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.

Consequently, Can you sue for adultery in Maine? In Maine, a judge may also grant you a divorce for certain fault-based grounds. A judge may grant you a divorce if your spouse: cheats on you (adultery);

Is Maine a mother State? The State of Maine does not favor one gender of parent over the other in family law matters. Both parents are considered to be fit and able guardians of their child and both parents are equally entitled to have custody of their child (19-A M.R.S. §1651).

Keeping this in consideration, How many years do you have to be married to get alimony in Maine?

Basic Rules of Spousal Support in Maine

As mentioned above, the general rule is that a marriage must have lasted 10 years or more in order for alimony/spousal support to be awarded. That general rule will be adhered to unless it would produce an “unjust” result.

How long does divorce take in Maine?

In either case, Maine law requires a minimum 60-day waiting period between the filing of all the necessary divorce paperwork and the final hearing. Your case may take longer than 60 days, especially if you and your spouse do not agree on all issues.

Can I sue the other woman for destroying my marriage? In an alienation of affection lawsuit, you can essentially sue a third party for breaking up your marriage. All you have to do is prove that: Love and affection existed in the marriage. This love was alienated and destroyed.

Can you contest a divorce in Maine? Reasons for a Contested Divorce in Maine

Almost any issue within a divorce can be grounds to pursue a contested divorce. If you think about the reasons you generally argue with your spouse, these same issues are likely the ones that will direct you to file a contested divorce.

When can a child decide which parent to live with in Maine? One Maine court has specifically stated that the opinion of a child aged 12 or older should carry a lot of weight. Another court has also stated that the opinion of a 4-year-old won’t factor into the custody decision. The child’s wishes are only one of several factors a court will consider when deciding custody.

Do step parents have rights in Maine?

The state of Maine does not have any laws that grant child visitation rights to step-parents, which may make applying for visitation significantly harder. In all cases, third-party visitation rights are more likely to be granted by the court if they are deemed to be in the best interests of the child.

What makes a parent unfit in Maine? Factors Judges Use to Determine if a Parent is Unfit

The safety, health, and welfare of the child. Evidence of a history of abuse or violence against the child, another child, the child’s other parent, or another romantic partner. A parent’s history of substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol.

How is spousal support calculated Maine?

In Maine, there’s no specific formula that judges to use to calculate alimony. Judges will weigh each of the above factors equally and determine the proper type, duration, and amount of the support order.

How is child support calculated Maine? Maine follows the “Income Shares Model,” which means that a judge will determine support by calculating how much each parent spent on the child while living together as a family. This number is then divided according to each parent’s income to come up with a final support amount.

Where do I get divorce papers in Maine?

You can obtain Maine divorce forms online for free through Maine Pine Tree Legal Assistance or through the clerk of court at your district courthouse. Alternatively, you can use an online solution like DivorceNet’s Online Divorce, which completes the forms for you. Pay the filing fee.

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 .

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

• Feb 6, 2020

Is mediation required for divorce in Maine? Under current Maine law, if a couple has minor children, then they will be required to engage in mediation if they are not able to reach an independent agreement on all aspects of their divorce. Initially, couples will be given the opportunity to independently determine the various aspects of their case.

Can I name the other woman in my divorce?

Even if you feel like you are getting your own back, there is no legal necessity to name the co-respondent when divorcing – in fact, judges take a dim view of it. All you need is for the respondent, your spouse, to admit adultery.

Can you go to jail for sleeping with a married man? Adultery isn’t just a crime in the eyes of your spouse. In 21 states, cheating in a marriage is against the law, punishable by a fine or even jail time.

What states is adultery a crime?

Adultery laws, which make sexual acts illegal if at least one of the parties is married to someone else: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

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.


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