Is Maine a community property state?

1. Dividing property at divorce

   The court sets apart each spouse's property and divides marital property in proportions it considers just after weighing factors such as contributions, economic circumstances and economic abuse.^[1]

   “the court shall set apart to each spouse the spouse's property and shall divide the marital property in proportions the court considers just after considering all relevant factors, including …”^[1]

   19-A M.R.S. § 953(1) · checked October 26, 2026

2. Marital property

   Marital property is all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage, except listed categories.^[1]

   “For purposes of this section, ‘marital property’ means all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage, except …”^[1]

   19-A M.R.S. § 953(2) · checked October 26, 2026

3. Nonmarital property

   Excluded: gifts and inheritances, property exchanged for premarital or gifted property, property acquired after a legal separation decree, property excluded by agreement, and (with limits) the increase in value of premarital and nonmarital property.^[1]

   “A. Property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent …”^[1]

   19-A M.R.S. § 953(2)(A) · checked October 26, 2026

Not legal advice. Plain-English summaries of Maine’s statutes as of the date shown on each, with the text quoted. Whether a particular asset is marital, community or separate depends on the facts, and courts apply the law case by case. Read the linked source or ask a lawyer licensed in Maine.