A tool designed to estimate the potential financial support one spouse may be required to provide to the other following a divorce in Maine. This estimation takes into account various factors such as the length of the marriage, the income of each spouse, and their respective contributions to the marital estate. For example, if a couple was married for 20 years and one spouse significantly out-earned the other during that period, this tool might suggest a certain level of financial assistance to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living.
The availability of such estimation resources is significant because it provides parties involved in divorce proceedings with a preliminary understanding of potential financial obligations and entitlements. This foreknowledge can facilitate more informed negotiations and potentially reduce the contentiousness and expense of divorce proceedings. Historically, determining appropriate financial support levels after divorce has been a complex and often subjective process. These tools introduce a degree of standardization and predictability, though outcomes ultimately remain subject to judicial discretion.