Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 22
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036 (2026)

Disposition and principles

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section ME-LEGlegislature.maine.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
1.  Disposition.  In a protection order, the court may order one or more of the following:  
A. No change in custody;   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
B. Departmental supervision of the child and family in the child's home;   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
C. That the child, the custodians, the parents and other appropriate family members accept treatment or services to ameliorate the circumstances related to the jeopardy;   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
D. Necessary emergency medical treatment for the child when the custodians are unwilling or unable to consent;   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
E. Emancipation of the child, if the requirements of Title 15, section 3506‑A are met;   [PL 1983, c. 480, Pt. B, §27 (AMD).]
F. Removal of the child from the child's custodian and granting custody to a noncustodial parent, other person or the department;   [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §189 (COR).]
F-1. Removal of the perpetrator from the child's home, prohibiting direct or indirect contact with the child by the perpetrator and prohibiting other specific acts by the perpetrator which the court finds may threaten the child;   [PL 1985, c. 164 (NEW).]
F-2. Visitation between the child and a sibling pursuant to section 4068;   [PL 2005, c. 526, §1 (NEW).]
G. Payment by the parents of a reasonable amount of support for the child as determined or modified according to Title 19‑A, chapter 63;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. D, §42 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
G-1.   [PL 1997, c. 715, Pt. A, §10 (RP).]
G-2. If the court's jeopardy order includes a finding of an aggravating factor, the court may order the department to cease reunification, in which case a permanency planning hearing must commence within 30 days of the order to cease reunification.   [PL 1997, c. 715, Pt. A, §11 (NEW).]
H. Other specific conditions governing custody; or   [PL 1995, c. 405, §22 (AMD).]
I. The court may not order and the State may not pay for the defendant to attend a domestic violence intervention program unless the program is certified under Title 19‑A, section 4116.   [PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §51 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §65 (AFF).]
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §189 (COR).]
1-A.  Parental rights and responsibilities orders.  Upon request of a parent, the court may enter an order awarding parental rights and responsibilities pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 1653 if the court determines that the order will protect the child from jeopardy and is in the child’s best interest as defined in Title 19‑A, section 1653, subsection 3. The court shall ensure that proper notice was given that the child protective case may be disposed of through an order awarding parental rights and responsibilities upon request of a parent. If the court enters an order pursuant to this subsection:  
A. The court shall direct the clerk to open a family matters case on behalf of the parties and require the case to be appropriately docketed without a separate initial filing by the parties. The court shall require the parties to complete the income affidavits, child support worksheets and supporting documentation as required in Title 19‑A, chapter 63. The court shall enter the order awarding parental rights and responsibilities pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 1653;   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
A-1. The order awarding parental rights and responsibilities may not include reference to or discussion of the child protective case, although the court may identify any jeopardy that remains as a finding of fact. Child protective case documents are confidential, and the court shall seal and keep confidential any documents from the child protective case that are made a part of the record of the family matters case opened under paragraph A;   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (NEW).]
B. The order awarding parental rights and responsibilities is subject to modification or termination in the same manner as other orders entered pursuant to Title 19‑A, section 1653;   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
C. Any person who requests a modification or termination of the order awarding parental rights and responsibilities must serve the department with the motion or petition;   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
D. The department is not a party to proceedings to modify or terminate the order awarding parental rights and responsibilities unless otherwise ordered by the court;   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
D-1. The court may either:  
(1) Immediately dismiss the child protection action; or  
(2) Enter a provisional order awarding parental rights and responsibilities and, after the passage of a period set by the court not to exceed 6 months, the child protection action must be dismissed, with the order awarding parental rights and responsibilities becoming permanent, unless there is good cause shown in writing to continue the child protection action; and   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (NEW).]
E. [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (RP).]
F. When a provisional order awarding parental rights and responsibilities is entered under paragraph D‑1, subparagraph (2), the court may terminate the appointments of the guardian ad litem and attorneys for parents and guardians. When the child protection action is dismissed under paragraph D‑1, subparagraph (1) or (2), the court shall terminate the appointments of the guardian ad litem and attorneys for parents and guardians. After the appointments are terminated, the attorneys and guardian ad litem have no further responsibilities to their clients or the court.   [PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Principles.  In determining the disposition, the court shall apply the following principles in this priority:  
A. Protect the child from jeopardy to the child's health or welfare;   [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §190 (COR).]
B. Give custody to a parent if appropriate conditions can be applied;   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
C. Make disposition in the best interests of the child; and   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
D. Terminate department custody at the earliest possible time.   [PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §190 (COR).]
2-A.  Determination of parentage.  In a protection order or in a judicial review order, the court may determine the parentage of the child. The court's determination of the child's parentage must be made pursuant to Title 19‑A, chapter 61 and has the same legal effect as a determination of parentage made pursuant to that chapter.  
[PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §29 (NEW); PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF).]
3.  Time of order.  The order may be for a specified period, with a review at the end of that period, or it may be for an indeterminate period, not beyond age 18.  
[PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW).]
4.  Disposition of child in custody of department.  The court may not order that a child who has been ordered into the custody of the department be placed with a parent. Nothing in this subsection prevents the department from placing a child in its custody in the home of a parent for a trial period.  
[PL 1985, c. 739, §10 (NEW).]
5.  Notice of criminal penalties.  If an order is issued under this section that contains a provision subject to criminal penalties under section 4036‑A, the order must indicate in a clear and conspicuous manner the potential consequences of violating the order.  
[PL 1993, c. 443, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1979, c. 733, §18 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 480, §B27 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 164 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 739, §§8-10 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 834, §B15 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 443, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 405, §§21-23 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §§D42,43 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 715, §§A10,11 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 526, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 256, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 294, §1 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. C, §29 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 296, Pt. D, §1 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 174, §12 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §51 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §65 (AFF). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §§189, 190 (COR).
The Revisor's Office cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public.
If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 53 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: In Re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159 (Me. 2002).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
In Re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159 (Me. 2002). · cites it 8× “Although prohibitions on the filing of documents *1256 with the court are not expressly discussed in the child protection statutory scheme, 22 M.R.S.A § 4036 (1992 & Supp. 2001) grants the court broad power to fashion individual child protection orders suited to the particular…”
In re Paige L., 2017 ME 97 (Me. 2017). · cites it 9× “[¶ 1] The Legislature enacted 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1-A) (2016) authorizing a court that has made a finding of jeopardy in a title 22 child protection proceeding to “enter an order awarding parental rights and responsibilities” pursuant to 19-A M.”
In re Jacob C., 965 A.2d 47 (Me. 2009). · cites it 9× “3 A *49 hearing concerning the issue of parental rights and responsibilities as authorized under 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1-A) (2008) 4 was ordered.”
In re Nicholas S., 2016 ME 82 (Me. 2016). · cites it 4× “We disagree and affirm the decisions, and we clarify that the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure do not prohibit a trial court, pending our disposition of an appeal from a jeopardy order, from acting pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1-A) (2015) to dismiss a child protection petition…”
In Re Alivia B., 2010 ME 112 (Me. 2010). · cites it 7× “) ordering that the child’s primary residence be with her mother, pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1-A) (2009). The father contends that the court was not authorized to award the child’s primary residential care to the mother because of the court’s earlier finding of jeopardy…”
In Re Christmas C., 1998 ME 258 (Me. 1998). · cites it 5× “) determination that the children are in circumstances of jeopardy and that the Department of Human Services may cease reunification and rehabilitation efforts pursuant to 22 M.R.S.A. § 4036(1)(G-1) (1992 & Supp.1997).”
In Re Johnna M., 2006 ME 46 (Me. 2006). · cites it 4× “§ 4006 (2005), appeals of cease reunification orders entered pursuant to 22 M.R.S. §§ 4036, 4038, or 4041 (2005), are interlocutory appeals, subject to dismissal.”
Matthew W. Pitts v. Amanda M. Moore, 2014 ME 59 (Me. 2014). · cites it 2× “5 These four statutory methods are: (1) pursuant to the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act, which allows the State to place a child with a non-parent to protect the child from abuse or neglect, see 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1)(F); (2) pursuant to the Grandparents…”
In re Z.S., 2015 ME 110 (Me. 2015). · cites it 5× “[¶7] The mother also contends that the court erred by ordering the Department to approve all vaccinations for the child that are deemed essential by a pediatrician in its dispositional order pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036 (2014). [¶8] Title 22 M.”
In re Nicholas G., 200 A.3d 783 (Me. 2019). · cites it 6× “We dismiss the appeal from the child protection matter and affirm the judgment entered in the family matter.”
In re Evelyn A., 2017 ME 182 (Me. 2017). “See 22 M.R.S. §§ 4036(l)(G-2), 4041(2)(A-2)(1) (2016).”
Philbrook v. Theriault, 2008 ME 152 (Me. 2008). · cites it 2× “§ 1653(2)(C) (2007); 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1), (1-A) (2007). This finding may be made either in a child protection proceeding, 22 M.”
Show all 53 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1) — 9 cases
In Re Christmas C., 1998 ME 258 (Me. 1998). “) determination that the children are in circumstances of jeopardy and that the Department of Human Services may cease reunification and rehabilitation efforts pursuant to 22 M.R.S.A. § 4036(1)(G-1) (1992 & Supp.1997).”
In Re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159 (Me. 2002). “Although prohibitions on the filing of documents *1256 with the court are not expressly discussed in the child protection statutory scheme, 22 M.R.S.A § 4036 (1992 & Supp. 2001) grants the court broad power to fashion individual child protection orders suited to the particular…”
Philbrook v. Theriault, 2008 ME 152 (Me. 2008). “§ 1653(2)(C) (2007); 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1), (1-A) (2007). This finding may be made either in a child protection proceeding, 22 M.”
In re Emma B., 2017 ME 187 (Me. 2017).
In Re Johnna M., 2006 ME 46 (Me. 2006). “§ 4006 (2005), appeals of cease reunification orders entered pursuant to 22 M.R.S. §§ 4036, 4038, or 4041 (2005), are interlocutory appeals, subject to dismissal.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1)(A) — 4 cases
In Re Alivia B., 2010 ME 112 (Me. 2010). “) ordering that the child’s primary residence be with her mother, pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1-A) (2009). The father contends that the court was not authorized to award the child’s primary residential care to the mother because of the court’s earlier finding of jeopardy…”
In Re Sabrina M., 460 A.2d 1009 (Me. 1983).
In re Angela H., 195 A.3d 81 (Me. 2018).
In re Child of Angela H., 2018 ME 139 (Me. 2018).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1)(C) — 2 cases
In re Child of Nicholas P., 2019 ME 152 (Me. 2019).
In re B.C., 97 A.3d 1086 (Me. 2014).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1)(D) — 1 case
In re Z.S., 2015 ME 110 (Me. 2015). “[¶7] The mother also contends that the court erred by ordering the Department to approve all vaccinations for the child that are deemed essential by a pediatrician in its dispositional order pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036 (2014). [¶8] Title 22 M.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1)(F) — 10 cases
Matthew W. Pitts v. Amanda M. Moore, 2014 ME 59 (Me. 2014). “5 These four statutory methods are: (1) pursuant to the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act, which allows the State to place a child with a non-parent to protect the child from abuse or neglect, see 22 M.R.S. § 4036(1)(F); (2) pursuant to the Grandparents…”
In re Z.S., 2015 ME 110 (Me. 2015). “[¶7] The mother also contends that the court erred by ordering the Department to approve all vaccinations for the child that are deemed essential by a pediatrician in its dispositional order pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4036 (2014). [¶8] Title 22 M.”
In Re Matthew W., 2006 ME 67 (Me. 2006).
In Re Christmas C., 1998 ME 258 (Me. 1998). “) determination that the children are in circumstances of jeopardy and that the Department of Human Services may cease reunification and rehabilitation efforts pursuant to 22 M.R.S.A. § 4036(1)(G-1) (1992 & Supp.1997).”
In Re Heather C., 2000 ME 99 (Me. 2000).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(1)(H) — 2 cases
In Re Melanie S., 1998 ME 132 (Me. 1998).
In re B.C., 97 A.3d 1086 (Me. 2014).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(2) — 4 cases
In Re Erica B., 520 A.2d 342 (Me. 1987).
In Re Andrea W., 537 A.2d 596 (Me. 1988).
In Re Janna Lynn M., 2002 ME 45 (Me. 2002).
In re B.C., 97 A.3d 1086 (Me. 2014).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(2)(A) — 2 cases
In Re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159 (Me. 2002). “Although prohibitions on the filing of documents *1256 with the court are not expressly discussed in the child protection statutory scheme, 22 M.R.S.A § 4036 (1992 & Supp. 2001) grants the court broad power to fashion individual child protection orders suited to the particular…”
In Re David W., 568 A.2d 513 (Me. 1990).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(4) — 1 case
In Re Erika R., 563 A.2d 369 (Me. 1989).
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 4036(l) — 8 cases
In re Evelyn A., 2017 ME 182 (Me. 2017). “See 22 M.R.S. §§ 4036(l)(G-2), 4041(2)(A-2)(1) (2016).”
In re B.C., 58 A.3d 1118 (Me. 2012).
In re Emma B., 2017 ME 187 (Me. 2017).
In Re Johnna M., 2006 ME 46 (Me. 2006). “§ 4006 (2005), appeals of cease reunification orders entered pursuant to 22 M.R.S. §§ 4036, 4038, or 4041 (2005), are interlocutory appeals, subject to dismissal.”
In Re Ashley S., 2000 ME 212 (Me. 2000).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.