Maine Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protection from Abuse Order
Maine Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protection from Abuse Order
In Maine, a Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order is available to anyone who has experienced abuse by a spouse, former partner, co-parent, or household member, and a final order can last up to 2 years. A separate Protection from Harassment (PFH) Order is available to any victim of repeated harassment regardless of relationship.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential help 24/7, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).
Types of restraining orders in Maine
Maine provides two distinct civil-court protective order tracks for people facing abuse or harassment.
The Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order is governed by 19-A M.R.S.A. sections 4101 through 4116. It is available to individuals who have a qualifying domestic or intimate relationship with the person who abused them. The order can require the respondent to stop all contact, vacate a shared home, and surrender weapons.
The Protection from Harassment (PFH) Order is governed by 5 M.R.S.A. section 4651 and is available to any person who has experienced three or more acts of harassment by the same person, or who has been a victim of certain sexual crimes, regardless of whether they have any relationship with the respondent. Recent amendments (2022 through 2024) also added non-consensual image sharing, sex trafficking, and image-based threats to the definition of conduct covered by these statutes.
Both orders can be sought at Maine's District Court or Superior Court, and both carry real legal consequences for violations.
Who can get a restraining order in Maine?
The qualifying relationship is the key dividing line between the two tracks.
For a Protection from Abuse Order, Maine law (19-A M.R.S.A. section 4102) covers:
- Current or former spouses or registered domestic partners
- Current or former cohabitants (people who lived together)
- Co-parents (people who have a child together)
- Adult relatives by blood or adoption living in the household
- Current or former sexual partners
For a Protection from Harassment Order, there is no relationship requirement at all. A neighbor, coworker, acquaintance, or stranger who has repeatedly harassed or stalked you can be the subject of a PFH petition. This second track ensures that victims outside domestic relationships are not left without a civil remedy.
Minors may also seek a PFA through a parent or guardian. Vulnerable adults who are victims of abuse by caretakers or household members are also covered under the PFA statute.
How to file for a restraining order in Maine
You file a PFA or PFH petition at a Maine District Court or Superior Court. Courts are located in each county, and you do not need a lawyer to file. There is no filing fee for a Protection from Abuse Order; federal law under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) prohibits courts from charging a filing or service fee for domestic-violence protective orders. The PFH Order also has no filing fee.
When you arrive at the courthouse, ask for the court clerk or the self-help center. You will fill out a petition describing what happened, your relationship to the respondent (for a PFA), and what relief you are requesting, such as no-contact provisions, a requirement that the respondent leave a shared home, or weapon surrender. Be as specific and factual as possible in describing the incidents.
If you need help completing the forms, a court self-help center staff member can assist you. Many local domestic-violence organizations also have advocates who will accompany you to court and help you through the process at no charge. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) can connect you with a local program.
After hours, if you need immediate protection, law enforcement can connect you with emergency resources. Emergency ex parte petitions may also be available through on-call judges in some jurisdictions.
Temporary vs. final orders: how long they last
Maine's process involves two stages of protection.
Temporary (ex parte) PFA order: A judge can issue a temporary PFA the same day you file your petition, without the respondent being present, if the petition shows that immediate protection is needed. Once issued, the temporary order stays in effect until a full court hearing. Under Maine law, that hearing must be scheduled within 21 days of the temporary order being issued.
Final PFA order: After the hearing, at which both you and the respondent may present evidence, the court can issue a final PFA order. A final order lasts for a fixed period of up to 2 years. It can be extended or reinstated by a court motion if circumstances warrant continued protection.
| Order Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Temporary (ex parte) PFA | Until the full hearing (hearing within 21 days) |
| Final PFA | Up to 2 years (extendable by motion) |
| Temporary (ex parte) PFH | Until the full hearing |
| Final PFH | Up to 1 year (extendable by court motion) |
Both order types can include provisions requiring the respondent to have no contact with you, stay away from your home, workplace, or children's school, and surrender firearms if the court includes that provision.
Firearms and a Maine protective order
Maine law specifically addresses weapons when a protective order is issued. If a court includes a firearm-prohibition provision in either a temporary or a final PFA order, the respondent is required to surrender all firearms, muzzle-loading firearms, bows, crossbows, and any other specified dangerous weapons to law enforcement or a qualified third party within 24 hours of being served with the order. The respondent must provide written documentation of the surrender to the court.
Beyond the state-level surrender requirement, a qualifying final protective order also triggers the federal firearm prohibition under 18 U.S.C. section 922(g)(8). This federal law makes it a federal crime for a person subject to a qualifying protective order to possess or purchase any firearm or ammunition. The federal ban applies automatically once the order meets the statutory criteria, regardless of whether the state order explicitly mentions firearms.
If you are concerned about a respondent who possesses firearms, let the court know when you file your petition and ask the judge to include a surrender provision.
What happens if someone violates the order?
Violating a Maine Protection from Abuse order is a criminal offense. The primary penalty statute for PFA violations is 19-A M.R.S.A. section 4113, which designates violations as criminal acts and delegates the penalty classes to 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-B. Violations of a Protection from Harassment (PFH) order are also prosecuted under 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-B. The penalties escalate with each conviction:
- First offense: Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000, with a mandatory probation period of not less than 1 year.
- One prior conviction: Class D crime with a mandatory minimum of 14 days in jail that cannot be suspended.
- Two or more prior convictions: Class C crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000, with a mandatory minimum of 60 days that cannot be suspended. Probation of not less than 2 years applies.
Maine law enforcement may arrest a respondent without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe a protective order has been violated. If the respondent violates the order, call 911 immediately and report the violation. Document the violation in as much detail as possible, including date, time, witnesses, and any messages or physical evidence. Violations can also be reported to the court as contempt of court, which carries separate civil penalties.
Even a first violation can result in jail time. Courts in Maine take protective-order violations seriously.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and it is not a safety plan. Protective-order rules vary by state and change. If you are in danger, call 911. For help with your specific situation, contact your local court's self-help center, a domestic-violence advocate, or a licensed attorney.
More Maine Laws
- Maine AI Meeting Recording Laws
- Maine Alimony Laws
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- Maine Car Accident Laws
- Maine Car Seat Laws
- Maine Child Custody Laws
- Maine Child Support Laws
- Maine Common Law Marriage Laws
- Maine Data Privacy Laws
- Maine Divorce Laws
- Maine Dog Bite Laws
- Maine Emancipation Laws
- Maine Expungement Laws
- Maine Hit and Run Laws
- Maine Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Maine Lemon Laws
Sources
- Maine Legislature, 19-A M.R.S.A. sections 4101 to 4116 (Protection from Abuse): https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/19-a/title19-Ach103sec0.html
- Maine Legislature, 5 M.R.S.A. section 4651 (Protection from Harassment): https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5ch337-Bsec0.html
- Maine Legislature, 19-A M.R.S.A. section 4113 (PFA violation, criminal designation): https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/19-a/title19-Asec4113.html
- Maine Legislature, 17-A M.R.S.A. section 506-B (violation penalty classes): https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-a/title17-Ach23sec0.html
- Maine Judicial Branch, Protective Orders self-help: https://www.courts.maine.gov/self_help/family/protective_orders/index.html
Related pages
For broader context on Maine law and personal safety rights, see the cluster hub Restraining Order Laws by State, which covers all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
You may also find these related pages useful: Maine Recording Laws (documenting harassment or threats) and the site's coverage of stalking and personal safety topics within the recording-law cluster.