COURT ALERTS IN EFFECT. Home → Court Rules
Court Rules
To view PDF documents, you will need the free Adobe Reader. If you need assistance, view our PDF Help page.
On this page:
- Recent rule amendments and orders regarding rules
- Procedural rules
- Rules governing judges, lawyers, and guardians ad litem
- Other guides
Recent Rule Amendments & Orders Regarding Rules
| Order Number | Rule Set Adopted or Amended | Rule Nos. Adopted or Amended | Subject | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Me. Rules 02 | Bar | 1(g), 4(a) | Requirement to provide email address to receive service of documents | 7/1/22 |
| 2022 Me. Rules 01 | Guardians ad litem | 10(d)(4) | Continuing education; courses presented or approved by Maine Judicial Branch | 3/31/22 |
| 2021 Me. Rules 06 | Bar Admission | 5(b); 10(d) | Discontinuation of word "handicap" | 12/7/21 |
| 2021 Me. Rules 05 | Appellate | 1B; 2A(b)-(g); 6(a)-(b); 7(b); 7A(a)(2)(C); 12B(c)-(d) | Appeals in cases from trial courts that use electronic case management and filing; types of Track A appeals; confidentiality of information | 10/8/21 |
| 2021 Me. Rules 04 | Civil | 128; 129 | Petitions to terminate parental rights pursuant to 19-A M.R.S. § 1658; reviews of placements of children in qualified residential treatment programs | 10/18/21 |
Procedural Rules
(Updated June 9, 2022)
- Maine Rules of Civil Procedure:
- Rules only--no advisory notes (as amended October 2021)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (as amended October 2021)
- Maine Rules of Unified Criminal Procedure
- Rules only--no advisory notes (May 2017)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (May 2017)
- Maine Rules of Electronic Court Systems (March 2021)
See also temporary standing order (Effective until further order of the court)
- Maine Rules of Evidence
- Rules only--no advisory notes (June 2018)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (June 2018)
- Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure
- Rules only--no advisory notes (October 2021)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (October 2021)
- Maine Rules of Probate Procedure (July 2019)
- Maine Rules of Small Claims Procedure (June 2007)
Rules Governing Judges, Lawyers, and Guardians ad Litem
(Updated June 9, 2022)
- Rules governing judges:
- Maine Code of Judicial Conduct only (no advisory notes) (September 2017)
- Maine Code of Judicial Conduct complete with advisory notes (September 2017)
- Maine Rules of the Committee on Judicial Conduct (May 2021)
(Formerly the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability)
- Rules governing lawyers:
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct (ethical rules):
- Rules only--no advisory notes (June 2019)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (June 2019)
- Maine Bar Rules:
- Rules only--no advisory notes effective through June 30, 2022 (October 2020)
- Rules only--no advisory notes effective on July 1, 2022 (as amended April 2022)
- Rules complete with advisory notes effective on July 1, 2022 (as amended April 2022)
- Other rules governing lawyers:
- Maine Bar Admission Rules (December 2021)
- Rules for the Maine Assistance Program for Lawyers (November 2014)
- Rules for Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (April 2019)
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct (ethical rules):
- Rules governing guardians ad litem:
- Rules only--no advisory notes (March 2022)
- Rules complete with advisory notes (March 2022)
- Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission (September 2019)
Other Guides
- Checklist for Preparing, Filing, and Maintaining an Appeal Pursuant to the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure (September 2017)
- Appellate Practice Guide for use with The Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure (restyled, effective September 1, 2017) (September 2017)
- A Guide for Appeals to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (August 2009). Note: This guide is based on the former rules, applicable to appeals filed before September 1, 2017.
- Maine Law Review: Uniform Maine Citations (2017) -- Uniform Maine Citations, 2016-2017 Edition, provides updated rules for the citation of Maine legal authorities, including judicial decisions, constitutional provisions, statutory and legislative materials, court rules, treatises, periodicals, and miscellaneous Maine authorities.