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In Maine, the custodial parent collects child support from the other parent until the child is 18 or graduates from high school but not later than age 19. The court does not have legal authority in this state to order either parent to pay college tuition.

Under Maine law, parents have a responsibility to provide financial support for their minor children, to the extent they are able. When parents do not live together, often one parent will pay money to the other as child support, whether they are married or not married.

State law requires all parents to support their children. It does not matter if the parents were ever married. If you do not live with your children, you will probably be required to send regular child support payments to the parent or other person who is caring for your child.

Maine follows the "Income Shares Model," which means that a judge will determine support by calculating how much each parent spent on the child while living together as a family. This number is then divided ing to each parent's income to come up with a final support amount.

The child support obligation ends when 1 of the following factors occur: (1) Any child reaches 18 years of age and has graduated from secondary school; (2) Any child reaches 19 years of age without having graduated from secondary school; (3) Any child obtains an order of emancipation; or (4) Any child dies. 2.

There is no set age when the court will consider the child's opinion; the judge decides whether the child is "old enough" on a case-by-case basis. The judge will consider the reasons behind the child's preference to determine whether the opinion is meaningful.