Practice
When a family needs to open a decedent’s estate, reform a trust that no longer meets its intent, ask the court to appoint a guardian or conservator, complete an adoption, or change a name—that work belongs in probate court. Probate court is not like other courts in Maine. There are very specific deadlines and filings you must get done. We handle all of the filings and deadlines so you can focus on what matters the most, your family.
We gather the will, the death certificate, the list of heirs, and the petition the court expects. Informal probate is often enough; when the estate needs more, we say so in the consult. We help inventory the house, the accounts, and the camp, and we keep one official record.
A trust written years ago can miss a later marriage, a disability, a tax change, or a camp still in the old name. When the document has fallen out of line with its intent, we petition the court to reform it and put the record in order.
Adults and minors. A guardian is appointed for the person. A conservator is appointed for the property. We file when a parent, an adult child, or a relative needs the court to name someone who can make those decisions.
Stepparent, relative, and other Maine adoptions that belong in probate court. We take care of the process—the petition, the consents, the hearing file—and we work to make everything run smoothly so the family can focus on becoming a family.
A Maine name change is a probate-court petition. We prepare the filing, the notice, and the hearing so the new name is on the record and you can take it to Social Security, the BMV, and the bank.
Most Probate work is a flat fee.
Decedent’s Estates
Additional Services
If the probate is contested, additional court time is billed hourly against a separate retainer.
Prices are subject to change. Call the office to confirm.