Maine · Divorce laws · Updated Oct 2026
Maine divorce laws
Who can file for divorce in Maine, how long it takes, the official forms and fees, property, support and children, in plain English from official sources, with a free timeline estimator and checklist.
Where and how to file in Maine
- Who can file (residency)
- You can file in Maine if any one of these is true: you have lived in Maine for 6 months or longer; you live in Maine and were married in Maine; you lived in Maine when the reason for the divorce arose; or your spouse lives in Maine.
- Waiting period
- Maine requires at least 60 days between filing all the needed divorce papers and the final hearing. Cases often take longer if you don't agree.
- Court
- Maine District Court
- Official forms
- Divorce forms (Maine courts)
- Court self-help
- Divorce self-help (Maine courts)
- Filing fee
- $120 to file a family matter (divorce) case (Maine Judicial Branch fee schedule, A.O. JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026). Court mediation in a pre-judgment family case is $160 for two sessions. No fee to restore your name in the divorce.
- If you can't afford the fee
- If you qualify because of your finances, the court may waive your filing fees; ask the clerk for the fee waiver application.
- Simpler process for agreed cases
- No summary process. Use the court's form packets for divorce with or without children; uncontested cases can be finished at a short hearing after the 60 days.
- E-filing
- Maine eCourts is being rolled out; check https://www.courts.maine.gov/ecourts/index.html for whether family cases can be e-filed in your court.
- Law
- 19-A M.R.S. 901 · Maine Judicial Branch (Divorce)
Divorce in Maine, step by step
Check that you can file in Maine
You can file in Maine if any one of these is true: you have lived in Maine for 6 months or longer; you live in Maine and were married in Maine; you lived in Maine when the reason for the divorce arose; or your spouse lives in Maine.
Get the official forms
Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Maine courts) No summary process.
File the papers and pay the fee, or ask for a waiver
File with the Maine District Court. Filing fee: $120 to file a family matter (divorce) case (Maine Judicial Branch fee schedule, A.O. JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026). Can't afford it? If you qualify because of your finances, the court may waive your filing fees; ask the clerk for the fee waiver application.
Serve your spouse
Three common ways: (1) hand or mail the papers to your spouse and have them sign and return an Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (CV-036); (2) certified mail, restricted delivery; or (3) a sheriff.
Your spouse responds
Generally 20 days after service; the deadline is stated on the Family Matters Summons you receive. The summons states the deadline. If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask for a default judgment.
Wait out the waiting period
Maine requires at least 60 days between filing all the needed divorce papers and the final hearing.
Agree, or go to mediation or a hearing
Common. If you agree on everything, you can usually submit a signed agreement. If not, the judge decides the issues you can't settle.
Get the final decree
The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it. Name change: Yes. When the divorce is granted, the court must change your name to a former name you ask for, and may change it to another name you ask for (19-A M.R.S. 1051).
Free tools for Maine
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Divorce timeline estimator for Maine
See the earliest date the law lets a judge sign your final divorce decree, from your filing date. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Grounds for divorce in Maine
- No-fault ground
- irreconcilable marital differences
- Fault grounds
- Also allowed
- Law
- 19-A M.R.S. 902(1)(H)
Property and debts in Maine
- System
- Equitable distribution
- The rule
- Each spouse keeps their nonmarital property (owned before marriage, gifts, inheritances). Marital property is divided in proportions the court finds just, considering each spouse's contribution (including as homemaker), the value of property set apart to each, and each spouse's economic circumstances.
- Law
- 19-A M.R.S. 953
Alimony (spousal support) in Maine
Called spousal support (general, transitional, reimbursement, nominal or interim). For general support there are presumptions: usually none if married under 10 years; no longer than half the marriage if married 10-20 years; and indefinite if married over 20 years. A 2025 law added a presumptive formula: a spouse married 10+ years whose income is 65% or less of the other's is presumed entitled, and the yearly amount = the income difference x (years married x 0.015), capped at 0.3. Judges can depart with written findings. 19-A M.R.S. 951-A (am. P.L. 2025, c. 571).
Children: custody and support in Maine
- What Maine calls custody
- parental rights and responsibilities (allocated or shared) and contact
- Parenting class
- The court may require a 4-hour co-parent education class; classes are run by community organizations for a fee: https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/family/divorce-separation/parent-education.html
- Child support agency
- Maine DHHS, Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery
Serving your spouse in Maine
- How your spouse gets the papers
- Three common ways: (1) hand or mail the papers to your spouse and have them sign and return an Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (CV-036); (2) certified mail, restricted delivery; or (3) a sheriff. You must get the official 'Family Matters Summons and Preliminary Injunction' from the clerk.
- Time to respond
- Generally 20 days after service; the deadline is stated on the Family Matters Summons you receive.
- Law
- M.R. Civ. P. 4, 12; Maine Judicial Branch (How to Start a Divorce)
Going back to a former name in Maine
Yes. When the divorce is granted, the court must change your name to a former name you ask for, and may change it to another name you ask for (19-A M.R.S. 1051). No extra fee.
Mediation in Maine
Common. If your case is contested (especially with minor children), the court will usually schedule mediation at the courthouse or on Zoom. The fee for initial mediation is $160 for two sessions unless you qualify for a waiver. Tell the court if you have safety concerns: https://www.courts.maine.gov/programs/adr/index.html
If you are in danger
If you are in danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential and open 24/7, in English and Spanish: call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at thehotline.org.
Protective orders in Maine: If you are in danger, call 911. Protection from Abuse information: https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/abuse/index.html. Maine Domestic Abuse Helpline: 1-866-834-4357.
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Free help in Maine
Good to know in Maine
- Maine adopted a presumptive spousal support formula in 2025 for marriages of 10+ years (19-A M.R.S. 951-A, P.L. 2025, c. 571).
- Changing your name back as part of a Maine divorce has no extra fee (A.O. JB-05-26).
Changes in 2024–2026
P.L. 2025, c. 571 amended 19-A M.R.S. 951-A, adding definitions, a 65%-income presumption of entitlement, and a duration-based formula for general spousal support. The court fee schedule was revised effective March 9, 2026.
Divorce checklist for Maine
Answer a few questions to get a checklist for your state: documents to gather, the official forms, the fee or fee waiver, serving your spouse, children and the final steps. Print it or download it. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Questions about divorce in Maine
How long do you have to live in Maine to file for divorce?
You can file in Maine if any one of these is true: you have lived in Maine for 6 months or longer; you live in Maine and were married in Maine; you lived in Maine when the reason for the divorce arose; or your spouse lives in Maine.
How long does a divorce take in Maine?
Maine requires at least 60 days between filing all the needed divorce papers and the final hearing. Cases often take longer if you don't agree.
What are the grounds for divorce in Maine?
Maine's no-fault ground is irreconcilable marital differences. Fault grounds are also allowed.
Is Maine a community property state?
No. Maine uses equitable distribution. Each spouse keeps their nonmarital property (owned before marriage, gifts, inheritances). Marital property is divided in proportions the court finds just, considering each spouse's contribution (including as homemaker), the value of property set apart to each, and each spouse's economic circumstances.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Maine?
$120 to file a family matter (divorce) case (Maine Judicial Branch fee schedule, A.O. JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026). Court mediation in a pre-judgment family case is $160 for two sessions. No fee to restore your name in the divorce.
Can I get the divorce filing fee waived in Maine?
If you qualify because of your finances, the court may waive your filing fees; ask the clerk for the fee waiver application.
Is there a simpler divorce process in Maine?
No summary process. Use the court's form packets for divorce with or without children; uncontested cases can be finished at a short hearing after the 60 days.
How long does my spouse have to respond in Maine?
Generally 20 days after service; the deadline is stated on the Family Matters Summons you receive.
Can I change my name back in a divorce in Maine?
Yes. When the divorce is granted, the court must change your name to a former name you ask for, and may change it to another name you ask for (19-A M.R.S. 1051). No extra fee.
Is mediation required in a divorce in Maine?
Common. If your case is contested (especially with minor children), the court will usually schedule mediation at the courthouse or on Zoom. The fee for initial mediation is $160 for two sessions unless you qualify for a waiver. Tell the court if you have safety concerns: https://www.courts.maine.gov/programs/adr/index.html
Do divorcing parents have to take a class in Maine?
The court may require a 4-hour co-parent education class; classes are run by community organizations for a fee: https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/family/divorce-separation/parent-education.html
How does alimony work in Maine?
Called spousal support (general, transitional, reimbursement, nominal or interim). For general support there are presumptions: usually none if married under 10 years; no longer than half the marriage if married 10-20 years; and indefinite if married over 20 years. A 2025 law added a presumptive formula: a spouse married 10+ years whose income is 65% or less of the other's is presumed entitled, and the yearly amount = the income difference x (years married x 0.015), capped at 0.3. Judges can depart with written findings. 19-A M.R.S. 951-A (am. P.L. 2025, c. 571).