Maine Protection from Harassment Orders: Ask About the Police Notice Before You File
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Maine · Last updated October 22, 2026
In Maine, a protection from harassment order often comes with a prerequisite most states never ask for: unless your complaint rests on a listed crime or is tied to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, you must attach a notice to stop harassing that was already issued to the other person under 17-A M.R.S. 506-A, or explain why you have none (5 M.R.S. 4653(1)(B)). A protection from harassment order is a District Court order telling a person to stop harassing or contacting you, and anyone may ask for one, including a business, because chapter 337-A sets no relationship requirement. If the person harassing you is a spouse, partner, ex, or a family or household member, this is the wrong order and you want a protection from abuse order under 19-A M.R.S. chapter 103 instead. The test is a count: three or more acts of intimidation, confrontation, physical force or threatened physical force, made intending to cause fear, intimidation or property damage, that actually cause it (5 M.R.S. 4651(2)(A)). No bodily injury is required. The court may proceed without the notice, and the judge decides whether you meet the standard. An order lasts up to one year and can be extended. This page is document preparation information, not legal advice, and no order can guarantee your safety. Attorney review is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Maine
Who is harassing you?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
Do I need a police notice before filing for a protection from harassment order in Maine?
Often, yes. Unless the allegation is a listed crime or tied to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, the complaint must attach a 17-A M.R.S. 506-A notice to stop harassing already issued to the defendant, or a statement of good cause why none was obtained (5 M.R.S. 4653(1)(B)).
How many incidents does Maine require for a protection from harassment order?
Three or more acts of intimidation, confrontation, physical force or the threat of physical force, directed at a person, family or business. Each must be made intending to cause fear, intimidation or property damage, and the acts must in fact cause it (5 M.R.S. 4651(2)(A)). A listed crime can qualify on its own.
How long does a Maine protection from harassment order last?
A fixed period not to exceed one year. When it expires, the court may extend it on the plaintiff's motion for such additional time as it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff from harassment, and the statute sets no cap on that extension (5 M.R.S. 4655).
What does it cost to file a protection from harassment complaint in Maine?
The fee is $55.00, but there is no fee when the complaint carries an allegation of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images. These amounts come from Administrative Order JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026, and a fee waiver is available by affidavit.
Maine protection from harassment order rules at a glance
Maine gives this instrument its own title, Protection from Harassment, in 5 M.R.S. chapter 337-A, separate from the abuse chapter 19-A. A protection from harassment order is a District Court order directing a person to stop harassing or contacting you, and it is open to any person, family or business with no relationship needed. Two features shape a Maine filing. The standard is a count of three or more acts rather than a single serious event, with no bodily injury required. And the cost depends on what you allege: $55 for a general harassment complaint, nothing where domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking or unauthorized sharing of private images is alleged. The same allegation also decides whether you need the police notice.
A Lewiston tenant, a downstairs neighbour and a police notice already in hand
A renter in Lewiston has spent a season being pounded on from below whenever she is home, followed to her car in the lot, and shouted at about her hours. The officer she called gave the downstairs neighbour a written notice to stop harassing under 17-A M.R.S. 506-A. Two further incidents follow. Nothing alleges domestic violence, stalking or a sexual offence, so the notice requirement applies, and she attaches the notice to form PA-006 along with PA-005 before paying the $55.00 fee. The step her case turns on is the notice. Had she none, a statement of good cause could take its place, and whether the court is satisfied is for the judge.
Relevant Laws
5 M.R.S. 4651 (definitions of harassment)
Defines harassment as three or more acts of intimidation, confrontation, physical force or the threat of physical force directed against any person, family or business, made with the intention of causing fear, intimidation or damage to personal property and that in fact cause it, or as a listed crime, or as a threat to disseminate private images. The definition does not include any act protected by law. Amended several times in the 132nd Legislature.
5 M.R.S. 4652 (jurisdiction and venue)
Provides that proceedings under chapter 337-A are filed, heard and determined in the District Court of the division in which either the plaintiff or the defendant lives, and that a plaintiff who left home to avoid harassment may file in the previous or the new residence division.
5 M.R.S. 4653 (requests for relief and the notice requirement)
Lets a person who has been a victim of harassment, including a business, file a sworn complaint. Unless an exception applies, the complaint must attach a 17-A M.R.S. 506-A notice to stop harassing issued to the defendant or a statement of good cause for its absence. Also provides that no fee may be charged for the forms themselves.
5 M.R.S. 4654 (hearings and temporary orders)
Requires a hearing at which the plaintiff proves the allegation of harassment by a preponderance of the evidence. Permits a temporary order without notice on a showing of immediate and present danger, with written reasons from the court, and provides that such an order remains in effect pending a hearing. A defendant may move to dissolve or modify on short notice.
5 M.R.S. 4655 (relief and duration)
Provides that a protective order or approved consent agreement is for a fixed period not to exceed one year, that the court may extend it on the plaintiff's motion for such additional time as it deems necessary, and that either party may move to modify it for sufficient cause.
17-A M.R.S. 506-A (harassment, the notice to stop harassing)
The Criminal Code provision under which a notice to stop harassing is issued. Section 4653(1)(B) of Title 5 asks a plaintiff in many cases to attach a copy of that notice to the complaint, or to explain why none was obtained.
19-A M.R.S. 4103 (the protection from abuse order, for contrast)
Chapter 103 of Title 19-A is the domestic violence track, recodified from chapter 101. Section 4103 opens that order to victims of abuse by a family or household member, a dating partner or an individual related by consanguinity or affinity, and without a relationship for stalking and certain other listed conduct. A petitioner in that relationship uses it rather than chapter 337-A.
Administrative Order JB-05-26 (court fees schedule)
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court's revised fees schedule, effective March 9, 2026. Items u, v and w set a $55.00 fee to enter a protection from harassment action, no fee where the action carries an allegation of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images, and no fee for protection from abuse.
Form PA-006, Complaint for Protection from Harassment
The Maine Judicial Branch complaint form, Rev. 09/25, citing 5 M.R.S. 4651 et seq. Its first page states that form PA-005 must be completed and filed with the complaint, and form PA-027 as well if filing electronically, or the complaint will be rejected.
Regional Variances
Maine civil harassment order rules at a glance
Instrument name
Protection from harassment order, started by a Complaint for Protection from Harassment under 5 M.R.S. chapter 337-A, sections 4651 to 4661. It is separate from the protection from abuse order under 19-A M.R.S. chapter 103.
Who it covers, and the relationship test
Any person, family or business that is a victim of harassment may file, against any defendant. Chapter 337-A contains no relationship element (5 M.R.S. 4651(2), 4653(1)). Domestic situations route to 19-A M.R.S. 4103, which covers family or household members, dating partners and relatives.
The standard
Three or more acts of intimidation, confrontation, physical force or the threat of physical force, made with intent to cause fear, intimidation or property damage that do in fact cause it. A listed crime, or a threat to disseminate private images, also qualifies. No bodily injury is required (5 M.R.S. 4651(2)).
Burden of proof
Preponderance of the evidence, proved by the plaintiff at a hearing (5 M.R.S. 4654(1)).
The police notice prerequisite
Unless the allegation is a listed crime or tied to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking, the plaintiff must attach a 17-A M.R.S. 506-A notice to stop harassing already issued to the defendant, or a statement of good cause why none was obtained. The court may proceed without it (5 M.R.S. 4653(1)(B), 4654(2)(A)).
Temporary order
Available without notice on a verified complaint or affidavit showing immediate and present danger of physical abuse or extreme emotional distress, or substantial property damage for a business plaintiff, with written reasons. The statute gives no day-count expiry, and the order remains in effect pending a hearing (5 M.R.S. 4654(2), (3)(C)).
Duration
A fixed period not to exceed one year (5 M.R.S. 4655).
Renewal
At expiration the court may extend the order on the plaintiff's motion for such additional time as it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff from harassment. The statute sets no cap on the extension, and either party may move to modify for sufficient cause (5 M.R.S. 4655).
Court and form
District Court of the division where either party lives (5 M.R.S. 4652). Form PA-006 (Rev. 09/25), filed with PA-005, and PA-027 if filed electronically.
Filing fee
$55.00 for a protection from harassment action. No fee where the complaint carries an allegation of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, sex trafficking or unauthorized dissemination of certain private images. A fee waiver is available by affidavit. No fee may be charged for the forms (JB-05-26, effective March 9, 2026; 5 M.R.S. 4653(3)).
Service, firearms and violation
This page does not state a service method, a firearm rule or a penalty for violation, because they are outside the sourced record for this page. Ask the District Court clerk about each before relying on the order, and note that an order directs behaviour and carries consequences, but cannot guarantee safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Maine guides
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Adverse Possession in Maine: Twenty Years, and Which Kind of Land It Is
Asset Protection Planning in Maine (2026)
Dealing With Debt Collectors in Maine (2026)
Delinquent Property Taxes in Maine: The Lien Forecloses By Itself, 18 Months After It Is Recorded
Expunging a Criminal Record in Maine (2026)
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