Maine Family Law Guide — Divorce, Custody & Support
Divorce, custody, support, and property division under Maine law — grounds, process, timelines, and what to expect
Family law covers divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and spousal support — and in many cases, several of these issues are decided at the same time. Whether you are filing, responding to a petition, or seeking to modify an existing order, the process moves through a structured series of stages. The decisions you make early — especially around temporary orders and documentation — directly shape the final outcome.
Of all family law matters, divorce is the most common — and typically the most consequential. A divorce case can involve every other area of family law at once: custody, child support, property division, and spousal support. That is why most family law overviews begin here. Even if your situation involves only one of those issues, understanding the divorce framework helps, because the same statutes, standards, and court procedures apply across the board.
Grounds for divorce in Maine §19-A-902
Maine allows no-fault divorce based on irreconcilable marital differences §19-A-902. No-fault means neither party must prove the other did something wrong — the marriage has simply broken down. Maine also recognizes fault-based grounds including adultery, impotence, extreme cruelty, and others.
The divorce process — step by step
Contested vs. uncontested divorce
| Uncontested | Contested | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Both spouses agree on all issues | Spouses disagree on one or more issues |
| Timeline | Shorter (after waiting period) §19-A-901 | Longer |
| Court involvement | Court reviews agreement | Court decides disputed issues |
| Who decides | The spouses, by agreement | The judge, based on evidence and statute §19-A-902 |
Key areas the court addresses
Child custody §19-A-1653
Courts determine parental rights and responsibilities based on the best interests of the child, considering the child's age and developmental needs, each parent's ability to cooperate, and any history of domestic abuse.
Child support §19-A-2006
Maine uses an income-shares model. Based on combined gross income of both parents using Maine Child Support Guidelines.
Property division §19-A-953
Maine follows equitable distribution. The court divides marital property based on what is fair, considering the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions, and economic circumstances.
Spousal support §19-A-951-A
Courts may award general support (alimony) for a period that does not exceed half the length of the marriage, or transitional support for career redevelopment; reimbursement support is also available.
What changes the outcome?
- Quality and completeness of financial documentation
- Timing of filing, responses, and temporary-order requests
- Existing court orders or pending cases
- Whether children are involved (adds custody and support layers)
- Willingness to negotiate versus taking issues to trial
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Frequently Asked Questions
General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.
If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.
- No-fault: irreconcilable marital differences
- Fault grounds include adultery, impotence, extreme cruelty, desertion for 3+ consecutive years, habitual substance abuse, nonsupport of the other spouse when financially able, cruel and abusive treatment
- Based on combined gross income of both parents using Maine Child Support Guidelines
- Presumptive guideline amount; deviation requires written findings of unjust or inappropriate result