Court and money
Debt, eviction, work, family and records. The side of the system with no officer in it.
68 sections
Renting
- Getting the Deposit Back14 M.R.S. § 6033 — back, or an itemized statement, within 30 days on a lease and 21 days at will
- Where the Deposit Is Kept14 M.R.S. § 6038 — a separate account beyond the landlord's creditors, and $500 or a month's rent when it is not
- Moving in Costs14 M.R.S. § 6022-A — the first month, the deposit and disclosed fees, and no more up front
- Late Fees14 M.R.S. § 6028 — late after 15 days, and no more than 4% of a month's rent
- A Rent Increase14 M.R.S. § 6015 — 45 days' written notice, and 75 days for 10% or more
- When the Landlord Will Not Fix It14 M.R.S. § 6021 — a unit fit to live in, and a complaint in court when it is not
- Repair and Deduct14 M.R.S. § 6026 — 14 days after written notice, up to $500 or half a month's rent
- No Heat14 M.R.S. § 6021 — heat that can hold 68 degrees, when the lease puts heat on the landlord
- When the Landlord Can Come In14 M.R.S. § 6025 — reasonable notice, 24 hours presumed, at reasonable times
- Being Evicted14 M.R.S. § 6002 — 30 days' notice at will, 7 days for rent 7 days behind, and a court case either way
- When the Landlord Retaliates14 M.R.S. § 6001 — an eviction within 6 months of a complaint is presumed retaliation
- Locked Out by the Landlord14 M.R.S. § 6014 — no lockouts and no shutoffs; actual damages or $250
- Belongings Left Behind14 M.R.S. § 6013 — storage, a letter, and 7 days to claim before anything is sold
- Appealing an Eviction14 M.R.S. § 6008 — before the writ issues or 30 days, whichever comes first, and rent paid while it runs
- Leaving a Lease Early14 M.R.S. § 6010-A — the landlord tries to rerent, and the tenant is credited what it brings
Work and pay
- Getting Paid26 M.R.S. § 621-A — paid in full at least every 16 days, through 8 days before payday
- The Last Paycheck26 M.R.S. § 626 — paid in full by the next payday, unused vacation included
- A Wage Claim26 M.R.S. § 626-A — the unpaid wages, twice that again, and fees, from 8 days after they were due
- Minimum Wage and Overtime26 M.R.S. § 664 — a wage raised each January 1 by the cost of living, and time and a half past 40
- Tips Belong to the Worker26 M.R.S. § 664 — a tip credit of up to half the minimum wage, and card tips paid by the next payday
- Equal Pay26 M.R.S. § 628 — the same pay for comparable work, whatever the sex or race
- Earned Paid Leave26 M.R.S. § 637 — one hour for every 40 worked, up to 40 hours a year, at more than 10 employees
- Breaks, Nursing and Overtime Limits26 M.R.S. § 601 — a 30 minute break after 6 hours, and no more than 80 hours of forced overtime in 2 weeks
- Working Under Eighteen26 M.R.S. § 774 — hour limits on a school week, and a work permit under 16
- Hurt at Work39-A M.R.S. § 301 — notice to the employer within 60 days, and a petition within 2 years
- Suing an Employer for an Injury39-A M.R.S. § 104 — an insured employer is exempt from the lawsuit
- Unemployment After a Job Ends26 M.R.S. § 1193 — quitting without good cause or misconduct disqualifies; 30 days to appeal
- Discrimination at Work5 M.R.S. § 4572 — any employer of any size, and a complaint within 300 days
- Jury Duty and the Job14 M.R.S. § 1218 — no firing over jury service, a Class E crime
- The Reason for a Firing, and the File26 M.R.S. § 630 — the reasons in writing within 15 days of a written request
- Applying for a Job with a Record26 M.R.S. § 600-A — no conviction question on the first application form
Family, children and school
- Getting Divorced19-A M.R.S. § 902 — irreconcilable marital differences among the grounds, after 6 months here
- Dividing Property in a Divorce19-A M.R.S. § 953 — each spouse's own property set apart, and marital property divided as is just
- Spousal Support19-A M.R.S. § 951-A — general support presumed unavailable under 10 years of marriage
- Parental Rights and Responsibilities19-A M.R.S. § 1653 — shared, allocated or sole, by the child's best interest
- Child Support19-A M.R.S. § 2006 — both incomes on the table, until 18 or high school ends, at most 19
- A Protection from Abuse Order19-A M.R.S. § 4109 — a hearing within 21 days, and a final order for up to 2 years
- A Protection from Harassment Order5 M.R.S. § 4655 — against anyone, for a fixed period of up to one year
- Changing a Name18-C M.R.S. § 1-701 — a petition in the Probate Court of the county, with no public notice for an adult
- Getting Married19-A M.R.S. § 652 — no license under 18, and a license good for 90 days
- Grandparent Visitation19-A M.R.S. § 1803 — standing first, then the child's best interest
- Reporting Child Abuse22 M.R.S. § 4011-A — teachers, doctors, caregivers and others report at once; anyone may
- Tattoos and Piercings Under Eighteen32 M.R.S. § 4203 — no tattoo under 18 at all; a piercing needs a parent's written consent
Debt, buying and money
- Unfair and Deceptive Practices5 M.R.S. § 213 — damages and attorney's fees, after a written demand 30 days ahead
- A Sale at the Door32 M.R.S. § 4664 — 3 full business days to cancel by mail
- The Lemon Law10 M.R.S. § 1163 — 3 repair attempts or 15 business days out of service, within 3 years or 18,000 miles
- What Creditors Cannot Take14 M.R.S. § 4422 — a home to $80,000, a car to $10,000, and $3,000 in the bank
- Wage Garnishment14 M.R.S. § 3127-B — an order to the employer only after missed installments or a missed hearing
Owning a home, land and animals
Health, aging and estates
- Dying Without a Will18-C M.R.S. § 2-102 — the spouse's share depends on who else survives
- A Spouse and the Will18-C M.R.S. § 2-202 — an elective share of 50% of the marital property portion
- Signing a Will18-C M.R.S. § 2-502 — in writing, signed, and two witnesses, or in the testator's own hand
- Revoking a Will18-C M.R.S. § 2-506 — a later will, or burning, tearing or canceling it
- A Small Estate18-C M.R.S. § 3-1201 — an affidavit 30 days after a death, for an estate up to $40,000 adjusted for inflation
- An Advance Health Care Directive18-C M.R.S. § 5-803 — instructions, and an agent named with 2 witnesses
- Who Decides Without a Directive18-C M.R.S. § 5-806 — a surrogate from the family, in a set order
- A Power of Attorney for Property18-C M.R.S. § 5-905 — signed, acknowledged before a notary, with the notices the law requires
Courts and records
- Voting with a Conviction21-A M.R.S. § 111 — the qualifications name no conviction
- A Small Claim14 M.R.S. § 7482 — up to $10,000, in the District Court
- How Long to Sue14 M.R.S. § 752 — 6 years for a civil action unless a law says otherwise
- A Claim Against the Government14 M.R.S. § 8107 — a written notice of claim within 365 days
- Sealing a Record15 M.R.S. § 2262 — a Class E conviction, sealed after 4 years without anotheralso here
Public records, meetings and voting
- Getting Public Records1 M.R.S. § 408-A — an acknowledgment within 5 working days, and the first 2 hours of staff time free
- When a Records Request Is Denied1 M.R.S. § 409 — a written denial within 5 working days, and 30 calendar days to appeal
- Open Meetings1 M.R.S. § 403 — public proceedings open to all, and recording them allowed
- Registering to Vote21-A M.R.S. § 122 — registration in person on election day
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