By Jason M. Rice, Esq. | Dirigo Divorce | Springvale, Maine
Last Updated: May 2026 | 8-Minute Read
If you are in a situation where you or your children are being hurt, threatened, or made to feel unsafe by a family member or intimate partner, Maine law provides powerful legal protection — quickly and without requiring you to hire an attorney or pay a filing fee.
A Protection From Abuse order — commonly called a PFA — is one of the most important legal tools available to victims of domestic abuse in Maine. This guide explains exactly what a PFA is, how to get one, how long it lasts, and what happens if the other person violates it.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you need guidance on the legal process, Dirigo Divorce is here to help. We represent PFA petitioners throughout York County and southern Maine.
What is a Protection From Abuse Order in Maine?
A Protection From Abuse order is a civil court order that prohibits an abusive person from contacting, approaching, or harming you or your children. In Maine, PFA orders are governed by the Protection From Abuse Act, Title 19-A of the Maine Revised Statutes.
A PFA order can do several things depending on your situation, including:
- Order the abuser to have no contact with you — no calls, texts, emails, or in-person contact
- Require the abuser to stay away from your home, workplace, or your children’s school
- Remove the abuser from a shared home even if they are on the lease or mortgage
- Award you temporary custody of your children
- Order the abuser to pay temporary child support
- Prohibit the abuser from possessing firearms
- Order the abuser to attend a batterers intervention program
Maine PFA orders are serious legal documents with real teeth. Violating a PFA is a crime — not just a civil matter — and can result in arrest and criminal charges.
Who Can Get a Protection From Abuse Order in Maine?
To be eligible for a PFA in Maine, the abuse must have been committed by someone in a specific relationship with you. Maine law covers abuse by:
- A current or former spouse
- A current or former domestic partner
- Someone you have a child with
- A current or former sexual partner
- A family member — parent, child, sibling, or other relative
If the person harming you does not fall into one of these categories — for example, a neighbor or coworker — a PFA may not apply, but other legal remedies such as a civil harassment order may be available. Contact our office to discuss your specific situation.
What Counts as Abuse Under Maine Law?
Maine’s Protection From Abuse Act defines abuse broadly. It includes:
- Physical assault or battery
- Attempting to cause or causing bodily injury
- Placing a family or household member in reasonable fear of imminent bodily injury
- Compelling a family or household member to engage in conduct by force, threat of force, or intimidation
- Harassment, including repeated unwanted contact that causes alarm
- Stalking
- Destroying property
- Unauthorized taking, hiding, or destroying a pet
Abuse does not have to be physical to qualify for a PFA. Emotional abuse, threats, stalking, and harassment can all support a petition depending on the specific facts involved.
How to Get a Protection From Abuse Order in Maine
The process for obtaining a PFA in Maine has two stages — a temporary emergency order and a final order after a hearing.
Step 1: File a Petition
You file a Petition for Protection From Abuse at your local District Court. There is no filing fee for a PFA petition in Maine. You will fill out a form describing the abuse and what relief you are seeking. Court staff can help you with the paperwork, or an attorney can assist you in presenting the strongest possible petition.
You can file in the county where you live, where the abuser lives, or where the abuse occurred. For most clients in our area that means filing with the Androscoggin County District Court, Cumberland County District Court, or York County District Court.
Step 2: Temporary Order — Same Day
After you file your petition, a judge will review it — usually the same day. If the judge finds there is an immediate and present danger of abuse, they will issue a Temporary Protection From Abuse order without the other person being present. This is called an ex parte order.
The temporary order goes into effect immediately and provides protection while the case moves toward a full hearing. Law enforcement will serve the temporary order on the abuser, notifying them of its terms and of the upcoming hearing date.
Step 3: The Final Hearing
A full hearing is scheduled within 21 days of the temporary order being issued. Both you and the abuser have the opportunity to appear and present evidence at this hearing. The judge will then decide whether to issue a final PFA order.
The final hearing is the most critical stage of the process. Having an experienced attorney present your case — organizing your evidence, preparing your testimony, and cross-examining the other party — can make a significant difference in the outcome. At Dirigo Divorce, we prepare our clients thoroughly for PFA hearings so they feel confident and ready.
How Long Does a Maine PFA Order Last?
A final Protection From Abuse order in Maine can last up to two years. At the end of that period, the order expires unless you take action to extend it.
Before your order expires, you can file a motion to extend it. Maine courts can extend a PFA order for an additional period if you can show that you continue to have a reasonable fear of abuse. Courts have extended PFA orders multiple times in appropriate cases, meaning protection can continue for many years when the circumstances warrant it.
If you are approaching the expiration of your current PFA order and you still feel unsafe, contact us as soon as possible. We regularly help clients extend their protection orders, and timing matters — you want to file your extension request well before the current order expires.
What Happens if the Abuser Violates the PFA Order?
Violating a Protection From Abuse order in Maine is a crime. If the abuser contacts you, comes near you, or otherwise violates the terms of the order, you should:
- Call 911 immediately if you are in danger
- Document every violation — save texts, voicemails, emails, and any other evidence of contact
- Report the violation to law enforcement even if you are not in immediate danger
- Contact your attorney
Law enforcement can arrest the abuser for violating a PFA order without needing to witness the violation themselves.
Do not minimize violations or assume they are not worth reporting. Every violation should be documented and reported — both for your safety and to build a record that supports future extension or modification of your order.
Can a PFA Order Be Modified or Dropped?
Yes — PFA orders can be modified or dismissed in certain circumstances.
Modification
Either party can file a motion to modify the terms of an existing PFA order. For example, if you share children with the abuser, you might need to modify the order to allow limited contact for parenting exchanges while maintaining all other protections. Modifications require a court hearing and judicial approval.
Dismissal
A PFA order can be dismissed if the petitioner files a motion to dismiss and the court is satisfied that dismissal is voluntary and not the result of coercion or pressure from the abuser. Courts take this seriously — if there is any indication that the petitioner is being pressured to drop the order, the court may decline to dismiss it.
If you are considering dismissing your PFA order, please speak with an attorney first. We can help you think through the implications and make sure any decision you make is truly in your best interest.
Frequently Asked Questions About PFA Orders in Maine
Do I need an attorney to get a PFA in Maine?
You are not required to have an attorney to file for a PFA in Maine. However, the hearing stage is adversarial — the abuser will likely appear and may have their own attorney. Having experienced legal representation at your hearing significantly improves your chances of obtaining and keeping the protection you need.
Can a PFA affect my divorce or custody case?
Yes — significantly. A PFA order can affect temporary custody arrangements, parenting time, and the overall trajectory of a divorce or custody case. If you have both a PFA and a pending family law case, it is essential to have an attorney who can coordinate the two proceedings strategically.
What if the abuser lives in another state?
Maine PFA orders are enforceable in all 50 states under federal law — the Violence Against Women Act requires every state to give full faith and credit to valid PFA orders from other states. If you move out of Maine or the abuser moves, your order remains valid and enforceable.
Can men get PFA orders in Maine?
Absolutely. Maine’s Protection From Abuse Act applies equally regardless of gender. Male victims of domestic abuse have the same right to protection as female victims, and courts treat petitions from men the same as petitions from women.
What is the difference between a PFA and a restraining order in Maine?
In Maine, Protection From Abuse orders and Protection From Harassment orders are the two main types of civil protective orders. A PFA applies to domestic situations — family members and intimate partners. A Protection From Harassment order covers situations involving people who do not have a domestic relationship with you. The two orders have different legal standards and procedural requirements.
You Deserve to Feel Safe
Navigating the Protection From Abuse process while dealing with fear, stress, and uncertainty is incredibly difficult. At Dirigo Divorce, we handle PFA cases with the urgency and sensitivity they require. We will stand with you through every stage of the process — from filing your petition to extending your order — so you can focus on keeping yourself and your children safe.
We serve clients throughout Androscoggin County, Cumberland County, and York County and southern Maine, including Springvale, Sanford, Kennebunk, the Berwicks, Kittery, Biddeford, Saco, and surrounding communities. We are also licensed in New Hampshire and serve clients across the Seacoast region.Call us at (207) 200-3231 or visit dirigo-divorce.com to schedule your consultation today.