Child Custody in Central and Southern Maine
Putting Your Children First
When a relationship ends, the most important decisions you’ll make are about your children. Where will they live? How will parenting time be shared? Who makes decisions about their education, healthcare, and upbringing? These questions are emotionally charged — and the answers have lasting consequences.
At Dirigo Divorce, we help parents in Central and Southern Maine navigate custody matters with a focus on what matters most: the wellbeing of your children and a workable arrangement for your family going forward.
How Maine Handles Custody
Maine doesn’t use the terms “physical custody” and “legal custody.” Instead, Maine law addresses two distinct but related concepts:
Primary Residency refers to where the child primarily lives — which parent’s home is the child’s main residence, and how parenting time is divided between both parents.
Parental Rights and Responsibilities refers to decision-making authority — who has the right to make important decisions about the child’s life, including education, medical care, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities. In Maine, parental rights and responsibilities can be shared jointly or granted primarily to one parent.
What Maine Courts Look At
Maine courts make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child. Factors the court considers include:
- The child’s relationship with each parent
- Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s physical and emotional needs
- The stability of each parent’s home environment
- The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community
- Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Any history of domestic abuse or substance abuse
- The child’s own preference, depending on age and maturity
Married and Unmarried Parents
Custody matters don’t only arise in divorce. Unmarried parents face the same questions about primary residency and parental rights and responsibilities when a relationship ends. Jason M. Rice works with both married and unmarried parents to establish clear, legally enforceable parenting arrangements.
Reaching an Agreement Outside of Court
Whenever possible, the best custody arrangements are ones that parents work out together — with guidance from an attorney or through mediation. When parents can agree on a parenting plan, they avoid the stress and expense of a court battle, and they maintain control over an outcome that directly affects their children.
Attorney Jason M. Rice will help you negotiate a parenting plan that is fair, detailed, and built to last — covering everything from day-to-day schedules to holidays, school vacations, and decision-making processes.
When Court Is Necessary
Sometimes parents cannot reach an agreement, and a judge must decide. In contested custody cases, attorney Rice will advocate clearly and effectively for your parental rights while keeping the focus where it belongs — on your children’s best interests.
Serving Central and Southern Maine
Dirigo Divorce serves parents throughout Central and Southern Maine and Androscoggin County and Cumberland County, and York County — including Auburn, Lewiston, Portland, Biddeford, Saco, Sanford, the Berwicks, Kittery, York, and surrounding communities.
Contact Dirigo Divorce Today
Custody decisions shape your children’s lives. Don’t navigate them alone. Contact Dirigo Divorce to schedule a consultation and get honest, practical guidance on your situation.
Call us or request and appointment using the Request and Appointment button.