Maine Legal Resources

Overview of the Maine Court System

Maine's judicial system has four different court levels. Which court you see will depend on your particular legal issue.

The probate courts handle all estate and trust matters, as well as adoption, guardianship, and protective proceedings.

District courts handle civil, criminal, and family matters that don't require jury trials. This includes traffic violations, city ordinance violations, minor civil cases, misdemeanor criminal cases, and domestic relations cases. District courts also conduct preliminary hearings for criminal felony and serious misdemeanor cases.

The superior courts handle all legal issues that require jury trials. These include civil trials with larger monetary amounts and more serious misdemeanors and felonies. Superior courts also hear appeals from decisions made in the district and probate courts. 

The highest court in Maine is the Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort in the state. It hears appeals from the lower courts.

Search for the Right Maine Attorney

When faced with a legal issue, contacting an experienced attorney is always the best bet. At LawInfo you can search for a skilled, Lead Counsel Rated Maine attorney by location and by practice area to find the attorney who will best guide you through the legal system while protecting your rights and interests.