Maine § 4 §183 Family Division of District Court

Maine Statutes

§ 4 §183 — Family Division of District Court

Maine § 4 §183

Title 4JUDICIARY

Ch. 5DISTRICT COURT

This text of Maine § 4 §183 (Family Division of District Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 4, § 4 §183 (2026).

Text

There is established within the District Court a Family Division that has jurisdiction over family matters filed in District Court. The Family Division shall provide a system of justice that is responsive to the needs of families and the support of their children. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules governing the practice, procedure and administration of the Family Division. These practices and procedures must include, but are not limited to, education for the parties, case management and referral services to mediation and other alternate dispute resolution techniques.

1.Family law magistrates. The Chief Judge of the District Court, with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, shall employ family law magistrates. In selecting

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There is established within the District Court a Family Division that has jurisdiction over family matters filed in District Court. The Family Division shall provide a system of justice that is responsive to the needs of families and the support of their children. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules governing the practice, procedure and administration of the Family Division. These practices and procedures must include, but are not limited to, education for the parties, case management and referral services to mediation and other alternate dispute resolution techniques.
1.
Family law magistrates.
The Chief Judge of the District Court, with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, shall employ family law magistrates. In selecting family law magistrates, the Chief Judge shall give proper consideration to achieving statewide geographical representation in the Family Division.
2.
Additional staff.
The State Court Administrator shall provide other necessary staff to the Family Division, within the limits of funds available, and shall seek to take full advantage of federal funding, including reimbursements.
3.
Reports.
The State Court Administrator shall keep statistical records relating to the cases handled by the Family Division and report this information to the Supreme Judicial Court annually and to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters by February 15th of each odd-numbered calendar year.
4.
Pilot project.
Notwithstanding the jurisdictional limitations of subsection 1, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish a pilot project in which one or more family law magistrates have jurisdiction to hear and dispose of all elements of a divorce action when both parties consent. Orders of the family law magistrate are subject to appellate review in the same manner as any final order of the District Court.
5.
Annual training; domestic violence and child abuse issues.
The Chief Judge of the District Court shall establish annual training and education designed to inform family law magistrates on domestic violence and child abuse, neglect and maltreatment issues.

Legislative History

PL 1997, c. 269, §1 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 269, §2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 39, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 84, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 688, §C1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 689, §B6 (REV). PL 2005, c. 384, §1 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 385, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §2 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 3, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 159, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §1 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §65 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 723, §§6, 7 (AMD).