Best Co-Parenting in Maine — 11 resources

About Co-Parenting for Women

Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced mothers share custody constructively and document communication. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'children first' or 'co-parenting' classes) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children — typically 4–6 hours, online or in person, costing 5–$75. Court-based mediation programs are often free or sliding-scale and certified through state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible message logs, shared calendars, and expense tracking that family judges increasingly require in high-conflict cases. This directory includes state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.

Co-Parenting in Maine

Maine district courts handle most family matters; superior courts handle more complex cases and appeals. The Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery operates under DHHS. Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Auburn are the largest cities. Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence support women, with strong online self-help resources for custody and support.

11 Resources

1. Maine Association of Mediators

Statewide membership group of trained Maine mediators handling family, divorce, and parenting-plan disputes outside of court. Hourly fees vary by mediator; sliding scale is common. Call 207-289-3317 to ask for a referral by county and to confirm which roster mediators handle high-conflict cases or Wabanaki-family matters.

207-289-3317 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

2. UMaine Cooperative Extension — Parenting — Free

UMaine Extension delivers research-based parenting education across all 16 Maine counties, including programs for separating and divorcing families. Many courses count toward parental-rights court requirements. Call 207-581-3188 to ask which county extension office runs the next 'Children Cope with Divorce' or 'Building Family Strengths' session near you.

207-581-3188 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Maine Children's Trust — Free

Augusta-based statewide nonprofit at 116 State St funding Parents as Teachers, home-visiting, and child-abuse prevention programs across Maine. Especially useful for first-time mothers or families in transition who want a parent educator in the home. Call 207-623-5120 to find the partner site in your county.

207-623-5120 · 116 State St, Augusta, ME 04330 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

4. Our Family Wizard — Free

OFW is the co-parenting app Maine District Court judges most often order high-conflict parents to use. Mothers get a tamper-proof message log, expense ledger, shared calendar, and a ToneMeter that flags hostile language. Monthly subscription required; fee waivers are available through some Maine courts on request.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. TalkingParents — Free

Co-parenting platform whose verified message and call records are routinely admitted into Maine family-court evidence. The free tier covers messaging and a shared calendar; paid tier adds recorded calls and an accountable payment ledger. A budget alternative to OFW for lower-conflict Maine cases.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. AppClose — Free

Free co-parenting app with shared calendars, expense splitting, and integrated payments — a no-cost option for Maine mothers whose case does not require court-ordered OFW. Available on iOS and Android with no premium tier required for the core features.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. 2houses — Free

Co-parenting platform with a strong shared medical-records feature — useful when a Maine child has chronic conditions and both parents need real-time access to immunization records, allergies, and prescription lists. Free trial then subscription.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Coparenter — Free

Co-parenting app distinguished by its on-demand mediation feature — for a per-incident fee, a licensed mediator joins the chat to resolve a disagreement in real time. Helpful for Maine moms whose case does not have an assigned parenting coordinator.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Up to Parents — Free

Free, court-recommended online course that fulfills the parent-education requirement in many Maine counties and refocuses both parents on their children's needs rather than their grievances. No login required; certificate downloads as a PDF and can be filed with the District Court.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Cozi Family Organizer — Free

Free shared calendar, grocery list, and to-do tool that low-conflict Maine co-parents use to coordinate schedules across two households. Not court-admissible like OFW, but a clean lightweight option when both parents communicate respectfully.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Custody X Change — Free

Subscription software that generates printable parenting-time calendars matching common Maine schedules — alternating weeks, 2-2-3, every-other-weekend with a midweek dinner — plus parenting-plan language formatted to attach to a Maine District Court filing.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many co-parenting resources are in Maine?
Women's Corner tracks 11 co-parenting resources for women in Maine.
Are co-parenting resources in Maine free?
10 of the 11 listed co-parenting resources in Maine are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Maine have co-parenting resources?
Listings span cities including Augusta.
What are some examples of co-parenting resources in Maine?
Featured entries include Maine Association of Mediators, UMaine Cooperative Extension — Parenting, Maine Children's Trust, Our Family Wizard, TalkingParents.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
3 of 11 Maine co-parenting listings include phone numbers.
Is a parenting class required for divorce?
In most states, yes — a 4–6 hour court-approved co-parenting class (5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list. The class is gender-neutral and focuses on protecting kids from conflict.
What's mediation and do I have to do it?
Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party to agree on a parenting plan. Most states require at least one mediation session before contested custody hearings. It's faster, cheaper, and less traumatic than litigation. If there's domestic violence history, you can request to opt out or have separate-room mediation.
Which co-parenting app should I use?
OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are accepted as evidence in court in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and a tone-monitoring feature. If your ex is abusive or harassing, these apps create a documented record judges will read.
How do I co-parent with someone who was abusive?
Use parallel parenting instead of cooperative co-parenting — minimize contact, use a court-monitored app for all communication, exchange the child at a neutral location or police station, and stick strictly to the written parenting plan. Document everything. Many states allow supervised exchanges through Safe Exchange programs at no cost.