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Heating Assistance News

LIHEAP funding continues to be lower than in previous years. This will mean that more households will be turning to local heating assistance programs after their LIHEAP money runs out.  Here is a summary of the programs we know about - followed by information about how to access local programs.  
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I Can't Pay the Taxes on my House: What Can I Do?

In Maine, if you cannot pay your tax bill for the property you live on, there is something you can do. Your city or town can decide that you don't have to pay some or all of it. This is called a "poverty tax abatement."
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The Maine Homestead Exemption: Tax Relief for Maine Homeowners

Introduction The Maine Homestead Exemption may lower your property tax bill. It makes it so the town won't count $25,000 of value of your home for property tax purposes. You can qualify if:
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How Much Heat and Other Basic Utilities Does My Landlord Have to Provide?

Important Resources to Prevent Eviction Getting evicted? Worried you might be soon?
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Fair Housing: Your Right To Rent or Own a Home

What does "Fair Housing" mean? In Maine we have both state and federal “fair housing” laws. They say that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you, and a seller cannot treat you differently, because of your: -race -color -national origin -ancestry (where you or your family came from)...
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Fair Lending

Discrimination in mortgage lending is prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act (link is external) and the Maine Human Rights Act.
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Military Search for Service by Alternative Means

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 by "serving" the other party. This means that you give copies of your court papers to the other party. Court rules tell you how this must be done.
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Grandparent Visitation Rights in Maine

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 including if the grandparents can see their grandchildren.  Therefore, except in urgent cases or where the grandparents have actually acted like the parents… More
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Small Claims Document Preparation

en español Welcome to the Pine Tree Legal Assistance Small Claims Forms Preparation Tools. Use these tools to prepare forms in a small claims case. In Maine Small Claims Court is for claims that are $6,000 or less.