Self Help Tools

How does domestic violence affect children? Violence and trauma can have long-lasting effects on children who witness or experience violent events.

About DHHS and Child Abuse and Neglect DHHS Child Protective Services investigates reports of child abuse. There are 5 different things that DHHS can do:

What is the Maine Home Court Act? The Home Court Act is a Maine law passed in 2016. It is meant to prevent more than one case about the same child from happening in different courts. Courts use the Jurisdictional Affidavit to find out about all of the cases involving a child. They do this to make sure they are following the Act.

We offer age-appropriate information to help kids, teens and parents deal with a family break up. Justice Education Society of British Columbia (link is external) and Pine Tree Legal Assistance collaborated to create this Maine version of "Families Change." Along the way, family counselors, guidance counselors, psychologists, lawyers, parents,… More

Introduction This guide covers many family law topics with information specific to LGBTQ people and families. We also link to other helpful resources. Contents

In 2015 Maine updated its laws about families. This law is called the Maine Parentage Act. It took effect on July 1, 2016. “Parentage” is a legal word. It means the legal relationship between a child and a parent. So, to “establish parentage” means to prove that someone is the legal parent of a child. A child's parents have legal rights and… More

Divorce or separation can mean big changes on your taxes. Spousal support, also called alimony, and a name change are just a few things you may need to consider. Here are some tax tips to keep in mind if you are recently divorced or separated.

This is our "HotDocs" version of the Child Support Worksheet. You will be guided to a secure national legal aid site where these forms are housed: LawHelp Interactive. You will answer a series of questions. The program will use your answers to automatically complete the forms. At the end in the interview, you can save, print, or email your… More

This is our "HotDocs" version of the Supplemental Child Support Worksheet. You will be guided to a secure national legal aid site where these forms are housed: LawHelp Interactive. You will answer a series of questions. The program will use your answers to automatically complete the forms. At the end in the interview, you can save, print, or… More

Updated information about how the Social Security Administration treats same-sex marriages.