[chocolateberrie]

When I met my husband, I was young and living life and having fun. I only had two good friends and no family. He was great, we fell in love, and married. Soon after, my two friends both moved away and we lost touch, so all I had was him. After two years of trying to have children and not being able to conceive, I did get pregnant but it ended in a miscarriage. After that, he started cheating but because I wasn't working much after multiple surgeries and didn't have anywhere to go, I stayed. Last month, I lost my job and discovered he was meeting women online. I have been applying to job after job but without much experience and no college education, I haven't even been getting any calls, let alone any interviews. I stayed because I had nowhere to go but even though I still made him dinner and cleaned, I didn't 'love' him as a wife should. I stopped having sex so that I wouldn't catch an STD just in case he wasn't being faithful and I barely showed him any affection. Maybe if I had of, he would have just cheated and stayed with me. He just broke it off with me today and he wants everything to be over. He wants me out. I have no income, no friends, and no family.

I'm a little embarrassed I let my life get this way, but I guess I have it better than a lot of people. So, here is the thing. I have a car and it runs okay. It's not paid for, so it will be gone in a month or two anyway, but for now, can I live in my car in Maine? Are there any legal issues I should be aware of? Can I park my car anywhere overnight and sleep in it? I don't drink or do drugs or do anything illegal. Now, I just bought a 9mm today off from someone from Craigslist for protection. My mother and I were homeless when I was a child and we were both raped and I don't want that to happen again. I do not have a concealed weapons permit, but I also cannot afford the class. I want to have the gun in my car for protection, but I don't want to get in trouble for carrying it. Does it have to be out in the open for people to see?

Also, when I cannot afford to pay on my car anymore, am I allowed to go to a homeless shelter? Can I shower at truck stops? It's the last thing that I want to do because I don't want anyone to know my situation right now. I have never been arrested, I don't do anything illegal and I just want to keep it that way. I'm not trying to cause problems, just want to live and make sure I'm never hurt again.

[anthonyrichardc]

How about getting unemployment benefits or at least seek help from family services or the govt.

[tkrussell]

I am not expert in this field, so you may get better advice than I provide, but I live in Maine also, and felt a need to help where I can.

I think the first place you need to try is DHHS:

Department of Health and Human Services

Someone there should be able to help with legal advice.

I do not think hubby can just say "done, get out".

You keeping a 9 MM handgun, concealed, in a car, is a serious issue.

Here is Maine's gun law:

http://handgunlaw.us/states/maine.pdf

[Fr_Chuck]

You can not shower at the truck stops, they are restricted to the trucks getting fuel..

You can try the Y to shower. You can always stay at a shelter, some have a small fee to stay.
You should check out shelters, food kitchens.

A gun will get you into jail and is really the last thing you need.

[JudyKayTee]

He can't throw you out. You need to speak to an Attorney NOW. If you can't afford an Attorney find one who gives free consultations and then ask the Attorney to have the Court award legal fees to you.

Again - he can't throw you out.

[AK lawyer]

...
You keeping a 9 MM handgun, concealed, in a car, is a serious issue.

Here is Maine's gun law:

http://handgunlaw.us/states/maine.pdf

I used to be a concealed carry permit instructor (in Alaska, before they changed the law so as to not require a permit). I agree, carrying a concealed handgun in your car would be a very bad idea. The pertinent part of that page linked to by Tkrussell suggests that you could get away with having an unloaded handgun with a clip nearby, but that wouldn't do you much use in an emergency. And in general I wouldn't advise you to plan on keeping a handgun for personal protection (concealed or otherwise) unless you have first taken a course. There are just too many ways to get in very serious legal trouble otherwise.


But I agree with JudyKayTee. Don't let him "kick you out". Insist upon a reasonable divorce settlement (including alimony) first.