child abuse?

This guide is the first in a series about what happens when DHHS gets involved with families. This guide covers the very first steps in the Maine Child Protection process - our other guides cover later parts of this process. If you are in a situation where DHHS is becoming involved with your family, start here.
Icon for content type Article

Healthcare Resources for Maine Children Who Have Experienced Violence

How does domestic violence affect children? Violence and trauma can have long-lasting effects on children who witness or experience violent events.
Icon for content type Article

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:
Icon for Guides, How To's and Classrooms

Adoption, Guardianship of a Minor, Child Name Change and Maine's Home Court Act: When, where and how to file the Jurisdictional Affidavit

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. Courts use a “Jurisdictional Affidavit” to find out about all of the cases involving a child and determine where your case should be addressed.  

Families Change Maine

We offer age-appropriate information to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up. Justice Education Society of British Columbia (link is external) and Pine Tree Legal Assistance collaborated to create this Maine version of "Families Change." Along the way, family counselors, guidance counselors, psychologists, lawyers, parents,… More
Icon for content type Article

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