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Courts in Maine

Citizens' Guide to the Maine Courts - Describes the types of cases heard,  the judicial process, how a trial proceeds, the organization of Maine courts. Targeted to citizens generally, students, the media, and those  who may appear in a courtroom as a juror,  party or witness in a trial.

Contact info and directions to the courts - Lists of contact info for courts, court offices and justices.

Judicial Branch Homepage - Official information on Maine courts and judiciary. 

 

Maine bankruptcy courts - Contact information for U.s. Bankruptcy Courts in Maine.
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Small Claims Court -  A  guide to small claims proceedings in District Court in which the plaintiff is seeking a money judgment of up to $4,500.00.

 

Finding a lawyer
For additional sources on locating attorneys by name, state or specialty see our People and Organizations page

 

Finding a lawyer and getting legal advice -  Suggestions and resources for finding yourself an attorney.

Maine Lawyer & Information Referral -  Description of and contact information for the Maine State Bar Association's lawyer referral service. 

 

What if you have a problem with your lawyer? -  The American Bar Association discusses mediation, arbitration, lawyer discipline, malpractice, and stolen funds.

Forms

FindLaw Court Forms  -  Forms dealing with particular issues, government, state, corporate, family law and tax  forms.

Free Legal Forms -  Free legal forms available by legal practice area and state from LawInfo.com.

Internet Legal Resource Guide Legal Forms Archive -  Selections include basic agreements, buying and selling, credit and collection, employment, leases, tenancies, loans and borrowing, personal and family, transfers and assignments, other, business, and tax.

'Lectric Law Library's Business & General Forms -  Includes affidavits, contracts, real estate, corporate, partnership, employment, power of attorney, trusts, wills, et al.

Legal Forms Search Engine -  Choose between a searchable database of thousands of free legal forms or a State Specific "Premium Forms" database of over 20,000 non-free legal forms.

Maine Health Care Advance Directives -  A description of Maine Law on Health Care Advance Directives, including a link to the form.

Maine Court Forms (ME Judiciary)
Forms, including Civil and Family Matters, Money Judgment,  Protection from Abuse and Harassment, Protective Custody, and Small Claims, are available for download are in PDF format. 

 

Maine Court Forms (ME Bar Assoc.) -  A list of links to PDF forms arranged by form number.

 

Pine Tree Legal List of Court Forms - Includes Family Law forms, Protection From Abuse, and Protection From Harassment.and a new version of the interactive child support worksheet that will automatically get the right amounts from the child support tables.

U.S. Court Forms  - Federal and state forms from FindForms.com.

U.S. Legal Forms - Search by state or topic or select special topic areas. These forms are not free.

WashLaw WEB's Legal Forms - Links to free and fee-based forms sites. Also provides a topical and state arrangement arrangement.

Helpful websites and organizations

Attorney General's Consumer Law Guide - A guide to your rights as a consumer on everything from consumer fraud, new and used cars, home construction, home repairs, landlord/tenant issues, telemarketing, contracts and much, much more.

 

Bad Credit Repair - A self-help site that includes dispute letters, forms, and helpful guides. 

 

Building a Better Credit Report  - Facts for consumers from the Federal Trade Commission. A PDF of the booklet may also be downloaded.

 

Bureau of Elder and Adult Services (DHS)- FAQS information includes adult protective services, guardianship, advance directives, power of attorney and Maine Long-Term care Ombudsman Program

Consumer Credit Counseling Services - Provides Maine consumers with financial counseling, debt repayment plans, and consumer education. We are a community service, offering an effective alternative to bankruptcy.

 

Help ME Law - Maine legal help resources. Includes a search engine, a legal library of easy-to-read information about Maine legal topics (Consumer law, Education, Divorce and  child support, Housing, Employment, etc.), helpful organizations and court information.

 

'Lectric Law Library  - A serious and useful legal website although the humor is a bit lame. Especially useful are the Rotunda and Reference Room portions.

 

Legal Guide For Immigrants to Maine - Basic information from the Maine Bar Association on a variety of state and federal topics useful for non-citizens. Also available in Spanish.

Legal Services for the Elderly (ME) - LSE Provides free, high quality legal assistance to socially and economically needy Maine residents age 60 and older. Includes client education material, legal news (scams, for instance) and helpful links.

 

Maine Bankruptcy Law- Explains the federal bankruptcy process and the common surrounding issues, including the process, exemptions and alternatives,  as they pertain to Maine residents.

 

Nolo's Law Centers - A wealth of free information on everyday legal topics from the premier publisher of legal information for the layperson. Includes a legal dictionary and encyclopedia and a FAQs section. 

Pine Tree Legal Assistance - Non-profit service organization that provides legal assistance to low-income Maine residents. Site explains their services and who qualifies to receive them.

Law libraries in Maine

Cleaves Law Library - The Nathan & Henry B. Cleaves Law Library in Portland is open 24/7 to it's dues-paying members but the public can use it when it is staffed.

County Law Libraries - Links to the locations of and driving directions to the county law libraries in Maine and a brief description of resources available in them. These libraries are not staffed.

 
Garbrecht Law Library - A part of the University of Maine School of Law in Portland.

Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library - A public law library serving the people of Maine and the Legislature. Located in Augusta in the Capitol Building. 

Mediation and arbitration

Arbitration and Mediation (FedLaw)
Federal laws, regulations, procedures and other general information. 

 

Attorney General's Consumer Mediation Information -  Information on the free Consumer Mediation Service offered  to Maine consumers who have a problem with a business. Includes FAQs.

 

Frequently asked Questions: Superior Court ADR (ME) - FAQs regarding the State of Maine's Alternative Dispute Resolution program in Superior Court.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ME) - Information on ADR, which is available through the Maine courts in domestic relations matters, small claims, larger civil and commercial cases, land use and environmental disputes and is mandated in some types of cases.

Dispute Resolution Directory - An alternative dispute resolution service locator searchable by role, area of expertise or state.

 
'Lectric Law Library's Alternative Dispute Resolution - Wide array of resources on arbitration, including a Beginner's Guide to ADR, the Uniform Arbitration act and state laws.

Lemon Law Arbitration Program (ME) - If your car is substantially defective and the dealer cannot fix it, you can apply for a free State Lemon Law Arbitration Hearing within two years from the date your car was originally sold and within the manufacturer's warranty coverage period.

Mediation - Discussion and encyclopedia articles from Nolo.

Representing yourself in court

Representing Yourself (ME) - Information on when it is appropriate to represent yourself in Maine courts and links to additional information. 

Representing Yourself In Court - Discussion and encyclopedia articles from Nolo.

Instructional handout for pro se litigants (U.S. District Court, District of Maine) - A guide to some of the procedures and standards of practice to be followed by persons filing suit, without the assistance of an attorney, in the U.S. District Court.