{"id":373750,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/maine-law\/maine-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html"},"modified":"2024-04-11T15:43:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T20:43:12","slug":"maine-legal-requirements-for-divorce","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/maine-law\/maine-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html","title":{"rendered":"Maine Divorce Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Maine Divorce Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Not all marriages work out. If you\u2019re contemplating divorce, you should familiarize yourself with Maine divorce laws. You won\u2019t be able to file your complaint for divorce unless you meet the State of Maine\u2019s legal requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Understanding how the divorce process<\/a> in Maine works makes things easier for you. For example, how do the district courts handle such issues as alimony, child custody, and equitable distribution of marital property?<\/p>\r\n

The good news is that we will discuss these issues here. We also offer a chart that breaks down Maine divorce laws for you.<\/p>\r\n

Legal Requirements for Maine Divorce<\/h2>\r\n

You must meet the state\u2019s residency requirements to file for divorce in Maine. There are several ways to meet the residency requirement.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

According to Maine law, you must be a resident of Maine for at least six months before filing for divorce. You may also file if your spouse is a resident, or if you are a resident and you were married in Maine. If you are a resident and resided in Maine when the cause of divorce happened, you may also file in Maine.<\/p>\r\n

You can prove residency with your driver\u2019s license, mortgage statement, rental agreement, or other documents that include your address.<\/p>\r\n

You must also abide by the state\u2019s waiting period. The Maine courts cannot issue your final divorce decree for at least 60 days from the filing date. Once the court issues your final divorce decree, there is no required waiting period<\/a> if you intend to remarry.<\/p>\r\n

No-Fault Divorce Cases vs. Fault-Based Divorce in Maine<\/h2>\r\n

All states recognize no-fault divorce. This wasn\u2019t always the case. Today, if you file for divorce in Maine, you don\u2019t have to cite specific grounds for divorce. According to Title 19-A Section 902<\/a>, you must only certify that you and your spouse are experiencing irreconcilable differences.<\/p>\r\n

Irreconcilable marital differences<\/a> mean you and your spouse don\u2019t get along as a married couple anymore. If the other party denies the allegation that there are irreconcilable differences, the court may continue the case and direct the parties to undergo marital counseling<\/a> before finalizing the divorce.<\/p>\r\n

Just because Maine recognizes no-fault divorce doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t cite specific grounds for divorce in your divorce complaint.<\/p>\r\n

According to Title 19-A Section 902<\/a>, the State of Maine recognizes the following fault-based grounds for divorce:<\/p>\r\n