B.__Whether the person has performed parental caretaking functions of the child to a significant degree.__For the purposes of this section, parental caretaking functions may include, but are not limited to, contributing toward the child's residential, educational, recreational, child care and medical, dental and mental health care needs;

C.__Whether the person has accepted full and permanent responsibilities as a parent without expectation of financial compensation;

D.__Whether the person has contributed financially to the support of the child; and

E.__Whether the person, with the consent and encouragement of a parent, has formed a parent-child bond with the child.

3.__Parental rights and responsibilities.__Upon adjudication of a person as a de facto parent, the court shall determine parental rights and responsibilities in accordance with section 1653.

4.__Other parents.__The adjudication of a person as a de facto parent does not affect the rights and responsibilities of any other parent, unless otherwise determined by a court.

5.__Child support.__A de facto parent____________required to pay child support in accordance with the child support guidelines under chapter 63.__The requirement that a de facto parent pay child support does not relieve any other parent of the obligation to pay child support unless otherwise determined by a court.

Maine Comment

Section 1845 was added to address a separate category of parentage, "de facto" parents. De facto parentage was initially recognized as an equitable remedy in Maine law based on the particular facts and circumstances of a parent-child relationship. See CEW v. DEW, 2004, ME 43; Young v. Young, 2004 ME 44. In contrast to the types of parentage established by UPA 2002 at conception, birth or in the first two years of the child's life, a de facto parent-child relationship develops over time and requires a demonstration of a certain quality of relationship. Consistent with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's recognition of a de facto parent as a category of parent, the Maine amendment sets forth the factors for a court to consider in