What is an abandonment affidavit for adoption in Maine?

An abandonment affidavit in Maine is a sworn written statement that describes how long, and in what ways, the other biological parent has been absent from your child's life. It is used when you are asking the Probate Court to approve a stepparent adoption without that parent's agreement.

What the affidavit covers:

• The date of the last known contact between the other parent and your child
• What the absence has looked like: visits, calls, messages or other communication, or the lack of them
• How long the absence has lasted, measured against Maine's abandonment period of 6 months (18-C M.R.S. § 9-204; 22 M.R.S. § 4002(1-A))
• Whether the other parent has provided any financial support
• Any efforts you or your spouse made to keep the other parent involved

Who signs it: The affidavit is usually written by the parent who has had day-to-day knowledge of the situation, which is typically your spouse. Because it is sworn, it has to be signed in the way the court requires. The Probate Court clerk in your county can confirm the exact signing and notarization requirements, and whether a supporting statement from you is useful.

Why it matters: The affidavit is where the facts are put in front of the court. Dates, specifics and honesty matter far more than strong language. Vague statements such as "he was never around" give the court little to work with, while concrete details give it a clear picture. Whether a particular set of facts amounts to abandonment, especially if the other parent disagrees, depends on your situation. For that question, speak with an attorney.

How it fits into the Maine process:

• Your case is filed in the Probate Court in your county, and Maine has 16 counties.
• Maine has no minimum residency period before you can file (18-C M.R.S. § 9-301).
• If your child is 12 or older, the child's own consent is part of the process (18-C M.R.S. § 9-302).
• The home study is waived in stepparent cases (18-C M.R.S. § 9-304).
• Stepparent adoptions in Maine typically take about 3-6 months.
• Filing fees vary, so ask the Probate Court clerk in your county for the current amount.

Before you write it: Gather what you can to jog your memory and keep the details accurate. Useful items include old texts, emails, cards, court or support records, and notes on the dates of the last visit or call. If you are unsure whether the other parent's absence meets Maine's abandonment period, or if you do not know where the other parent is, the clerk or an attorney can tell you how to handle that specific issue.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, including the details about the other parent's absence, and we prepare the complete court document package for your county, including the affidavit. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child and $99 for each additional child. Court-ready documents are delivered within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and the package comes with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We have helped 151 Maine families so far.