What you need to know before you go to court in Maine
Going to court on your own can be scary, but there are many resources to help you get ready. This article is written for two of the most common kinds of court cases in Maine:
-Small claims
-Eviction
RePresent: Renter! A game to prepare for an eviction hearing
If you have an eviction hearing soon, and will be going to court without a lawyer, you can practice representing yourself by playing RePresent: Renter! You'll learn how to prepare for court, what your rights are as a renter in Maine, what happens in court on the day of your hearing, and how to present evidence and cross-examine the other person in… More
Tips for Giving Evidence in Court
When you are giving evidence in court, explain exactly what happened in the clearest way you can. You should only talk about what you know. This means what you saw, what you felt, what you heard, and what you did.
RePresent: A game for people going to court without a lawyer
If you're going to court without a lawyer, you can practice representing yourself by playing RePresent. You’ll learn how to prepare for court, what happens in court on the day of your hearing, and how to present evidence and cross-examine the other person in your case.
Rights of Maine Renters: Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
Sometimes landlords react to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking by taking action against the victim. There are state and federal laws that can help if this happens to you.
The Family Law and Victim Rights Unit
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 Law and Victim Rights Unit also provides civil legal services to victim/survivors of domestic violence.
Small Claims Forms
Important Notice: We encourage you to learn more about Small Claims Court in Maine before using these forms.
How to Handle Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overpayments
SSI benefits are the benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that come on the 1st of the month. If SSA finds that you have gotten too much money in your SSI benefit, they will send you a Notice of Overpayment.
What happens if I am charged with a crime in Maine? Can I get a lawyer?
How do I know if my legal issue is "criminal?"
In Maine there are three basic kinds of “charges” for “offenses against the state.”
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.