Divorce in Maine, start to finish
See a different stateMaine
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Maine gives you the forms for free. What it doesn’t give you is the order things happen in, the two clocks that start the moment you serve your spouse, or a warning that the summons you print at home isn’t the one you’re allowed to serve. That’s this.
Put in the day you filed and this page works out every deadline in your case, then hands you a calendar file that reminds you a week before each one and again the day before. It opens in the calendar you already use. Free, no account, nothing stored.
Which forms do you actually need?
Your route and its conditions, the forms grouped by route, how filing actually works in Maine, and the sequence with its costs.
First, which route you are on. Each one opens to the conditions the rule actually sets.
The District Court track
19-A M.R.S. §901
Available where at least one of these is true:
- The plaintiff has lived in Maine for at least 6 months.
- The plaintiff is a Maine resident and the parties were married in Maine.
- The plaintiff is a Maine resident and the marriage broke down while both parties lived in Maine.
- The defendant spouse currently lives in Maine, even if the plaintiff does not.
The four facts that change the rest of the list
The shortest version of the file — no Financial Statement, no Certificate Regarding Real Estate, no sheriff — is where all of these are true:
- There are no minor children of the marriage.
- Property, debts and any spousal support are already agreed.
- Neither spouse has an ownership interest in a house, land or other real estate.
- The defendant spouse signs the Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (CV-FM-036), so no service is needed.
Grouped exactly as Maine labels them. This state does not publish direct PDF links for these, so they are listed by number for the state’s own catalog.
All 8 forms
- FM-002 — Family and Probate Matter Summary Sheet
- FM-004 — Complaint for Divorce — signed in front of a notary
- FM-038 — Family Matter Summons and Preliminary Injunction — the original comes from the clerk
- CR-CV-FM-PC-200 — Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure
- CR-CV-FM-255 — Notice Regarding Electronic Service (optional, x2 copies)
- FM-052 — Federal Affidavit (SCRA) — filed only if the other spouse never appears by the final hearing
- CV-067 — Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees — if a fee waiver is needed
- CV-191 — Financial affidavit supporting the fee waiver, if used
Where either spouse has an interest in real estate 1 form
- FM-056 — Certificate Regarding Real Estate — due 7 days before the final hearing
Where property, debts and support are already agreed 1 form
- FM-042 — Certificate in Lieu of Financial Statement
Where property, debts or support is not agreed 1 form
- FM-043 — Financial Statement — required where property or support is disputed
Where the other spouse is reached by certified mail instead of signing 1 form
- FM-020 — Entry of Appearance — the other spouse files this to be heard without formally answering
Where the other spouse signs for the papers 1 form
- CV-FM-036 — Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (x2 copies)
Where there are minor children 2 forms
- FM-050 — Child Support Affidavit — signed in front of a notary
- FM-040 — Child Support Worksheet — filed if the court requires it
You may e-file, but you do not have to
The checklist is not something you file. It is your worktable — what to do, in what order, and what it costs. The forms are what reaches the court, and this is how they get there in Maine.
- Portal
- eFileMaine (Maine eCourts)
- Paper
- Still accepted — you can file over the counter.
- What it costs
- card surcharge 2.89% convenience fee charged by the third-party financial institution for card payments; $0.25 flat fee per transaction for paying by electronic check
- Account
- Only if the self-represented party opts in (or crosses the six-case threshold). No registration fee is published.
- Worth knowing
- Maine has the most unusual pro se rule in this batch: e-filing becomes mandatory for a self-represented person only once they file more than six non-emergency family/civil cases in a year — a threshold that essentially never catches an ordinary divorce filer, but does catch high-volume self-represented filers. For a normal divorce, e-filing is optional. Because the rollout is regional, a Maine reader's first question should be whether eFileMaine is live in their court yet.
Each step with the forms it names and the money it costs. The full detail of every step is in the section below. Print this part.
| # | Step | Forms it names | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm residency and your ground | None named | — |
| 2 | Assemble and sign the packet | CR-CV-FM-PC-200FM-004FM-050FM-002FM-038 | — |
| 3 | Serve your spouse their 21-day clock starts here | None named | — |
| 4 | File your proof of service within 20 days of serving | CV-067 | $120 |
| 5 | Case Management Conference if you have minor children | None named | — |
| 6 | File your financial paperwork | FM-042FM-043FM-056 | — |
| 7 | Mediation contested issues only | None named | $160 · $80 |
| 8 | Status conference, then the final hearing | None named | — |
| 9 | Judgment enters — and the appeal clock starts | None named | — |
Every figure here is this page’s own, from the costs section below. A fee waiver application is free to file and is listed with the forms above.
| Filing fee — Entry of a Family Matter Action (flat statewide) | $120 |
| Sheriff service, in hand (statutory base, 30-A M.R.S. §421) + mileage | $40+ |
| Certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt | ~$10–15 |
| Court-sponsored mediation, if contested (two sessions, split between you) | $160 total |
| Parent education program, per parent, if ordered (varies by provider) | varies |
| Remote or in-person notary for the Complaint | $0–$25 |
| Typical all-in, doing it yourselves, uncontested, no kids | ~$140–$170 |
| Typical all-in, with minor children and mediation | ~$300–$400 |
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The one track, and what the rule requires — Maine's District Court runs a single divorce track.
- Every form Maine publishes for a divorce — The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case.
- Getting the forms and filling them in — Every Maine form is free, and self-represented filing is normal — the "What to do with these Court Forms" packets the court publishes are written for exactly that.
- Your deadlines, calculated — Most of a Maine divorce runs off the day you serve your spouse — not the day you file.
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-and-delay-proofing checklist — Both clocks start on the day your spouse is served.
- Parent education — what's actually required — In practice, magistrates order it often, especially where parents are struggling to agree, so plan for it rather than assume you'll skip it.
- What this costs — File CV-067, Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees, with the supporting financial affidavit CV-191, under M.R. Civ. P. 91.
In this subject 8
1 · The one track, and what the rule requires
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The one track, and what the rule requires — Maine's District Court runs a single divorce track.
- Every form Maine publishes for a divorce — The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case.
- Getting the forms and filling them in — Every Maine form is free, and self-represented filing is normal — the "What to do with these Court Forms" packets the court publishes are written for exactly that.
- Your deadlines, calculated — Most of a Maine divorce runs off the day you serve your spouse — not the day you file.
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-and-delay-proofing checklist — Both clocks start on the day your spouse is served.
- Parent education — what's actually required — In practice, magistrates order it often, especially where parents are struggling to agree, so plan for it rather than assume you'll skip it.
- What this costs — File CV-067, Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees, with the supporting financial affidavit CV-191, under M.R. Civ. P. 91.
In this subject 8
Maine’s District Court runs a single divorce track. There is no separate “simplified” filing of the kind Florida or Connecticut have, so nothing here decides which court process applies — what the facts decide is which forms go into the file alongside the same Complaint, Summary Sheet and Summons that every divorce starts with.
Jurisdiction first. 19-A M.R.S. §901 needs one of four things to be true, and only one.
The District Court track
19-A M.R.S. §901
Every Maine divorce runs here. The Complaint for Divorce (FM-004) is signed in front of a notary, filed with the Family and Probate Matter Summary Sheet (FM-002) and the Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure, and served with the Summons and Preliminary Injunction (FM-038).
Available where at least one of these is true:
- The plaintiff has lived in Maine for at least 6 months.
- The plaintiff is a Maine resident and the parties were married in Maine.
- The plaintiff is a Maine resident and the marriage broke down while both parties lived in Maine.
- The defendant spouse currently lives in Maine, even if the plaintiff does not.
The Summons and Preliminary Injunction (FM-038) has to be obtained signed and sealed from the clerk, in person or by request. The copy printed at home is not the one that may be served — see Section 3. Everything else in the list is free to download and print.
The four facts that change the rest of the list
Maine’s forms fork on four things. None of them moves a case onto a different track; each adds or swaps a form.
The shortest version of the file — no Financial Statement, no Certificate Regarding Real Estate, no sheriff — is where all of these are true:
- There are no minor children of the marriage.
- Property, debts and any spousal support are already agreed.
- Neither spouse has an ownership interest in a house, land or other real estate.
- The defendant spouse signs the Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (CV-FM-036), so no service is needed.
Reversed, each of those adds rather than changes the track. Minor children add the Child Support Affidavit (FM-050), signed in front of a notary, and the Child Support Worksheet (FM-040). A division that is not agreed replaces the Certificate in Lieu of Financial Statement (FM-042) with the Financial Statement (FM-043). Real estate adds the Certificate Regarding Real Estate (FM-056), which is due 7 days before the final hearing. And a defendant who will not sign the Acknowledgment has to be reached by certified mail or by a sheriff — formal service costs a fee and is usually the slowest part of the whole process. The Federal Affidavit under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (FM-052) is filed only if the other spouse never appears by the final hearing.
2 · Every form Maine publishes for a divorce
The complete list, not a shortlist — because which forms are needed depends on facts only you and, if you need one, your lawyer can weigh. Each row says which condition it belongs to and carries the revision date clerks check. Every one is free.
The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case. Everything here is general information about how Maine handles divorce, and every form below is published free by Maine itself — you do not have to buy anything from anyone to get them. If your situation is not straightforward, a consultation with a Maine family lawyer costs far less than fixing a filing that went wrong.
| Form | What it is | Route | Rev. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FM-002 | Family and Probate Matter Summary Sheet | All | 07/20 | Download |
| FM-004 | Complaint for Divorce — signed in front of a notary | All | 07/22 | Download |
| FM-038 | Family Matter Summons and Preliminary Injunction — the original comes from the clerk | All | 10/23 | Download |
| CR-CV-FM-PC-200 | Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure | All | 07/15 | Download |
| CR-CV-FM-255 | Notice Regarding Electronic Service (optional, x2 copies) | All | 12/20 | Download |
| FM-050 | Child Support Affidavit — signed in front of a notary | Where there are minor children | 01/23 | Download |
| FM-040 | Child Support Worksheet — filed if the court requires it | Where there are minor children | 02/20 | Download |
| CV-FM-036 | Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint (x2 copies) | Where the other spouse signs for the papers | 08/24 | Download |
| FM-020 | Entry of Appearance — the other spouse files this to be heard without formally answering | Where the other spouse is reached by certified mail instead of signing | 02/20 | Download |
| FM-042 | Certificate in Lieu of Financial Statement | Where property, debts and support are already agreed | 08/20 | Download |
| FM-043 | Financial Statement — required where property or support is disputed | Where property, debts or support is not agreed | 01/21 | Download |
| FM-056 | Certificate Regarding Real Estate — due 7 days before the final hearing | Where either spouse has an interest in real estate | 08/20 | Download |
| FM-052 | Federal Affidavit (SCRA) — filed only if the other spouse never appears by the final hearing | All | 08/20 | Download |
| CV-067 | Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees — if a fee waiver is needed | All | 06/20 | Download |
| CV-191 | Financial affidavit supporting the fee waiver, if used | All | 06/20 | Download |
Every one of these is free. Except the Summons (FM-038), which must be obtained signed and sealed by the clerk in person or by request — see Section 3. Download fresh each time. Full catalog: courts.maine.gov/forms.
3 · Getting the forms and filling them in
Nobody explains this part, so here it is. Every Maine form is free, and self-represented filing is normal — the “What to do with these Court Forms” packets the court publishes are written for exactly that.
You may e-file, but you do not have to Your choice
- Portal
- eFileMaine (Maine eCourts)
- Paper
- Still accepted — you can file over the counter.
- What it costs
- card surcharge 2.89% convenience fee charged by the third-party financial institution for card payments; $0.25 flat fee per transaction for paying by electronic check
- Account
- Only if the self-represented party opts in (or crosses the six-case threshold). No registration fee is published.
- Worth knowing
- Maine has the most unusual pro se rule in this batch: e-filing becomes mandatory for a self-represented person only once they file more than six non-emergency family/civil cases in a year — a threshold that essentially never catches an ordinary divorce filer, but does catch high-volume self-represented filers. For a normal divorce, e-filing is optional. Because the rollout is regional, a Maine reader's first question should be whether eFileMaine is live in their court yet.
Step one — download them free
All Maine Judicial Branch family forms live here, searchable by number or name:
courts.maine.gov/forms — Court Forms and Fees
Maine’s e-filing assistant, Guide & File, is real and free — but as of this writing it only covers traffic and small claims cases. It explicitly does not cover divorce. There’s no DIY-Florida-style interview for this. Paper filing at the clerk’s window is the normal path for almost everyone.
Step two — fill them in, and get the complaint notarized
Most Maine family forms are fillable PDFs. Type everything — full legal names, not nicknames — and print. One form is different: the Complaint for Divorce (FM-004) must be signed in front of a notary public. You can find one at a bank, a legal services office, your town office, or the court clerk’s window.
Effective July 1, 2023, Maine adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which allows remote online notarization. The notary must be Secretary-of-State approved for remote work and use an approved platform — Zoom and FaceTime are explicitly not allowed for this. Ask your notary if they’re set up for it before you assume it’s an option.
Step three — the summons is not like your other forms
Every other form in your packet, you can print yourself. The Family Matter Summons and Preliminary Injunction (FM-038) is different: the instructions are explicit that “you must use the original form you got from the clerk. It has the clerk’s original signature and seal. You cannot use a photocopy or on-line version of this form.” That means an extra trip — or a call — to the clerk’s window before you can serve anyone.
People download the summons PDF, fill it in, and hand a copy to a process server the same day — and it’s not valid. Get the clerk to sign and seal the original first. Everything about your 21-day and 20-day clocks (Section 4) starts from valid service, and invalid service means you haven’t started the clock at all.
Step four — serve your spouse
Three ways, all recognized by the court: (1) hand-deliver or mail the papers and have your spouse sign the Acknowledgment of Receipt (CV-FM-036) and return it within 20 days; (2) send by certified mail, restricted delivery, and file the green return-receipt card with the court; or (3) pay your county sheriff’s office to serve in hand. The statutory base fee for sheriff service is $40 for in-hand service under 30-A M.R.S. §421(3), plus mileage — and the closing paragraph of the same section lets a county’s commissioners raise that fee by $25, which would make it $65 before mileage. Call the sheriff’s civil process division and confirm the total before you budget.
Step five — file, and understand you’re running two different clocks
Once your spouse is served, two clocks start on the same date but run to different lengths and belong to different people. You have 20 days after serving your spouse to file your proof of service (and the rest of the packet) with the court. Your spouse has 21 days after being served to serve you a written answer — and a Child Support Affidavit, if you have minor children — and file the original with the court. Confusing these two numbers is the single most common self-represented mistake in Section 4.
4 · Your deadlines, calculated
Most of a Maine divorce runs off the day you serve your spouse — not the day you file. Put in your dates and we’ll turn Maine’s rules into an actual calendar, then let you add it to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook in one click.
5 · The order it actually happens in
6 · The rejection-and-delay-proofing checklist
This is the part that’s genuinely worth paying attention to. These are the specific things that stall Maine filings or cost people a rescheduled hearing.
The two-clock trap
Both clocks start on the day your spouse is served. Your 20 days is to file proof of service with the court. Their 21 days is to answer. People routinely wait for the answer deadline to pass before filing their own proof of service — but your 20-day deadline is usually earlier, and it’s yours to miss, not theirs.
Forms people forget
Timing
The moment your spouse is served, the automatic Preliminary Injunction printed on FM-038 kicks in for both of you — neither of you can hide, transfer, or sell marital property, drop the other from health or life insurance, or intercept the other’s mail, without a written agreement or a court order. It stays in effect until judgment, dismissal, or a court order changes it. Violating it is contempt of court, and people violate it by accident all the time — moving money “to keep it safe” is exactly what it prohibits.
7 · Parent education — what’s actually required
Here’s where we’re being precise rather than dramatic: the Maine Judicial Branch’s own materials say the court “may order you to attend” a parent education program if you have minor children — it is ordered at the court’s discretion, not automatically mandatory in every case the way Florida’s or Connecticut’s programs are. In practice, magistrates order it often, especially where parents are struggling to agree, so plan for it rather than assume you’ll skip it.
If it’s ordered
Classes run about 4 hours, in person, often scheduled evenings or weekends. There’s generally a fee, and it varies by provider. Two organizations the Judicial Branch lists directly:
| Organization | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| Kids First Center | Statewide — need-based scholarships available, partly funded by the Judicial Branch | Details ↗ |
| ParentWorks / Home Counselors, Inc. | Rockland area — monthly 4-hour workshop | Details ↗ |
If you’re not sure whether it applies to you, this is the moment to ask the Family Law Magistrate directly — they’re the ones who’ll order it if they think it’s needed, and they’ll tell you the deadline to complete it.
8 · What this costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Filing fee — Entry of a Family Matter Action (flat statewide) | $120 |
| Sheriff service, in hand (statutory base, 30-A M.R.S. §421) + mileage | $40+ |
| Certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt | ~$10–15 |
| Court-sponsored mediation, if contested (two sessions, split between you) | $160 total |
| Parent education program, per parent, if ordered (varies by provider) | varies |
| Remote or in-person notary for the Complaint | $0–$25 |
| Typical all-in, doing it yourselves, uncontested, no kids | ~$140–$170 |
| Typical all-in, with minor children and mediation | ~$300–$400 |
File CV-067, Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees, with the supporting financial affidavit CV-191, under M.R. Civ. P. 91. If you receive need-based public assistance like TANF, General Assistance, or SSI, there’s a presumption you qualify. A judge reviews it; if denied, you have 7 days to pay before the case can be dismissed. Pine Tree Legal Assistance also runs a free online fee-waiver packet builder.
The table below is illustrative, member-reported data on attorney-assisted costs in three sample counties — not official court figures — to give you a sense of scale against the self-represented numbers above.
| County (District Court) | Member-reported attorney divorce, uncontested | Member-reported attorney divorce, contested |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland (Portland) | $2,200–$4,500 | $9,000–$25,000+ |
| Penobscot (Bangor) | $1,800–$3,500 | $6,500–$18,000+ |
| York (Biddeford) | $2,000–$4,000 | $7,500–$20,000+ |
Does cheating change the money in Maine?
It can. Marital conduct is a factor the court is allowed to weigh. The rule: “economic misconduct … resulting in the diminution of marital property or income” (§ 951-A(5)(M)). How all fifty states answer this.
Reconciled, and it did not work? In Maine that has a legal name and it can bar the ground, with conditions attached: condonation, state by state. If the decision itself is what you are sitting with rather than the law, start here.
What this is. A guide to Maine’s own process, built from the Maine Revised Statutes Title 19-A (including §§901, 902, 852, 903, and 251), the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure (including Rule 92), the official FM- and CV-series forms and instruction packets published by the Maine Judicial Branch at courts.maine.gov, Administrative Order JB-05-26 (the current court fee schedule), and Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s published “Navigating Divorce & Parental Rights in Maine” guide. The forms themselves are free and this guide links you to them rather than reselling them.
What this is not. The Cusp is not a law firm and does not practice law. Nothing here is legal advice, and nothing here tells you which choice is right for your particular situation — only what Maine requires of each path. If your case involves contested custody, a business, hidden assets, domestic violence, or a spouse with a lawyer, talk to an attorney; many offer free consultations, and Pine Tree Legal Assistance provides free help to income-eligible Mainers. Court clerks are not permitted to give legal advice.
Confirm current numbers with the clerk. Filing fees, mediation fees, and program requirements are periodically adjusted by the Judicial Branch or the Legislature, and some details — like whether a parent education program will be ordered in your case, or the exact cost of sheriff service in your county — are decided case by case. Where this guide could not verify an exact figure or requirement with confidence, it says so and points you to the clerk rather than guessing.
Four things can happen to the house in a Maine divorce
Maine is one of the twenty. The moment a petition is filed, an automatic order takes effect on both of you, barring either from selling or encumbering property. Nobody is served with it separately and nobody explains it. Breaking it is contempt.
One of you buys the other out, you sell later, you sell now, or the court decides. For a great many people the right answer is not to sell at all – and three of the four routes earn us nothing.
The four routes, compared · Keeping it: the buyout and the carrying cost · Selling: capital gains, basis and timing · Finding an agent who has done a divorce sale · What two households cost
Need a vetted attorney, mediator, or financial analyst in Maine?
Browse The Cusp’s professional directory — rated only by verified clients, never ranked by who paid the most.
Browse the directory →The Cusp · All 50 state kits · Find a professional · About
Ask for an introduction to an agent → — who we would introduce you to, what the referral fee is and who pays it, and why the answer is sometimes that you should not sell at all.
Everything we have written about Maine specifically. Every figure on these pages is quoted from Maine’s own statute or its courts’ own published schedule, and carries the date we last checked it.
- Modifying support after divorce
- Modifying custody and parenting time after divorce
- Check your state’s rules in one place (modification checker)
- What it costs to file
- Child custody
- Child support
- Guardians ad litem and child representation
- Travel, custody and relocation
- Alimony
- Property, support and legal fees
- Protective orders
- Changing your name back
- Legal help you can afford
- Verified professionals
The most expensive mistakes in a divorce are made in the year after it, by people who thought the case was over. After the divorce is the checklist for that year — the health-coverage clock, the retirement order a decree cannot replace, and the beneficiary form that outranks your will.
Filing is one household becoming two, and the second one starts empty. The two-household list is what to send the people who keep asking how they can help — the second of everything, and the half of it that costs nothing. Some people call it a divorce registry.
All 15 Maine divorce forms, listed by the number the clerk will ask for — 15 with an official form number, 15 linked straight to the state’s own file, each with its revision date where the state publishes one. Open the Maine form list →
Common questions about filing for divorce in Maine
Short answers to what people ask most before they start. Each one points at the part of this page that covers it in full.
How do I file for divorce in Maine?
This page sets out the order it happens in for Maine: which form opens the case, what has to be served on the other person and when, and what the court needs before it will finish. It is written to be followed in sequence rather than read through.
What forms do I need to file for divorce in Maine?
The form list on this page gives the official Maine form numbers, each one’s revision date, and a link to the copy on the court’s own site rather than a copy hosted here. Using a superseded revision is one of the most common reasons a filing comes back, which is why the dates are shown.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Maine?
$120 to open the case, and that is only the filing fee — it does not cover service, copies, any required class, or a lawyer. The full breakdown for Maine, with every figure traced to the court’s own published schedule and dated, is at what it costs to file in Maine.
What gets a Maine divorce filing rejected?
This page has a section on exactly that — the specific mistakes that get a filing returned in Maine rather than a general list. Most of them are procedural and cost weeks rather than money: the wrong form revision, a missing signature or notarization, service done in a way the state does not accept, or filing before a residency requirement is met.
How long does a divorce take in Maine?
There is a timeline on this page built from Maine’s own statutory day-counts, not from averages. The honest short answer is that the waiting period is a floor and not a prediction: an uncontested case can finish close to it, and a contested one is governed by the court’s calendar rather than the statute.
Where does the information on this page come from?
Maine’s own courts and statutes. Every form links to the court’s site, every fee is quoted from the published schedule with the date it was last checked, and where something could not be confirmed from an official source this site says so instead of estimating. It is free, with no account and no paywall.
Does cheating change the money in Maine?
It can. Marital conduct is a factor Maine allows the court to weigh, which is not the same as a rule that decides the outcome — it sits alongside need, earning capacity and the length of the marriage, and how much weight it gets is the judge’s. Eighteen states are in this position. The fifty-state table sets out the section this comes from, and the card higher up this page quotes your state’s own words.
Choosing an agent for a divorce sale is a different problem from choosing one for an ordinary sale: who the agent is allowed to talk to, who has to sign, what happens when one of you will not, and the three separate conflicts of interest that come up when one spouse found the agent first. How to choose a real estate agent for a divorce sale sets out what to ask, and how to check a credential yourself — no divorce credential is official with the National Association of Realtors.
The Cusp receives a referral fee from agents it vets and trains to handle divorce clients.
Key deadlines at a glance
These are the same deadlines the calculator above works out, shown as days counted from the day you file or the day your spouse is served. Use the calculator for your exact dates.
No minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint filed / to be filed | The day you file | The start of your case file. |
| Spouse served | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Both of your clocks start today — but they run to different lengths. |
| Your deadline: file proof of service | 20 days after service | Summary Sheet, Complaint, SSN Disclosure, signed Summons, and proof of service go to the clerk. |
| Spouse’s deadline: answer due | 21 days after service | 19-A M.R.S. §§852, 903. Served on you and filed with the court, plus a Child Support Affidavit if you have minor children. |
With minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint filed / to be filed | The day you file | The start of your case file. |
| Spouse served | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Both of your clocks start today — but they run to different lengths. |
| Your deadline: file proof of service | 20 days after service | Summary Sheet, Complaint, SSN Disclosure, signed Summons, and proof of service go to the clerk. |
| Spouse’s deadline: answer due | 21 days after service | 19-A M.R.S. §§852, 903. Served on you and filed with the court, plus a Child Support Affidavit if you have minor children. |
| Estimated Case Management Conference notice window opens | 34 days after service | Court materials describe this as roughly 2–4 weeks after filing and service completes — the clerk sets the actual date. |
Your county
Divorce rules are set by the state, but each county or court has its own forms, deadlines, classes and filing habits. Choose yours.
Or go straight to your county or court:
Androscoggin County – Lewiston District Court (call to confirm)Aroostook County – Caribou District Court (call to confirm)Cumberland County – Portland District Court (call to confirm)Kennebec County – Augusta District Court (call to confirm)Penobscot County – Bangor District Court (call to confirm)York County – Biddeford District Court (call to confirm)Androscoggin County – Lewiston District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Lewiston District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms. eFiling has been available since September 22, 2025 per the eCourts page. The page also describes a Volunteer Lawyers Project clinic on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., depending on volunteer availability.
Who to contact: 71 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, ME 04240; (207) 795-4800; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Aroostook County – Caribou District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Caribou District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms. Aroostook County has four district courts (Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, Presque Isle) and the Madawaska court is closed, so the right court depends on the case. eFiling at Caribou is dated June 1, 2026 on the eCourts page.
Who to contact: 144 Sweden Street, Suite 104, Caribou, ME 04736; (207) 493-3144; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Cumberland County – Portland District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Portland District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms; statewide forms and rules apply. The eCourts page lists eFiling for all case types at this court as of September 28, 2026. Ask the clerk about any local practice not published online.
Who to contact: 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 822-4200; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Kennebec County – Augusta District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Augusta District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms; statewide resources apply. eFiling is available, dated February 2, 2026 on the eCourts page. Waterville District Court also appears in Region 4 but its page was not reviewed.
Who to contact: Capital Judicial Center, 1 Court Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330; (207) 213-2800; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Penobscot County – Bangor District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Bangor District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms. The eCourts page says Bangor accepts eFiling only for family and civil cases. The district court directory says the Newport court has moved to the Bangor courthouse. Confirm local requirements with the clerk.
Who to contact: Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange Street, Bangor, ME 04401; (207) 561-2300; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
York County – Biddeford District Court Call or check the court website to confirm
The Biddeford District Court page lists no local rules, standing orders or court-specific forms; statewide resources apply. eFiling is available, and the eCourts page dates it from March 30, 2026. Ask the clerk about local practice.
Who to contact: 515 Elm Street, Biddeford, ME 04005; (207) 283-6000; Mon-Fri 8-4
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Not listed? Your county clerk of court can tell you the local rules. These are general information from court and clerk pages, last checked 2026-11-10, not legal advice.
Serving the papers in Maine? Sheriff, deputy, or a court-appointed person; you may mail the papers with an acknowledgment form. The return is filed within 90 days. (As we read the rules on 29 October 2026.) See who can serve a divorce summons and whether you can do it yourself, and find Maine in our state-by-state serving table.
Stay current
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How we can help
Understand the house first. Then talk to someone who gets it.
The house is usually the largest decision in a divorce, and the one people are least ready for. Here is what we do, in the order that makes sense.
1. Start with the facts, free
22 states have automatic orders that freeze both spouses the moment a divorce is filed, barring either one from selling or borrowing against the property. Is yours one of them?
Plain-English guides on what can happen to the house, what an automatic order stops you doing, and how the tax rules decide what a sale is worth. No account and nothing to buy.
- The four things that can happen to the house
- Selling the house: who signs, and the tax rules
- Keeping the house: the buyout and the carrying cost
2. Know when not to call an agent
Often the right answer is to wait, or to talk to your lawyer or an accountant first. We say so plainly. An agent is the wrong first call if nothing is filed, or if an order restricts what either of you can do with the property.
3. Talk to someone who gets it
When you do need an agent, we introduce you to a local agent who has completed our divorce real estate training and passed its 20-question exam. Before any introduction we check the license with the state regulator (any unresolved disciplinary action is a no), the agent’s closed sales, and a review rating of 4.7 or better. The introduction is free, and you are free to say no.
Ask for an introductionHow we are paid
You pay us nothing. Agents are not charged for the training, the exam or the free resources. If an introduction leads to a closed sale, the agent’s brokerage pays a referral fee out of its own commission, not out of your proceeds. A place on the panel cannot be bought.
General information, not legal or tax advice. The Cusp is not a law firm.
Selling a home in a divorce: what to ask a local listing agent
Selling the house is often the largest single decision in a divorce. These questions help you judge whether an agent has done it before. They do not replace your lawyer, who should approve the plan before anything is listed.
- Have you sold homes where both spouses had to sign, or where a court had to approve the sale? How many, and how recently?
- Does filing already restrain a sale in my state? Check the 50-state table and ask my lawyer before we sign anything.
- Who decides on price changes and which offers to accept when we disagree, and how will that be written down?
- Who pays the mortgage, taxes and insurance until closing, and what does the listing agreement say about it?
- Where will the sale proceeds be held until the decree says who gets what?
- How will you handle showings, access and lockboxes if we are not speaking?
- Will you give both spouses and both lawyers the same information at the same time?
- What happens to the listing agreement if we settle, reconcile or the case is delayed? What are the cancellation terms?
- Can I have your fee terms in writing and the names of past clients who sold during a divorce?