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Legal Hotline United States Maine

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Need a Lawyer in Maine Right Now? Call Free, Any Hour.

It's late, it's cold, and the nearest open law office in Maine might be an hour's drive away. Whether you're in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta or way up in The County, our free 24/7 hotline answers immediately. Speak with an AI legal assistant trained on Maine and federal law for clear information on your OUI charge, eviction notice, custody fight or arrest. It's legal information, not legal advice. Need a real attorney next? We'll book one. Call 1-844-690-0555.

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Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Maine.

Need legal help in Maine right now?

If you need help in Maine tonight, call 1-844-690-0555 right now — it's free and answered 24/7. Tell our AI assistant what happened: an OUI stop in Cumberland County, an eviction notice taped to your door, a protection-from-abuse hearing tomorrow, or an arrest. You'll get plain-English legal information about how Maine handles it — what the District or Superior Court does next, what deadlines you face, and what your options are. This is legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. If you decide you want representation, we can connect you with a Maine-licensed attorney through a separate paid consultation booking. No form, no waiting for a daytime callback.


Choose your area of law in Maine


How it works

1
Call 1-844-690-0555 free from anywhere in Maine — Portland to Presque Isle, 24 hours a day, no form to fill in.
2
Tell our AI legal assistant what's happening. Get plain-English Maine legal information on your situation — OUI, eviction, custody, an arrest — not generic national content. It's information, not legal advice.
3
Want a real lawyer? We'll book you a paid consultation with an attorney licensed in Maine. You decide if and when to take that step.

The law in Maine

Maine's courts run on a few tiers under the Maine Judicial Branch, and knowing which one your matter lands in tells you a lot about what comes next. The District Court is where most everyday legal life happens: lesser Class D and E criminal charges, evictions (called Forcible Entry and Detainer, or FED), small claims, protection-from-abuse orders, and — through its Family Division — divorce, parental rights, child support and child protection under Title 19-A. The Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction and the only trial court where you have a right to a jury trial; it hears the serious Class A, B and C felonies and larger civil cases. Each of Maine's 16 counties also has its own Probate Court — with an elected probate judge — for wills, estates, guardianships and adoptions under Title 18-C. At the top sits the Supreme Judicial Court, which is called the 'Law Court' when it sits to hear appeals — Maine's court of last resort, with seven justices.

Maine law has its own vocabulary and its own quirks. Drunk driving is 'Operating Under the Influence' (OUI), not DUI, governed by Title 29-A M.R.S. § 2411. The Maine Criminal Code lives in Title 17-A, motor-vehicle law in Title 29-A, domestic relations in Title 19-A, and landlord-tenant law and much civil procedure in Title 14. Some areas are distinctly Maine: marine-resource and lobster-conservation rules under Title 12 create criminal exposure almost no other state sees, and Maine is the only state with a 'yellow flag' firearm law (extreme risk protection orders under Title 34-B § 3862-A) — which now sits alongside a new 'red flag' law that Maine voters approved at referendum in November 2025.

Geography is the real challenge here. Most private attorneys cluster in Portland, Bangor and Augusta, leaving big rural stretches — Aroostook County, Washington County Down East, the western mountains — where the nearest staffed law office or open courthouse can be one to three hours away. Add long winters and frequent off-hours emergencies and you get a genuine access-to-justice gap. That's the gap a free, 24/7 phone line is built to close — giving you current, Maine-specific legal information the moment you need it, then connecting you with a licensed attorney if you want one. Remember it's information, not legal advice — but it's a real place to start at 2 a.m.

Court Hierarchy

  • Supreme Judicial Court (the 'Law Court') — court of last resort, 7 justices
  • Superior Court — felonies (Class A/B/C), jury trials, larger civil cases
  • District Court — Class D/E crimes, evictions (FED), small claims, PFA, Family Division
  • Probate Court — wills, estates, guardianship (one per county, 16 total)
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maine — federal matters

Key Legislation

  • Title 17-A M.R.S. — Maine Criminal Code
  • Title 29-A § 2411 — OUI / Operating Under the Influence
  • Title 19-A — divorce, parental rights, child support
  • Title 14 — evictions (FED), landlord-tenant
  • Title 34-B § 3862-A — yellow flag / extreme risk protection orders
  • Title 12 — marine resources / lobster conservation

Key Bodies

  • Maine Judicial Branch
  • Board of Overseers of the Bar
  • Maine State Bar Association
  • Department of Marine Resources (DMR)
  • Pine Tree Legal Assistance

In Maine, it's an OUI — and the clock is already running

If you've been arrested for drunk or drugged driving in Maine, know two things. First, it's an OUI under Title 29-A § 2411, illegal at 0.08 (0.00 if you're under 21, 0.04 commercial). A first offense with no priors in the last 10 years carries a mandatory minimum $500 fine and a 150-day license suspension. Second — and this trips people up — if you refused the breath or blood test, the penalties go up: a higher minimum fine, mandatory jail time, and a longer license suspension (275 days on a first offense). Aggravators like a high BAC, an accident, eluding police, or a passenger under 21 add mandatory jail minimums, and the court can't suspend those minimums. Call 1-844-690-0555 now for free information on exactly what you're facing — it's information, not legal advice.


Free & low-cost legal help in Maine

Maine has a strong network of free and low-cost legal help, but most of it is daytime-only, income-tested, and often backed up with waitlists — which is exactly why an instant after-hours call can bridge the gap until they open. If you may qualify, these organizations are excellent and worth contacting. Our hotline gives free legal information any hour and can book a paid consultation with a Maine-licensed attorney if you need representation; the groups below offer free or reduced-fee help to those who are eligible.

Maine's primary statewide civil legal-aid nonprofit for low-income people — housing/eviction, family, consumer, benefits, foreclosure. Portland intake 207-774-8211; offices in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta, Presque Isle and Machias, with excellent free self-help guides.
Free civil legal help via volunteer private attorneys for divorce, custody, bankruptcy and consumer matters. Statewide intake 800-442-4293. Runs the Courthouse Assistance Project (CHAP), offering free family-law help at District Courts including Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta, Biddeford and Ellsworth.
Maine's only statewide immigration legal-services nonprofit — free and low-cost help with status, green cards, citizenship, asylum and removal, including a Rural Maine Project. Portland and Lewiston offices; phone 207-780-1593 (services by appointment).
Free legal help statewide for Mainers age 60+ — elder abuse, public benefits, housing and foreclosure, consumer harassment. Helpline 1-800-750-5353, weekdays.
Direct legal services plus policy advocacy on health care (MaineCare), housing, income and food security for low-income Mainers.
Official court self-help portal with forms, FAQs and how-to guides for divorce, eviction, protection from abuse, small claims and more.
The bar-operated referral service: a modest referral fee covers an initial 30-minute consultation with a participating attorney (any further work is at the attorney's normal rates). Augusta 207-622-1460 or toll-free 800-860-1460.
Free, confidential statewide helpline — dial 211 to be connected to social-service and legal-aid referrals and general resource navigation across Maine.

Legal Hotline covers all of Maine

Wherever you are in Maine, the line is free and answered 24/7 — including:

PortlandLewiston-AuburnBangorSouth PortlandBiddeford-SacoAugustaBrunswickWatervilleSanfordPresque Isle

Frequently asked questions — Maine

I was just arrested in Maine — what should I do right now?

Stay calm and say as little as possible beyond identifying yourself; you have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Don't try to explain your way out at the scene or in the cruiser. If you're held in Cumberland, Penobscot or any other county, you'll typically see a judge for bail and arraignment soon after. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, and our AI assistant will explain in plain English what happens next in Maine's District or Superior Court and what your options are. This is legal information, not legal advice — and if you want representation, we can book a Maine-licensed attorney.

Do I really need a lawyer for an OUI in Maine?

An OUI under Title 29-A § 2411 is not a parking ticket. Even a first offense with no priors carries a mandatory minimum $500 fine and a 150-day license suspension, and the court can't suspend those minimums. Refusing the test pushes the penalties higher — a bigger fine, mandatory jail and a 275-day suspension. Aggravators like a high BAC, an accident or a passenger under 21 add mandatory jail too, and Maine counts priors over a 10-year look-back, so the stakes climb fast. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for plain-English information on what you're facing, then decide whether to book a Maine OUI attorney through us. It's information, not legal advice.

I got an eviction notice in Maine. How much time do I have?

It depends on the notice. A tenancy-at-will is generally ended with a 30-day written notice to quit, while nonpayment of rent can be served on a 7-day notice — and a nonpayment notice must tell you of your right to contest the case in court. The eviction itself runs as a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) action in the District Court, with a court hearing date set out on the summons. Maine also gives tenants real protections, including limits on security deposits and an implied warranty of habitability under Title 14. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, for information on your specific notice and deadlines before you do anything.

How do I file for divorce in Maine?

Divorce in Maine goes through the District Court's Family Division under Title 19-A, which also handles parental rights, child support and related matters. You generally file in the county where you or your spouse lives, and Maine allows no-fault divorce. Custody is decided on the best interests of the child, and the Volunteer Lawyers Project's Courthouse Assistance Project offers free family-law help at some courthouses. Call 1-844-690-0555 free to get plain-English information on the process, the forms and what to expect — and if you want representation, we can book a Maine family lawyer. It's information, not legal advice.

Someone is threatening me — how do I get a protection from abuse order in Maine?

A protection-from-abuse (PFA) order is filed in the Maine District Court. A judge can issue a temporary order quickly if you're in immediate danger, with a fuller hearing to follow. Maine also has its unique 'yellow flag' weapons-restriction law and, since the November 2025 referendum, a new voter-approved 'red flag' law — both fast-moving areas where current information matters. If you're in danger right now, call 911 first. Then call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, for information on PFA orders and your options. This is legal information, not legal advice.

Is the call really free, and is it legal advice?

Yes, calling 1-844-690-0555 is completely free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Maine. When you call you speak with an AI legal assistant trained on Maine and federal law. It gives you legal information — how the law and the courts work, what deadlines apply, what your options are — but it is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you decide you want a lawyer to advise on your specific facts or represent you, we can connect you with a Maine-licensed attorney through a separate paid consultation booking.

I live up in The County, hours from a law office. Can you still help?

That's exactly who this line is built for. Much of Maine — Aroostook County, Washington County Down East, the western mountains — sits one to three hours from the nearest staffed law office or open courthouse, and Maine's hard winters make getting to town worse. Our hotline answers from anywhere in the state, day or night, with no drive and no form. Call 1-844-690-0555 free for Maine-specific legal information on your situation, and if you want a lawyer, we can book a consultation with a Maine-licensed attorney without you leaving home. It's information, not legal advice.

What does it cost to actually get a lawyer through you?

The phone call and the legal information are free. Getting a lawyer is a separate, paid service: if you decide you want representation, we book you a consultation with an attorney licensed in Maine. We're independent and not affiliated with the Maine State Bar Association or its Lawyer Referral Service, which is a separate option you can also use. The advantage of our line is speed: we answer instantly, any hour, instead of making you wait for a daytime callback or a slot on a waitlist. Call 1-844-690-0555 to start — the information is free, and you decide whether to book.

It's the middle of the night and my court date is tomorrow. Can I call now?

Yes — that's the whole point. Legal aid offices and law firms keep daytime hours, but anxiety doesn't. Our hotline answers 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. If your hearing in Portland, Bangor or Augusta is hours away, call 1-844-690-0555 free and get plain-English information on what to expect, what to bring and what your options are. It's legal information, not legal advice, but it can help you walk in calmer and clearer. If you want a Maine attorney to step in, we can try to book one quickly.


Maine attorneys: join our referral network

Are you a Maine-licensed attorney in Portland, Bangor, Augusta or rural Maine? We send ready-to-hire clients straight to your inbox — people who've already called and want representation. Reach the off-hours and legal-desert callers other channels miss. Get in touch to join.

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Reviewed by the Legal Hotline Editorial Team.

General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.

Don't wait until morning. Call Maine's free legal hotline now.

An OUI stop, an eviction notice, a custody fight, an arrest — whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone or drive an hour to ask a question. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, for plain-English Maine legal information (information, not legal advice). Need a lawyer? We'll book one licensed right here in Maine.

Free legal information. Not legal advice.

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