The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is seeking public feedback on the proposed Maine Rules of Family Procedure, aimed to govern Family Division cases within the District Court. These rules are set to replace the current Maine Rules of Civil Procedure specific to family matters, including those covered under Rules 100 to 129. The court emphasizes that "Family Division cases" include family cases, protection from abuse, protection from harassment, child protection, and family-related probate cases.
Proposed by the Family Rules Advisory Committee at the court's direction, these new rules aim to provide a framework better suited to the unique requirements of such cases. The proposed rules and an appendix that summarizes, derives, and identifies any significant departures from the existing Maine Rules of Civil Procedure are accessible online.
“In light of the project's scope, the proposed changes are not presented in a redline or legislative format,” the court advises. Instead, the appendix highlights discussions or significant changes, marked in blue, for ease of review alongside the rules.
Comments regarding the proposed rules must be submitted to the Executive Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court by 11:59 p.m. on June 9, 2025. Written comments can be mailed or emailed to lawcourt.clerk@courts.maine.gov with email attachments required in a text-based PDF format. Receipt of comments will be acknowledged by the Clerk's Office.
It is essential for comments to include the contributor's name, mailing address, and, if applicable, the organization's details submitting the feedback. Public posting of these comments on the court's website is possible.
Matthew Pollack, the Executive Clerk, based at 205 Newbury Street, Room 139, Portland, Maine, can be contacted for further inquiries at (207) 822-4146 or via the provided email.