Maine Divorce Attorney

Speak With a Compassionate Divorce Attorney in Maine: (207) 209-2902

The decision to end a marriage is not an easy one to make. By the time divorce becomes an option, a marriage is usually irreversibly broken or one of the spouses has provided grounds for divorce.

If you are currently facing divorce, are considering divorce, or have been served with divorce papers, do not wait another moment. Our skilled and experienced Maine divorce lawyers can can help guide your steps to the most favorable and peaceful resolution possible.

Maine Divorce Laws

Is Maine a No Fault Divorce State?

Maine is a "mixed" state when it comes to grounds for divorce because it recognizes both no-fault divorce and fault grounds for divorce. A no-fault divorce is an option for spouses who believe that they have irreconcilable differences in their marriage.

What Are the Grounds for Fault-Based Divorce in Maine?

Fault-based divorce can be filed for any of the following grounds listed under MRS 19-A § 902:

• Adultery
• Impotence
• Extreme cruelty
• Utter desertion for three consecutive years
• Gross and confirmed habits of alcoholism or drug addiction
• Gross and wanton or cruel nonsupport
• Cruel and abusive treatment
• Irreconcilable marital differences
• Incapacitation as determined by the court

How to File for Divorce in Maine

Before filing for divorce, you and your current spouse must meet the residency requirements.

To file for divorce in Maine, you must meet one of the following:

• Your spouse is a resident in Maine
• You have been a resident of Maine for at least 6 months
• You are a resident of Maine and were married in Maine
• Both you and your spouse were residents of Maine at the time the cause for divorce occurred

You will also need legally accepted reason for divorce -- this is also known as the “grounds for divorce”.

What Are the Filing Fees for Divorce in Maine?

Be aware that there is a filing fee for divorce of $120 as of 2022. This is subject to change, so be sure to reach out to the court clerk’s office for updated information. If you cannot afford the fee, you may request a waiver.

Are you considering filing for divorce? It may seem simple now, but it can get emotional and difficult quickly. 

Considering divorce? You do not need to go about it alone. Get support from experienced attorneys in Maine at Moncure & Barnicle. Call (207) 209-2902 for a personal phone consultation or request an appointment as soon as possible. 

Uncontested Divorce Meaning

The way you file a divorce in Maine will depend on whether or not it is uncontested or contested. An uncontested divorce will be quicker, easier, and cost less than a contested divorce, however, it will also depend on whether your relationship with your spouse is a friendly one. In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse will settle all of your marital issues such as child custody, support, division of property, and alimony and the terms will be put into a martial settlement agreement. 

What Happens in a Contested Divorce?

If you and your spouse cannot agree on any marital issues by the time your initial divorce papers are filed, then your case will go through as a contested divorce.

To file for a contested divorce in Maine you must:

• Prepare the initial divorce papers:
  • Complaint for Divorce
  • Summons
  • Notice Regarding Electronic Service (if you opt-in to Maine’s electronic filing system)
  • Family and Probate Matter Summary Sheet
  • Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure Form
  • Child Support Affidavit, if you have children
• File the papers with the Maine District County in the county where your spouse lives. You may serve your spouse with the complaint, summons, and notice regarding electronic service before filing the complaint, or file the complaint with the district court before serving your spouse with the divorce papers.

If you decide you serve your spouse with the complaint first, you must ensure that you file the complaint with the district court within 20 days after service is completed. If you file the complaint directly to the court, then you have 90 days from the date you filed it to serve the documents to your spouse. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in your case being dismissed.

To file the divorce papers with the district court, you may bring all of your documents to the court clerk’s office in person or send them through the eFile Maine system.

If you and your partner cannot agree on certain things, reach out to a contested divorce attorney in Maine at Moncure & Barnicle for seasoned guidance.

How Long Does a Contested Divorce Take in Maine? 

According to Maine law, parties must wait sixty days following the date of filing before obtaining a final divorce decree. After this 60-day period, a judgment is likely to be issued only if the parties are in agreement on all issues from the beginning. In the event that a hearing is required due to contested property and child concerns, the divorce process could take up to 18 months. It usually takes more than 18 months to resolve a divorce when children are involved.

For guidance with your uncontested or contested divorce, contact Moncure & Barnicle online or dial (207) 209-2902.

Is Maine a Community Property State?

Maine is not a community property state. Maine has implemented the theory of "equitable distribution," which means that instead of dividing property equally, a judge will attempt to divide the property and assets as fairly as possible.

Dividing property and assets can be difficult, especially when ending a marriage. Determining what property is and isn't marital property is the first step. Most assets or property gained during a marriage falls into this category; however, there are a few instances where one spouse retains full ownership.

What Are the Different Types of Spousal Support in Maine?

In Maine, alimony is referred to as spousal support. After or during a divorce, a judge may order one spouse to pay spousal support to the other, if the other spouse is in financial need.

The main goal in awarding spousal support is to ensure that a reasonable standard of living is maintained between the two parties and that both spouses have the ability within a reasonable amount of time to become self-supporting.

Maine has several types of spousal support:

• General support
• Transitional support
• Reimbursement support
• And nominal support

General Support

This type of spousal support is awarded to help maintain a reasonable standard of living for spouses with less income potential. This type of support is usually not awarded for marriages that lasted less than 10 years.

And if the marriage lasted less than 20 years, spousal support is not awarded for more than half the length of the marriage. For example, if you were married for a period of 18 years, you may be entitled to receive spousal support for a period of nine years but no longer than that.

Transitional Support

May be awarded if one spouse is planning to go back to work, to cover education or vocational training, if the spouse is relocating after the divorce, or to cover other needs associated with the divorce. The purpose of awarding this type of spousal support is to help the party which is making significant lifestyle changes in this transition period.

Reimbursement Support

This type of support differs from the other types of spousal support since it does not seek to cover the other spouse’s needs in the future, but instead is meant to pay the other spouse back for benefits received during the marriage, for example, contributions to the other parties education.

Nominal Support

The judge may order nominal support to preserve the authority to grant future spousal support.

How Is Alimony Determined in Maine?

If there is no agreement between the parties, the judge will consider the following factors for each of the spouses:

• The marriage's length
• Their ability to pay
• Their age
• Their employment potential and employment history
• Their income potential and income history
• Their education and training
• Their health insurance benefits and provisions for retirement
• Their health and if they have any disabilities
• Their contributions as a homemaker
• Their standard of living during the marriage
• The spouse's contributions the other party's education or earning/income potential
• The ability of the spouse seeking support to become self-supporting
• Potential misconduct, which might have resulted in diminution of income or marital property
• The tax consequences of the marital property division
• Tax consequences of a potential alimony award
• The judge may take into consideration other relevant factors as well

Get skilled counsel on your side. Call (207) 209-2902 or complete a form to request an appointment with a divorce lawyer at Moncure & Barnicle.

Providing Excellent Counsel & Representation for the Following Family Law Cases

Our Maine divorce attorneys are dedicated to the best interests of each client and can go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals. 

Our Maine divorce lawyers also handle other related family law matters such as: 

• Property Division
• Spousal Support
• Child Support
• Child Custody

No matter what your case involves, we provide personalized attention and representation from start to finish. When you retain a Maine divorce attorney from Moncure & Barnicle, you can be sure of receiving outstanding service.

Real Testimonials From Former Clients

Our divorce attorney in Maine has taken on immeasurable divorce cases and fought aggressively on behalf of our clients. We want to make sure that the concerns of our clients are met and will do all that we can to reach the end result that they need and want.

Contact Our Maine Divorce Attorney Today

The sooner you take part in our personal case evaluation, the sooner you can learn exactly how a divorce attorney in Maine from Moncure & Barnicle can handle your case. We represent clients throughout the state of Maine. When you choose to retain our firm, you can have confidence in your attorney's ability to represent you through a divorce and to win the best possible results.