Representing Yourself in Maine

A lot of people go to court in Maine without a lawyer. Some can't afford one. Some have a case small enough that they don't need one. Some are between lawyers. Whatever the reason, you have a right to represent yourself, and there is more free help available than most people know about.

This is the list I give people who call my office and aren't a fit for my practice. Everything here is free or low cost. None of it is me, and I don't get anything for listing it.

Maine's courts, in plain English

Maine has one statewide court system, plus a probate court in each county. Which court you end up in depends on what kind of case you have.

District Court. The court most people deal with. Divorce and parental rights, protection from abuse and harassment, small claims up to $10,000, evictions, child protection, juvenile cases, many civil money disputes, and lesser criminal charges. There are no juries in District Court; a judge decides every case. Family cases get extra support through the court's Family Division.

Superior Court. Maine's general trial court, and the only court in the state where you can have a jury trial. It hears serious criminal cases, larger civil lawsuits, and appeals from many government agency decisions. There's at least one in every county. Criminal cases in each county move through a single combined process, the Unified Criminal Docket, shared by the District and Superior Courts.

Business and Consumer Docket. Not a separate place to file. Complex business and consumer cases can be transferred into it from the District or Superior Court, by application or on a judge's recommendation, and the same judge usually keeps the case to the end. Its clerk's office is in Portland.

Probate Court. One in each of Maine's 16 counties, run by the county rather than the state. Wills and estates, trusts, guardianships of adults and children, name changes and adoptions.

Supreme Judicial Court. Maine's highest court, with seven justices. When it hears appeals it's called the Law Court. Most appeals from the District, Superior and Probate Courts go straight to it; there's no separate appeals court in between. (Small claims and eviction appeals go to the Superior Court first.) The Law Court decides questions of law. It is not a second trial. The court also writes the rules every Maine court follows, admits lawyers to practice, and oversees the conduct of lawyers and judges.

Violations Bureau. Non-criminal traffic tickets (traffic infractions) from all over Maine are handled by one central office in Lewiston. Criminal traffic charges, such as OUI, go to the local court. Helpline: (207) 783-5422, weekdays 8 to 4.

Federal court is separate. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine hears cases under federal law, in Portland and Bangor. It has its own help page for people representing themselves.

A few things most people don't know

  • Probate judges are elected. Voters in each county elect their judge of probate to a four-year term. The job is part time, and unlike every other judge in Maine, probate judges can keep practicing law on the side. In March 2026 the Maine Senate rejected a bill (LD 1766) to bring them into the state Judicial Branch.
  • Every other Maine judge is appointed. The Governor nominates, the Legislature confirms, and judges serve seven-year terms.
  • The Governor and the Legislature can ask the high court for advice. On "solemn occasions," the Maine Constitution requires the justices to give their opinion on important questions of law when the Governor, the Senate or the House asks.
  • The Law Court goes to school. It sometimes holds real oral arguments in Maine high schools.
  • The Supreme Judicial Court is as old as the state. It was created by Maine's first constitution in 1820.
  • Maine's oldest working courthouse is in Wiscasset. The Lincoln County Courthouse, built in the 1820s, is the oldest courthouse in Maine still in continuous use.
  • Maine's oldest surviving courthouse is older than the country. The Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, built in 1761, is the only pre-Revolutionary courthouse still standing in Maine.
  • One court, many towns. Maine's 44 District Court judges hold court in eight regions, in courthouses from Fort Kent to Biddeford.

Start with the court's own help

Maine Judicial Branch help pages — Plain-language pages on divorce, parental rights, small claims, eviction, protection orders, foreclosure, guardianship and appeals. Read the page for your type of case before you file anything.

Court forms — Every current Maine court form, sorted by case type. If a court form is required, you must use the current version; outdated forms are returned as incomplete, so download a fresh copy each time. Translated forms are available for reference, but file the English version.

Court guides — Step-by-step booklets written for people without lawyers, including A Guide to Family Separation in Maine, A Guide to Small Claims, and A Guide to Protection from Abuse & Harassment Cases.

Court help videos — Short videos on court process, from what to do after you're served to mediation and custody filings.

Legal glossary — What the words on your paperwork mean.

Court mediation — The court's mediation service handles small claims, family, eviction, debt collection and other civil cases. A mediator can't decide your case, but can help the two of you reach an agreement you both control. In divorce and parental rights cases, mediation is usually required before a contested hearing, and family mediation carries a fee unless the court waives it.

Maine eCourts — File, pay fees and look up many court records online, in the courts that have switched over. As of fall 2026 that's most of the state; courts in Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc and Waldo counties are scheduled next. Maine Guide & File walks self-represented people through filing in some case types.

Foreclosure Diversion Program — If you're being foreclosed on in the home you live in, you can ask for mediation with the lender. Ask within 20 days of getting the court papers, using the form that came with them. The program can also point you to free housing counseling.

Interpreters and disability accommodations — Ask for them early. You shouldn't have to go without either.

Free help in person

AmeriCorps Legal Access Navigators — Trained non-lawyers who help with civil court forms, explain the process and point you to legal aid. Free. Drop in at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland, the York Judicial Center in Biddeford or the Lewiston District Court, or book a time at navigators@alphalegalfoundation.com. Days change, so check the current schedule before you go.

Cleaves Law Library, Portland — A law library inside the Cumberland County Courthouse (enter on Newbury Street), open to the public weekdays, 9 to 4. You can use the books and computers on site; copies and printing carry a small per-page charge. Reference questions go to info@cleaves.org. Call ahead: (207) 773-9712.

Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, Augusta — Reference help by phone at (207) 287-1600 or by email through Ask a Law Librarian, usually answered within two working days. Maine residents can get a library card (photo ID and proof of residence) and borrow legal e-books. The library also keeps an excellent reading list for people representing themselves, organized by type of case.

A librarian or navigator can show you where the law is and how the process works. They can't tell you what to do in your case. That's not them being unhelpful; it's the rule they work under.

Free or low-cost legal help, if you qualify

Pine Tree Legal Assistance — Free civil legal help for low-income Mainers: housing, eviction, foreclosure, debt, benefits and domestic violence. They don't take general divorce or custody cases. Even if you don't qualify, use their self-help guides and court forms, including their Easy Forms tool. To ask for help: ptla.org/contact-us.

Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project — Connects people who meet income limits with volunteer lawyers for family matters, consumer small claims under $10,000, protection orders, employment and more. Runs free family law clinics for people who qualify: 30-minute consultations with a volunteer lawyer by video or phone, and in person at the Lewiston District Court two Wednesdays a month, first come, first served. The volunteers advise and help you prepare; they don't appear in court for you.

Maine Free Legal Answers — If you qualify, post a civil legal question online and a volunteer Maine lawyer answers it. Not for criminal cases, and not for anything due tomorrow.

Clinics at Maine Law — Law students, supervised by faculty lawyers, represent low-income clients in family, housing and other cases, mostly in southern Maine. A $10 administrative fee, plus court costs in some cases; no charge for the lawyering. Call weekdays 8 to 4 to ask about openings: (207) 780-4370, or (877) 780-2522 outside Greater Portland.

Legal Services for Maine Elders — Free help for Mainers 60 and older when basic needs are at stake. (800) 750-5353.

Disability Rights Maine — For people with disabilities and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. (800) 452-1948.

Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project — Immigration and related civil help for low-income immigrants. (207) 780-1593.

Maine Equal Justice — Public benefits, health coverage and related issues for low-income Mainers.

Domestic violence resource centers — If you need a protection from abuse order, your local resource center can help. Statewide helpline: 1-866-834-HELP (Deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-437-1220). In an emergency, call 911.

Maine Commission on Public Defense Services — If you're facing certain criminal charges, a juvenile case, or a child protection case as a parent, and can't afford a lawyer, ask the court whether you qualify for an appointed one.

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — Available to anyone through an online request form. There's a $35 administrative fee, and the lawyer won't charge for the first 30 minutes; regular rates apply after that. No referrals for protection-from-abuse cases, DHHS claims or small claims under $10,000.

Read the law yourself

If you're going to court on your own

  1. Read the court's guide for your case type first. Most mistakes I see come from skipping this step.
  2. Write down every deadline the day you get papers. In most civil lawsuits, you have 20 days after you're served to send the other side a written answer and file it with the court. Missing it can mean losing without a hearing. Small claims and eviction cases work differently, so go by the date on your papers.
  3. Use the current form, filled out completely. Blank lines get noticed.
  4. Bring copies. One for you, one for the judge, one for the other side.
  5. Make index cards. One fact per card, in order, with the document that proves it. When the judge asks a question, you'll find the answer in seconds.
  6. Be kind to the clerk. Clerks can explain procedure. They can't give legal advice, and they've seen every kind of bad day.
  7. Ask about mediation. A settlement you shape is often better than a ruling you don't.

Court locations and phone numbers

Call before you go: hours, locations and phone numbers change, and if this list ever differs from a court's own page, go by the court's page. Not sure which court covers your town? Use the court's find a court by town list.

Supreme Judicial Court (Law Court)

  • Clerk of the Law Court, Cumberland County Courthouse, 205 Newbury Street, Room 139, Portland 04101 · (207) 822-4146

District Courts

  • Augusta: 1 Court Street, Suite 101, Augusta 04330 · (207) 213-2800
  • Bangor: 78 Exchange Street, Bangor 04401 · (207) 561-2300
  • Belfast: 11 Market Street, Belfast 04915 · (207) 338-3107
  • Biddeford: 515 Elm Street, Biddeford 04005 · (207) 283-6000
  • Bridgton: 3 Chase Street, Suite 2, Bridgton 04009 · (207) 647-3535
  • Calais: 382 South Street, Suite B, Calais 04619 · (207) 454-2055
  • Caribou: 144 Sweden Street, Suite 104, Caribou 04736 · (207) 493-3144
  • Dover-Foxcroft: 159 East Main Street, Suite 21, Dover-Foxcroft 04426 · (207) 564-2240
  • Ellsworth: 50 State Street, Suite 2, Ellsworth 04605 · (207) 667-7141
  • Farmington: 129 Main Street, Suite 1, Farmington 04938 · (207) 778-2119
  • Fort Kent: 139 Market Street, Suite 101, Fort Kent 04743 · (207) 834-5003
  • Houlton: 26 Court Street, Suite 201, Houlton 04730 · (207) 532-2147
  • Lewiston: 71 Lisbon Street, Lewiston 04240 (mail: P.O. Box 1345, Lewiston 04243) · (207) 795-4800
  • Lincoln: 52 Main Street, Lincoln 04457 · (207) 794-8512
  • Machias: 85 Court Street, Machias 04654 (mail: P.O. Box 526) · (207) 255-3044
  • Millinocket: 207 Penobscot Avenue, Millinocket 04462 (mail: 52 Main Street, Lincoln 04457) · (207) 723-4786
  • Portland: Cumberland County Courthouse, 205 Newbury Street, Ground Floor, Portland 04101 · (207) 822-4200
  • Presque Isle: 27 Riverside Drive, Presque Isle 04769 · (207) 764-2055
  • Rockland: 62 Union Street, Rockland 04841 · (207) 596-2240
  • Rumford: 145 Congress Street, Rumford 04276 · (207) 364-7171
  • Skowhegan: 47 Court Street, Skowhegan 04976 · (207) 474-9518
  • South Paris: 26 Western Avenue, South Paris 04281 · (207) 743-8942
  • Waterville: 18 Colby Street, Waterville 04901 · (207) 873-2103
  • West Bath: 101 New Meadows Road, West Bath 04530 · (207) 442-0200
  • Wiscasset: 32 High Street, Wiscasset 04578 (mail: P.O. Box 249) · (207) 882-6363
  • Closed: Madawaska District Court (closed Nov. 1, 2025; cases went to Caribou or Fort Kent), and the York and Springvale District Courts (use Biddeford).
  • Relocated: Newport District Court is operating, until further notice, at the Penobscot Judicial Center, 78 Exchange Street, Bangor. All filings and hearings are in Bangor. Phone is still (207) 368-5778.

Superior Courts (by county)

  • Androscoggin: 2 Turner Street, Auburn 04210 · (207) 330-7500
  • Aroostook (Caribou): 144 Sweden Street, Caribou 04736 · (207) 498-8125
  • Aroostook (Houlton): 26 Court Street, Suite 201, Houlton 04730 · (207) 532-6563
  • Cumberland: 205 Newbury Street, Portland 04101 · (207) 822-4200
  • Franklin: 140 Main Street, Farmington 04938 (mail: 129 Main Street, Suite 1) · (207) 778-3346
  • Hancock: 50 State Street, Suite 2, Ellsworth 04605 · (207) 667-7141
  • Kennebec: 1 Court Street, Suite 101, Augusta 04330 · (207) 213-2800
  • Knox: 62 Union Street, Rockland 04841 · (207) 594-2576
  • Lincoln: 32 High Street, Wiscasset 04578 (mail: P.O. Box 249) · (207) 882-6363
  • Oxford: 26 Western Avenue, South Paris 04281 (mail: P.O. Box 179) · (207) 743-8942
  • Penobscot: 78 Exchange Street, Bangor 04401 · (207) 561-2300
  • Piscataquis: 159 East Main Street, Suite 21, Dover-Foxcroft 04426 · (207) 564-2240
  • Sagadahoc: courtroom at 752 High Street, Bath; clerk's office and mail at 101 New Meadows Road, West Bath 04530 · (207) 442-0200
  • Somerset: 47 Court Street, Skowhegan 04976 · (207) 474-5161
  • Waldo: 11 Market Street, Belfast 04915 · (207) 338-3107
  • Washington: 85 Court Street, Machias 04654 (mail: P.O. Box 526) · (207) 255-3326
  • York: 515 Elm Street, Biddeford 04005 · (207) 283-6000

Probate Courts (by county)

  • Androscoggin: 2 Turner Street, Auburn 04210 · (207) 753-2500
  • Aroostook: 26 Court Street, Suite 103, Houlton 04730 (second office at 144 Sweden Street, Caribou) · (207) 532-1502
  • Cumberland: 142 Federal Street, Suite 125, Portland 04101 · (207) 871-8382
  • Franklin: 140 Main Street, Suite 6, Farmington 04938 · (207) 778-5888
  • Hancock: 50 State Street, Suite 6, Ellsworth 04605 · (207) 667-8434
  • Kennebec: 95 State Street, Augusta 04330 · (207) 622-7558
  • Knox: 62 Union Street, Rockland 04841 · (207) 594-0427
  • Lincoln: 32 High Street, Wiscasset 04578 (mail: P.O. Box 249) · (207) 882-7392
  • Oxford: 26 Western Avenue, South Paris 04281 (mail: P.O. Box 179) · (207) 743-6671
  • Penobscot: 97 Hammond Street, Bangor 04401 · (207) 942-8769
  • Piscataquis: 159 East Main Street, Suite 12, Dover-Foxcroft 04426 · (207) 564-2431
  • Sagadahoc: 752 High Street, Bath 04530 · (207) 443-8218
  • Somerset: 41 Court Street, Skowhegan 04976 · (207) 474-3322
  • Waldo: 103 Church Street, Belfast 04915 (mail: P.O. Box 323) · (207) 338-2780
  • Washington: 85 Court Street, Machias 04654 · (207) 255-6591
  • York: 149 Jordan Springs Road, Alfred 04002 (mail: 45 Kennebunk Road) · (207) 324-1577

Federal court (separate from the state courts)

  • U.S. District Court, Portland: 156 Federal Street, Portland 04101 · (207) 780-3356
  • U.S. District Court, Bangor: 202 Harlow Street, Bangor 04401 · (207) 945-0575

When it's worth talking to a lawyer

Representing yourself works best when the stakes are modest and the facts are simple. It gets harder when your home, your kids, a business or a lot of money is on the line; when there's a deadline you can't afford to miss; or when the other side has a lawyer. Many lawyers offer limited-scope help, where they handle one piece of the case and you handle the rest. It's worth asking.

If your matter is in one of the areas I handle, the first step is a conflict check and a $750 case review. Request a case review.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it doesn't make me your lawyer. The organizations listed are independent of Upstream Law; I'm not affiliated with them and receive nothing for listing them. Programs, hours and eligibility change, so check with each one directly. Links checked October 2026.