Maine Laws
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Maine Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Notice, and Tenant Rights
Maine landlord-tenant laws: 2-month deposit cap, 21-day return deadline, 4% late-fee limit, repair-and-deduct, and Portland rent control explained.
Maine Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Cameras, Audio, and Privacy Rights (2026)
In Maine, landlords and tenants can record conversations they join. Learn the rules on cameras, audio, hidden recording devices, and tenant privacy rights.
Maine Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Limits (2026)
Maine law and the First Amendment let you record police performing public duties. Learn your rights, the one-party consent rule, and the limits on filming officers.
Maine Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund
Maine lemon law covers new vehicles within 3 years or 18,000 miles. Learn the 3-attempt presumption, free AG arbitration, refund vs. replacement, and the mileage offset formula.
Maine License Plate Reader (ALPR) Laws (2026)
Maine ALPR law under 29-A M.R.S. 2117-A: the general ban, law enforcement exceptions, 21-day retention, confidentiality, penalties, and parking-lot rule.
Maine Manslaughter Laws: Class A Sentences and OUI Deaths (2026)
Maine manslaughter (17-A M.R.S. 203) is a Class A crime, up to 30 years, for reckless, negligent or provoked killings. An OUI death is Class B, 6-month minimum.
Maine Marriage and Divorce Records: A Closed Record State
Maine keeps marriage and divorce records back to 1892, but they are not public. Learn the direct and legitimate interest rule, the $15 fee, and how to order.
Maine Marriage License Requirements 2026: $40 Fee, No Wait
How to get a Maine marriage license: file intentions with a municipal clerk, pay $40, no waiting period, 90 days to marry, 2 witnesses. Age 18 and officiant rules.
Maine Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights, HIPAA, and Consent (2026)
Learn Maine medical recording laws. Patients can record doctor visits under one-party consent (15 M.R.S. 709-710). HIPAA rules, telehealth, and evidence guide.
Maine Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
Maine medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.
Maine Minimum Wage 2026: $15.10 an Hour, $15.70 in 2027
Maine minimum wage is $15.10 an hour in 2026 and rises to $15.70 on January 1, 2027. See the tipped rate, farmworker coverage, local ordinances, and how to file a claim.
Maine Name Change Laws: Background Check Instead of Publication
Maine's Probate Court bars public notice of a name-change petition and instead runs a mandatory criminal-history check. Here is how it works.
Maine Noise Laws: Quiet Hours, Disorderly Conduct and Fines (2026)
Maine quiet hours come from town ordinances. State law covers loud noise as disorderly conduct, car stereos over 85 decibels and loud mufflers. Fines here.
Maine Non-Compete Laws (2026): Are Non-Competes Enforceable?
Maine non-competes must be reasonable under 26 M.R.S. 599-A and are banned for low earners, non-owner vets and, since July 29, 2026, non-owner health workers.
Maine Nursing Home Camera Laws: No Statute, Private-Place Risk
Maine has no nursing home camera law. See why 22 M.R.S. 1827 does not cover it, how 17-A M.R.S. 511's private-place rule applies, and facility policy today.
Maine Open Container Law (2026): Statute and Exemptions
Maine puts the operator in violation under 29-A M.R.S. 2112-A when the operator or a passenger has an open container or drinks. Read the exemptions and penalty.
Maine OUI Laws: Penalties, BAC Limit & License (2026)
Maine OUI laws: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense penalties under 29-A M.R.S. 2411, the 150-day license suspension, interlock, and the 10-year look-back.
Maine Pepper Spray and Stun Gun Laws (2026)
Maine exempts pepper spray by name from its concealed-weapon statute, but a stun gun is not listed among the same exceptions. See how each device is treated.
Maine Phone Call Recording Laws: Consent Rules for Cell, Landline, and VoIP (2026)
Maine is one-party consent: you may record a call you take part in. Learn the rules for calls to other states, the penalties, and Maine's few exceptions.
Maine Police Bodycam Laws (2026): No Mandate & Records Access
Maine has no law requiring police to wear body cameras. See why a 2019 mandate bill died and how footage access works under Maine's FOAA.
Maine Pornography Laws (2026): No General Obscenity Statute
Maine repealed its adult-obscenity law and has no age-verification statute, but CSAM (under-16), minor-dissemination, and NCII laws still apply.
Maine Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)
Maine Power of Attorney Laws: durable POA is the default under 18-C M.R.S. 5-904, execution requires notarization (5-905), and health care directives are governed separately by the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act (5-801 et seq.).
Maine Prenuptial Agreement Laws: Requirements and Enforceability
Maine prenups under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, 19-A M.R.S. §§ 601-611: signing rules, when courts refuse to enforce them, and spousal support limits.
Maine Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Maine probate explained: the Probate Court process, intestate succession under 18-C, small estate affidavits, and Maine's state estate tax exemption.
Maine Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
Maine property records are filed at 17 county Registries of Deeds, searchable statewide through one free portal. Learn how to find an owner and get a copy.
Maine Punitive Damages Laws: Malice Rule and Caps (2026)
Maine allows punitive damages only on clear and convincing proof of malice, plus a compensatory award. No general cap; $500,000 punitive cap in wrongful death.
Maine Quitclaim Deed: Requirements, Recording and Transfer Tax
Maine quitclaim deeds explained: the two statutory forms (with and without covenant), notary rules, the $35 recording fee and transfer tax exemptions.
Maine Reckless Driving Laws: Driving to Endanger Penalties (2026)
Maine charges reckless driving as driving to endanger (29-A M.R.S. 2413), a Class E crime with a $575 minimum fine and a 30 to 180 day suspension.
Maine Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent, § 710 and § 511
Maine is a one-party consent state under 15 M.R.S. § 710, with an all-party rule for private places under § 511. Learn the penalties, police-recording rights, and 2025 AI updates.
Maine Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protection from Abuse Order
Learn how to get a Maine Protection from Abuse (PFA) or Protection from Harassment order: who qualifies, how long it lasts, filing steps, and firearm rules.
Maine Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
Maine is a one-party consent state with specific Ring doorbell camera rules. Learn about audio recording laws, video privacy limits, HOA rules, and penalties.
Maine Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)
Maine household buyers who lost money to a deceptive practice can sue for actual damages, plus fees if they win, after a 30-day demand. Where to report, crypto ATMs.
Maine School Recording Laws: Student, Parent, and Teacher Rights (2026)
Maine's one-party consent law lets students and parents record school conversations they join. Learn student, parent, and teacher rights, school policies, and FERPA.
Maine Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules (2026)
Maine allows home and business security cameras without a permit. Learn the rules on placement, audio recording, HOA limits, and where cameras are prohibited by law.
Maine Self-Defense Laws: Duty to Retreat & Castle Doctrine (2026)
Maine is NOT a stand-your-ground state. 17-A M.R.S. § 108 imposes a duty to retreat, with one exception: no retreat required inside your own dwelling if you were not the aggressor. No civil immunity. Updated 2026.
Maine Severance Pay Laws (2026): When Severance Is Required
Maine requires severance after a closing or mass layoff at a 100-employee site: one week's pay per year for 3+ year employees. Notice, unemployment, agreements.
Maine Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Learn about Maine sexting laws, penalties for minors and adults, the Romeo and Juliet exception, revenge porn statutes, and what to do if charged.
Maine Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability
Maine slip and fall law: 6-year SOL, modified-50 comparative fault, no open-and-obvious bar, no natural-accumulation shield, 365-day government notice deadline.
Maine Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Maine's small claims limit rose to $10,000 on January 1, 2026. Learn the $70 filing fee, serving first, who can appeal in 30 days and how to collect.
Maine Small Estate Affidavit: $52,500 Limit, 30-Day Wait and Form
Maine's small estate affidavit (18-C M.R.S. 3-1201): $52,500 limit for 2026 deaths, a 30-day wait, form AF-102, no court filing, and what it cannot transfer.
Maine Smart Glasses Recording Laws: What You Need to Know
Maine is a one-party consent state. You can record audio of conversations you take part in with smart glasses, but not with a device inside someone else's private place without consent. Learn the limits.
Maine Social Security Disability: Rates & Wait Times
Social Security disability in Maine: a small $10 SSI supplement, automatic Medicaid (MaineCare) on SSI approval, approval odds, and ALJ hearing wait times.
Maine Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Maine requires 20 years of continuous adverse possession to claim land under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 801. Learn the elements, removal process, and 2026 updates.
Maine Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
Maine statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases: filing deadlines for personal injury, contracts, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and felonies.
Maine Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Maine surveillance camera laws explained: home security cameras, workplace monitoring, hidden cameras, audio recording consent, neighbor disputes, and penalties.
Maine Theft Laws: Class C Threshold, Penalties and Shoplifting (2026)
Maine theft is a Class C crime above $1,000 and Class B above $10,000. See every value tier, repeat-offense rules, shoplifting and the civil penalty.
Maine Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines
Maine Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1541 to 1548): trade secret definition, misappropriation, 3-year deadline, and DTSA overlay.
Maine Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Maine holds over $395 million in unclaimed property. Learn how to search for free at maineunclaimedproperty.gov and file a claim with the State Treasurer.
Maine Unemployment Benefits 2026: $649 Max, Eligibility, How to File
Maine pays $113 to $649 a week for claims filed June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, for up to 26 weeks. Learn eligibility, the waiting week, work search and appeals.
Maine Video Recording Laws: Public Filming, Private Property, and Consent (2026)
In Maine, video recording in public is legal, but adding audio triggers one-party consent. Learn the rules for public filming, private property, and consent.
Maine Warrant Search: How to Check If You Have a Warrant (2026)
Maine's warrant search is still rolling out county by county. See which counties are live on re:SearchMaine and how to check if you have a warrant in Maine.
Maine Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report
Learn about Maine's whistleblower protections: who qualifies, how to report violations, retaliation protections, and available remedies.
Maine Will and Trust Laws: Witnesses, Holographic Wills (2026)
A Maine will needs two witnesses who sign within a reasonable time, or a signature and material portions in the testator's handwriting. No notary is required.
Maine Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
Maine requires 35% VLT on front side windows. Rear windows may be any darkness with dual mirrors. Learn fines, medical exemptions, and inspection rules.
Maine Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Maine windshield mounting laws explained. Learn what 29-A MRSA 2082 allows, the hands-free single-touch rule, penalties, and exemptions.
Maine Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights
Maine workers' comp pays 80% of after-tax AWW. Learn filing deadlines, doctor-choice rules, and your rights under Maine's Workers' Compensation Act.
Maine Workplace Harassment Laws: Any Employer, 300 Days (2026)
Maine harassment law covers any size employer, with 300 days to file with the MHRC. Employers with 15 or more employees must train every new employee within a year.