Reviewed August 2026
Spousal Support in Maine
Maine calls it spousal support. The district court handles it as part of a divorce case under 19-A M.R.S. § 951-A. Maine law names specific categories of support instead of one general award. For some categories, the length of the marriage affects how long support can last. The statute lists four types: general support, transitional support, reimbursement support, and rehabilitative support. General support comes closest to traditional alimony. It provides ongoing payments based on need and the other spouse's ability to pay. Transitional support helps a spouse become independent after a shorter marriage. Reimbursement support pays back a spouse who helped build the other's earning power, often by supporting their education. Rehabilitative support funds skills or education so a spouse can become self-supporting. For general support, Maine law offers guidance tying duration to marriage length. Shorter marriages usually support shorter terms. Marriages of significant length can support longer or open-ended awards, at the court's discretion.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how spousal support works under Maine law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Maine paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The four types of support
19-A M.R.S. § 951-A names general support, transitional support, reimbursement support, and rehabilitative support as distinct categories a Maine court can award. More than one type can apply in the same case. General support works most like traditional alimony. Transitional support usually fits shorter marriages and helps a spouse adjust to single life. Reimbursement support applies when one spouse supported the other's career or education during the marriage. Rehabilitative support funds a specific plan so a spouse can gain employable skills.
Duration guidance tied to marriage length
For general support, Maine's statute ties duration to the length of the marriage. Shorter marriages typically support a term no longer than about half the marriage's length. Mid-length marriages can support a term closer to the marriage's full length. Long marriages, generally 20 years or more, can support an award with no automatic durational limit. These are guidelines the court applies with discretion, not a rigid formula. Check the exact current statutory language before relying on a specific cutoff.
Factors the court considers
Across all support types, the court weighs the length of the marriage, each spouse's age, health, employment history, and income. It also considers earning potential and the standard of living during the marriage. The court further weighs the ability of the party seeking support to become self-supporting, plus the tax consequences of an award.
Modification and termination
General and rehabilitative support can usually be modified if circumstances change substantially. Reimbursement support compensates for a specific past contribution, so it is generally not modifiable once ordered. Maine law generally ends support when either party dies or the recipient remarries. Cohabitation can be grounds to seek modification, depending on how it affects the recipient's finances.
Sources: 19-A M.R.S. § 951-A (spousal support), Maine Judicial Branch - Help, IRS Tax Topic 452, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
Not independently confirmed
- The exact current percentages or marriage-length cutoffs in Maine's general support duration guidance were described in general terms rather than quoted verbatim; confirm the precise current statutory language at the linked § 951-A page before citing a specific cutoff.
Spousal Support in Maine: frequently asked questions
What is alimony called in Maine?+
Maine statute uses the term spousal support. Unlike many states, it divides support into four named categories: general, transitional, reimbursement, and rehabilitative, governed by 19-A M.R.S. § 951-A.
Does Maine have a duration formula for spousal support?+
For general support, Maine's statute ties likely duration to marriage length. Shorter marriages support shorter terms. Marriages of significant length, generally 20 years or more, can support an open-ended award. This is guidance the court applies with discretion, not a strict formula.
What is the difference between rehabilitative and reimbursement support in Maine?+
Rehabilitative support funds a plan for a spouse to gain education or skills and become self-supporting. Reimbursement support instead compensates a spouse who already contributed to the other spouse's earning capacity during the marriage, such as by supporting their education.
Can more than one type of spousal support apply in the same Maine case?+
Yes. Maine's statute lets a court combine types where appropriate. For example, it might award reimbursement support for past contributions along with rehabilitative support for future retraining, depending on the facts of the case.
Does remarriage end spousal support in Maine?+
Generally yes for general and transitional support, since both are tied to ongoing need. Reimbursement support compensates for a past contribution rather than ongoing need, so remarriage generally does not affect it the same way.
Is spousal support taxable in Maine?+
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed the federal tax treatment of spousal support. The paying spouse can no longer deduct it, and the recipient no longer reports it as taxable income. Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the older tax treatment unless later modified.
This page is general information about spousal support in Maine, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Maine's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Maine. Virdix does not prepare or file Maine divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Maine.
More Maine divorce guides
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