Maine’s divorce law strikes a compromise between fault-based and no-fault divorce. You can get a divorce in Maine if you and your spouse have “irreconcilable marital differences.” This is a no-fault ground and another way of saying that you and your spouse are just too different to stay married.
Is adultery a crime in Maine?
While adultery isn’t illegal in Maine today, it can be grounds for divorce. Maine repealed the criminal sodomy law in 1975. A person is guilty of indecent conduct if he or she: Engages in a sexual act in a public place.
What are the divorce laws in Maine?
The plaintiff must have resided in Maine in good faith for at least 6 months prior to action or the defendant is a resident. The court can make the divorce final immediately, but otherwise it is subject to an appeal period. The fault based grounds for divorce in Maine are: Adultery.
Does Maine have alimony?
Maine Alimony Law Summary
In the state of Maine, following a divorce the court may grant spousal support to either spouse for a limited or indefinite amount of time after the order has been made. Spousal support is otherwise known as alimony. Alimony payments are dependent on several factors.
How long does a divorce in Maine take?
HOW LONG BEFORE IT IS OVER? Under Maine law, the minimum period of time before a final divorce can granted by the Court is sixty days from the day the summons and complaint were served on the other party. However, most divorces take several months to work through all of the issues.
Is it better to be the first to file for divorce?
California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that it doesn’t really matter who files for divorce first. Since no one has to prove any “reason” for the divorce aside from “irreconcilable differences,” being the first to file for divorce doesn’t impact the divorce either way.
Can you sue for alienation of affection in Maine?
Maine: No, legislation was enacted to abolish the right to bring an alienation of affection lawsuit.
Does it matter who files for divorce first in Maine?
There are two basic ways to get an uncontested divorce in Maine—default or agreement. A default divorce happens when the plaintiff (the spouse who asks for the divorce) serves divorce papers on the defendant (the other spouse), but the defendant doesn’t file a response.
How much does a divorce cost in Maine?
For a divorce involving children, the cost is even higher in Maine: $16,700.
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Cost of a childless divorce in Maine is $11,100.
| State | Maine |
|---|---|
| Average Cost of Divorce, Without Children | $11,100 |
| Rank for Childless Divorce Cost (Highest to Lowest) | 40 |
| Average Cost of Divorce, With Children | $16,700 |
| Average Divorce Filing Fee | $120 |
Is Maine a marital property state?
Maine follows marital property or equitable distribution for the division of property in divorce cases. The statutory reference for this is 19-A MRS §953.
Who gets the house in a divorce Maine?
Each spouse gets his or her own individually owned property and the court divides of the marital property between the two spouses.
How are assets divided in a divorce in Maine?
Maine divides marital assets via equitable distribution, which means that the court attempts to divide marital assets in a fair and equitable manner between the spouses, taking multiple factors into account in order to determine the equitable distribution for each spouse.
How long does spousal support last in Maine?
General support may last only as long as half the length of the marriage. For example, if your marriage lasted 10 years, the judge can only award general support for 5 years.
How long after divorce can you remarry in Maine?
Some states require all couples to wait up to 6 days to receive a marriage license. Divorced couples may face an additional remarriage waiting period, up to 90 days.
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State waiting times for remarriage after divorce.
| To remarry after divorce | To apply for a marriage license | |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | No restrictions | 72 hours |
| Maine | No restrictions | 3 days |
| Maryland | No restrictions | 48 hours |
How much is an uncontested divorce in Maine?
How much does it cost to file for a divorce in Maine? The filing fee in Maine is $120. You may have an additional fee of $25-$50 if you need to complete proof of service using a sheriff.
Are divorce records public in Maine?
Are Divorce Records Available to the Public in Maine? Access to divorce records in Maine is strictly limited, as Maine is a closed-records state. This means that by law, divorce records are confidential. However, divorce records become accessible to the public after 50 years.