The Maine divorce rate is 3.9% per 1,000 state residents.
In the case of Van Shack v. Van Shack, Maine's District Court ruled that a petitioner can get a divorce without the District Court having any personal jurisdiction in the matter. But Maine's Supreme Court overruled the District Court, asserting that the District Court did in fact have jurisdiction, even in cases where a defendant's lack of contacts with the state of Maine was not in dispute, where the District Court presumably lacked personal jurisdiction under Maine’s Long Arm Statute.
However, the Maine Supreme Court ruled that a personal jurisdiction must exist between a defendant and their children, property, or finances in order for a District Court ruling to be made. Still, it's admittedly unintuitive for a court to exert jurisdiction over someone with no contacts to the state.
One of the ‘at fault’ grounds for divorce in the state of Maine is nonsupport, when one spouse has demonstrably sufficient ability to provide for the other spouse and grossly, wantonly or cruelly refuses to do so. This unusual divorce law stipulation is not cited in most other states.
Every divorce case filed in Maine must declare the grounds in which the divorce is to be granted, and provide substantiation – otherwise the court may dismiss the case.
