Restraining Orders

You can file for a protection from abuse order based on acts of abuse done to you or your minor child by a family or household member or dating partner, defined as:

• your current or former spouse;
• someone with whom you have a child in common;
• someone with whom who you live/d;
• your current or former sexual partner;
• someone you are related to by blood or marriage;
• someone you are currently dating or formerly dated (regardless of whether or not you had a sexual relationship).¹

You can also file for a protection from abuse order against anyone who has committed any of the following against you or your minor child:

• attempting to cause or causing sexual assault;
• stalking as defined by law;
• engaging in the unauthorized dissemination of certain private images;
• engaging in aggravated sex trafficking or sex trafficking; and
• for minors only:
  • sexual exploitation of a minor;
  • dissemination of sexually explicit material
  • harassment by telephone or electronic communication device, but only the acts in paragraphs (1)(A-1) and (1)(A-2), which deal with sending an image or video of a sexual act.²

If you are 60 years of age or older, a dependent adult, or an incapacitated adult, you can also file for a protection from abuse order against an extended family member or an unpaid care provider.² For more information, see our Protection from Abuse Orders (for the elderly/dependent/incapacitated) page.

You can ask for an order on behalf of a child for whom you are responsible. If you are both being abused, you can ask the court to grant an order that will protect both of you.

If you are being harassed by someone who has a relationship to you that is not listed above or who is committing an act against you that is not described above, you may be eligible for a protection from harassment order. See our Protection from Harassment Orders section for more information.

¹ ME ST T. 19-A § 4002(1)
² ME ST T. 19-A § 4005(1)