Charlotte, ME Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Charlotte, ME Consumers

Maine Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Maine PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Washington County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Maine) for Washington County.
• How Probate Works in Maine: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Washington County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Maine probate forms from the Maine probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Maine: Learn how to use Maine's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • You can use an Affidavit in Maine for estates with less than $40,000, not counting liens or encumbrances (like a mortgage). There is a thirty-day waiting period.

    Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 3-1201 and following.

    You can use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and cots of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.

    Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 3-1203 and following.

    A surviving spouse who inherits everything outright can also use a summary probate procedure.

• Maine Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Maine imposes an estate tax on property owned in Maine. If you are inheriting property from the state of Maine, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $6,410,000.

• Avoiding Probate in Maine. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Maine Wage & Hour Law

• Maine Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Maine is $14.15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Maine must be paid at least $14.15 an hour.

  • Learn more about the minimum wage in Maine at https://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/minimum_wage_faq.html.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Maine and whether they apply to you.

  • If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you are exempt. See Overtime Rule Changes that Apply to Maine Employers, at the website of the Maine Department of Labor, to learn more about Maine's overtime rules and exemptions. (Among other things, Maine applies a different salary test for white collar workers than the FLSA.)

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Maine. 

  • Maine does not have an online wage claim form. Contact the Maine Department of Labor at 207-623-7900 to find out more about how Maine's minimum wage law is enforced. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Maine.

  • In Maine, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $7.08 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14.15 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Maine law from the Maine Department of Labor. 207-623-7900

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Maine Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Maine: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Maine, unemployment benefits range from $100 per week to $573 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Maine, your weekly benefit amount will be your average quarterly wages in the two highest paid quarters of the base period, divided by 22. 

  • Duration:

    In Maine, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Maine.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Maine MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Washington County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Maine BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Maine law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Maine BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in Maine 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Maine Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Washington County: Washington County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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Maine Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Maine!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Maine? Learn about whether Maine imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Washington County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In Maine, Washington County, Charlotte 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Charlotte, ME.
• Gerrymandering in Maine: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in Charlotte, ME

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration

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