{"data":{"id":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-4109","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"19-A M.R.S. §4109","heading":"Hearings","body":"1.  Full hearing.  Within 21 days of the filing of a complaint, a hearing must be held at which the plaintiff must prove the allegation of abuse or conduct specified in section 4103 by a preponderance of the evidence.  If a request for temporary, emergency or interim relief is denied, the hearing must be held as soon as practicable within the 21-day period.  Nothing in this section limits the court's discretion to continue the final hearing upon the court's own motion or upon the motion of either party.\n2.  Self-defense.  The right to relief under this chapter is not affected by the plaintiff's use of reasonable force in response to abuse by the defendant.\n3.  Intoxication.  Voluntary intoxication is not a defense to an action under this chapter.","path":["TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS","PART 4: PROTECTION FROM ABUSE","CHAPTER 103: PROTECTION FROM ABUSE"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/19-A/title19-Asec4109.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"c0bd2b43a3a41354f6a5680d9097d415bce594332b9c50e4d6df4a187fb811dd","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-4108","next":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-4110"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}