Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1651 (2026)

Parents joint natural guardians of children

✓ current as of May 2026

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The parents are the joint natural guardians of their minor children and are jointly entitled to the care, custody, control, services and earnings of their children. Neither parent has any rights paramount to the rights of the other with reference to any matter affecting their children. [PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §17 (AMD); PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §17 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2000–2025 · leading case: Richards v. Town of Eliot, 2001 ME 132 (Me. 2001).

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Richards v. Town of Eliot, 2001 ME 132 (Me. 2001). “19-A M.R.S.A. § 1651 (1998). This means that they could have reasonably believed that any person, other than the child’s father, who refused Jennifer’s request to turn the child over to her, was illegally restraining the child.”

Nancy J. McCandless v. John Ramsey, 2019 ME 111 (Me. 2019). “1996) ; see also 19-A M.R.S. § 1651 (2018). 1 The Ramseys moved for summary judgment on the ground that McCandless's negligence action was barred due to the statutory immunity provisions of 7 M.”

State v. Haag, 48 A.3d 207 (Me. 2012). “” 19-A M.R.S. § 1651 (2011). We have held that a father could be held criminally liable for criminal restraint by a parent, absent a court order, when he took his children from their home with the intention of hiding them from their mother.”

Adoption of Michaela C., 863 A.2d 270 (Me. 2004). “See 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1651 (1998). .We are confident that the Sagadahoc County Probate Court will act expeditiously when hearing the concerns of the interested parties.”

Conrad v. Swan, 940 A.2d 1070 (Me. 2008). “19-A M.R.S. §§ 1651— 1658 (2006). A case management conference was held with the parties on June 29, 2006.”

Burrell v. Anderson, 353 F. Supp. 2d 55 (D. Me. 2005). · cites it 2× “19-A M.R.S.A. § 1651. As he repeatedly references the 1993 court order that gave him sole authority to discipline A.”

In re Perry, 845 A.2d 1153 (Me. 2004). · cites it 2× “Rush asserts that his parental rights conferred by 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1651 (1998) endow him with the authority to unilaterally change Joshua’s name pursuant to the Maine Probate Code, 18-A M.”

Kateryna A. Bagrii v. John P. Campbell, 2025 ME 38 (Me. 2025). · cites it 2× “Chen has done nothing that would justify a court order compelling her to share parental rights and responsibilities with Bagrii, whom she had never even met before these proceedings.”

Andrew M. Landeen v. Ashley Burch, 2025 ME 5 (Me. 2025). · cites it 2× “5 Affirming the Probate Court, we ruled that the father could not unilaterally seek the name change, citing 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1651 (1998), which provided and still provides that “[n]either parent has any rights paramount to the rights of the other with reference to any matter…”

Nancy J. McCandless v. John Ramsey, 2019 ME 111 (Me. 2019). “1996); see also 19-A M.R.S. § 1651 (2018).1 The Ramseys moved for summary judgment on the ground that McCandless’s negligence action was barred due to the statutory immunity provisions of 7 M.”

State of Maine, Dep't of Human Servs. v. McGowan (Me. Super. Ct 2000). “Defendant’s remedy is to file an action to determine parental rights and responsibilities, pursuant to 19-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1651 et seq. The docket entry must be: Appeal DENIED.”

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