Rule 118.Final Orders of Family Law Magistrates; Judicial Review

A party who wants to challenge a Family Law Magistrate's final judgment or order must file an objection in the District Court within 21 days after entry. Without a timely objection, the parties waive their right to object or appeal, and the magistrate's order becomes the judgment of the court, carrying the same effect as a judgment a District Court judge signs. The objection must state the specific grounds for rejecting or modifying the order; a court can dismiss with prejudice an objection that doesn't, but not merely because it's labeled a motion, appeal, or notice of appeal instead of an objection. Once an objection is filed, a judge reviews the record the magistrate built, with or without a hearing, and may adopt, modify, or reject the order, set the matter for further hearing before a judge or magistrate, or send it back to the magistrate with instructions. A magistrate's final order on parental rights and responsibilities, residency, child support, separate support, or personal liberty takes effect when signed and stays in effect until a judge modifies or rejects it. Every written final order from a magistrate must state the parties' right to object and the consequences of not objecting.

An appeal from a judgment entered after an objection follows the Maine Rules of Appellate Procedure; no appeal is available from a magistrate's final order if no timely objection was filed. Parties may waive their right to object and ask for immediate confirmation of the magistrate's order, and may also waive their right to appeal.