Maine Divorce Laws

Maine Divorce Laws regarding Child Support

The child support amounts contributed by the parents are payable on a quarterly or monthly or weekly basis. Initially, the hearing officer or the Court determines the yearly total income of both partners. These two incomes are added to find out the combined annual gross income. This is then applied to the child support table so that the amount that the child is entitled to can be found out. The full or partial payment of all hospital expenditure, medical expenditure and other health care expenditure of the child has to be paid by the parents. Minimum one parent must maintain the health insurance coverage for dental, hospitalization and medical expenses, in case reasonable cost health insurance can be obtained by this parent. The child support may be stopped, if the Court alters the order or the child –

• Joins the armed services
• Becomes married
• Completes the age of 18

Maine Divorce Laws regarding Child Custody

The revised statutes Title 19-A Section 1653 are observed while deciding child custody. The factors which are considered by the Court are as follows –

• Any past incidence of child abuse by either parent
• Any past incidence of abuse amongst the parents and how this abuse has emotionally affected the child and the safety of the child
• In case a single parent has sole authority over the upbringing of the child, how does this fact affect the child
• Each parent’s readiness to use the methods of parental cooperation and dispute resolving
• The ability of the parents to cooperate or learn to cooperate regarding the care of the child
• The ability of every parent to permit and promote continued and frequent contact amongst the other parent and the child, inclusive of physical access
• The adjustment of the child in the community, in school and in the house
• The abilities of the partners to offer guidance, affection and love to the child
• How stable the living arrangements for the child are
• If the child is sufficiently grown up to make a meaningful preference, then the preference of the child
• The relation amongst the child and the parents as well as with any other individuals who considerably affect the welfare of the child
• The age of the child

Property distribution

In this state, marital property is separated amongst the partners equitably after due consideration off the relevant points, like –

• The financial conditions of the partners when the property distribution would be given effect, inclusive of the wish of the partners to award the family house or the right to reside in it for reasonable duration to the partner who has the custody of the children
• The valuation of the property that is reserved for each partner
• The input of each partner during the attainment of the marital property, inclusive of the input as a homemaker

The distribution of property is done on the basis of revised statutes Title 19-A, Section 953.

Divorce Papers