Alimony and Spousal Support in Maine

Maine recognizes several types of spousal support, including general support and transitional support. For general support there are rebuttable presumptions based on the length of the marriage at filing: generally no general support if married less than 10 years; for marriages of 10 to 20 years, a term of no more than half the length of the marriage; and for marriages over 20 years, an indefinite term. A spouse married at least 10 years whose spousal support income is 65% or less of the other spouse's is presumed entitled to general support. The presumed annual amount equals the difference in the spouses' spousal support incomes multiplied by 0.015 for each year of marriage, capped at 0.3. A court may depart from these presumptions with written findings if they would be inequitable or unjust.

Maine divides marital property in proportions the court considers just (equitable distribution), after setting apart each spouse's own property. Factors include each spouse's contribution, including as a homemaker; the value of property set apart to each spouse; each spouse's economic circumstances, including whether the parent with the children should get the family home; and economic abuse. Marital property is property acquired by either spouse during the marriage, except property received by gift or inheritance, property exchanged for pre-marriage or gifted property, property acquired after a legal separation decree, property excluded by a valid agreement, and certain increases in value of non-marital property. Property acquired during the marriage is presumed marital regardless of how title is held.