Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 19-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657 (2026)

Modification or termination of orders for parental rights and responsibilities

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Modification or termination.  An order for parental rights and responsibilities may be modified or terminated as circumstances require:  
A. Upon the petition of one or both of the parents; or   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
B. Upon the motion of an agency or person who has been granted parental rights and responsibilities or contact with a child under this chapter.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Change in circumstances.  In reviewing a motion for modification or termination filed under chapter 59 or section 1653 or 1655, the following constitute a substantial change in circumstances:  
A. The relocation, or intended relocation, of a child resident in this state to another state by a parent, when the other parent is a resident of this State and there exists an award of shared or allocated parental rights and responsibilities concerning the child;   [PL 1997, c. 403, §2 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 403, §4 (AFF).]
A-1. The relocation, or intended relocation, of a child that will disrupt the parent-child contact between the child and the parent who is not relocating, if there exists an award of shared or allocated parental rights and responsibilities concerning the child. Relocating the child more than 60 miles from the residence of the parent who is relocating or more than 60 miles from the residence of the parent who is not relocating is presumed to disrupt the parent-child contact between the child and the parent who is not relocating;   [PL 1997, c. 403, §3 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 403, §4 (AFF).]
A-2. The receipt of notice of the intended relocation of the child as required under section 1653, subsection 14; or   [PL 1997, c. 403, §3 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 403, §4 (AFF).]
B. A finding by the court that domestic or family violence has occurred since the last determination of primary residence.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 1997, c. 403, §§2, 3 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 403, §4 (AFF).]
3.  Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.  The jurisdiction granted by this section to make or alter an order concerning parental rights and responsibilities with respect to a minor child is limited by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, if another state may have jurisdiction as provided in that Act.  
[PL 1999, c. 486, §1 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 486, §6 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 403, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 403, §4 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 486, §1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 486, §6 (AFF).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2021 · leading case: Smith v. Padolko, 2008 ME 56 (Me. 2008).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Smith v. Padolko, 2008 ME 56 (Me. 2008). · cites it 3× “[¶ 10] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2007) governs the modification of parental rights and responsibilities as follows: 1.”
Sargent v. Braun, 902 A.2d 839 (Me. 2006). · cites it 4× “[¶ 7] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2005) provides in relevant part: 1.”
Smith v. Rideout, 2010 ME 69 (Me. 2010). · cites it 2× “Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2009) states in relevant part: 1.”
Lisa Roalsvik v. Brett Comack, 2019 ME 71 (Me. 2019). · cites it 2× “3d 116 (alterations and quotation marks omitted); 19-A M.R.S. §§ 1657(1)(A), (2) (2018). Because at trial Roalsvik bore the burden of proof on her motion, see Little v.”
Patrick T. Jackson III v. Sally A. (Jackson) Macleod, 2014 ME 110 (Me. 2014). · cites it 2× “Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2013) provides: § 1657.”
Sloan v. Christianson, 2012 ME 72 (Me. 2012). “6 [¶ 38] Pursuant to 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1)(A) (2011), an order for parental rights and responsibilities may be modified as circumstances require upon the petition of one or both parents.”
Desmond v. Desmond, 2011 ME 57 (Me. 2011). · cites it 2× “See 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2010); Smith v. Padolko, 2008 ME 56, ¶ 11 , 955 A.”
Douglas v. Douglas, 2012 ME 67 (Me. 2012). “Modification of Decree [¶ 14] In the context of a motion to modify a divorce decree brought pursuant to 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1)(A) (2011), we have consistently held that the trial court must engage in a two-fold inquiry: “First, whether since the prior order there has occurred a…”
In re Paige L., 2017 ME 97 (Me. 2017). “See 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(2)(B) (2016); see also 19-A M.”
Wendell K. Brasier v. Vanessa L. Preble, 2013 ME 109 (Me. 2013). · cites it 2× “3d 88 (discussing 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1) (2012)) (quotation marks omitted).”
Neudek v. Neudek, 2011 ME 66 (Me. 2011). · cites it 2× “DISCUSSION [¶ 10] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1) (2010) governs the modification of a parental rights and responsibilities order: “An order for parental rights and responsibilities may be modified or terminated as circumstances require .”
Melanie G. Boyd v. Edward W. Manter, 2018 ME 25 (Me. 2018). “See 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2017); 19-A M.R.S. § 2009 (2017).”
Show all 28 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(1) — 4 cases
Smith v. Rideout, 2010 ME 69 (Me. 2010). “Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2009) states in relevant part: 1.”
Mark R. Martin v. Marylou E. MacMahan, 2021 ME 62 (Me. 2021).
Wendell K. Brasier v. Vanessa L. Preble, 2013 ME 109 (Me. 2013). “3d 88 (discussing 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1) (2012)) (quotation marks omitted).”
Neudek v. Neudek, 2011 ME 66 (Me. 2011). “DISCUSSION [¶ 10] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1) (2010) governs the modification of a parental rights and responsibilities order: “An order for parental rights and responsibilities may be modified or terminated as circumstances require .”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(1)(A) — 12 cases
Sloan v. Christianson, 2012 ME 72 (Me. 2012). “6 [¶ 38] Pursuant to 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1)(A) (2011), an order for parental rights and responsibilities may be modified as circumstances require upon the petition of one or both parents.”
Douglas v. Douglas, 2012 ME 67 (Me. 2012). “Modification of Decree [¶ 14] In the context of a motion to modify a divorce decree brought pursuant to 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1)(A) (2011), we have consistently held that the trial court must engage in a two-fold inquiry: “First, whether since the prior order there has occurred a…”
Lisa Roalsvik v. Brett Comack, 2019 ME 71 (Me. 2019). “3d 116 (alterations and quotation marks omitted); 19-A M.R.S. §§ 1657(1)(A), (2) (2018). Because at trial Roalsvik bore the burden of proof on her motion, see Little v.”
Patrick T. Jackson III v. Sally A. (Jackson) Macleod, 2014 ME 110 (Me. 2014). “Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2013) provides: § 1657.”
Sargent v. Braun, 902 A.2d 839 (Me. 2006). “[¶ 7] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2005) provides in relevant part: 1.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(1998) — 1 case
Fraser v. Boyer, 1998 ME 253 (Me. 1998).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(2) — 3 cases
Sargent v. Braun, 902 A.2d 839 (Me. 2006). “[¶ 7] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2005) provides in relevant part: 1.”
Lisa Roalsvik v. Brett Comack, 2019 ME 71 (Me. 2019). “3d 116 (alterations and quotation marks omitted); 19-A M.R.S. §§ 1657(1)(A), (2) (2018). Because at trial Roalsvik bore the burden of proof on her motion, see Little v.”
Wendell K. Brasier v. Vanessa L. Preble, 2013 ME 109 (Me. 2013). “3d 88 (discussing 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(1) (2012)) (quotation marks omitted).”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(2)(2007) — 1 case
Smith v. Padolko, 2008 ME 56 (Me. 2008). “[¶ 10] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2007) governs the modification of parental rights and responsibilities as follows: 1.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 1657(2)(B) — 4 cases
Smith v. Padolko, 2008 ME 56 (Me. 2008). “[¶ 10] Title 19-A M.R.S. § 1657 (2007) governs the modification of parental rights and responsibilities as follows: 1.”
In re Paige L., 2017 ME 97 (Me. 2017). “See 19-A M.R.S. § 1657(2)(B) (2016); see also 19-A M.”
Cory M. Kelley v. Laura E. McKee, 2019 ME 155 (Me. 2019).
Cory M. Kelley v. Laura E. McKee, 2019 ME 155 (Me. 2019).
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