Maine Probate - Probate in Maine
If you are currently in a situation where you’ll be dealing with the Maine state court system in relation to a probate or estate related matter, or if you think that you will be in this kind of situation in the near future, it is important that you hire an attorney that knows the ins and outs of Maine probate law.
Probate law has to do with the handling of an estate when someone, such as a family member or other loved one, passes away. These are the laws that make sure that the creditors are paid properly and that assets are distributed to the “ heirs,” or the descendant. When you find yourself in a situation where you’ll be dealing with probate law, it’s a good idea to already have in mind what you are going to need to do.
What exactly is Probate? Probate is a legal process that begins with a “petition” (a request) to open the estate and name a personal representative who is responsible for the administration of the deceased’s property. The next step is when an official Notice of Creditors is printed in a local newspaper and Notice of Administration is sent to other involved parties. Creditors then have a set amount of time to file their claims from the first date of publication. Then the personal representative can pay the debt and distribute the remaining estate. Finally, a petition for discharge is filed, and the estate is closed.
While on one hand, this may sound simple, probate law and the handling of estates is in fact a complex system, which presents you with multiple requirements and tasks to be preformed by the personal representative, an experienced attorney and a tax consultant. For example, an estate including only a single house and single bank account that has been left to a single beneficiary will probably be a far easier and quicker process to deal with than an estate containing multiple houses that are located in various states, and that are left to multiple beneficiaries. This becomes especially difficult if an estate includes leaving assets to a minor.
Probate Law in Maine
People dealing with probate matters in the state of Maine, should be aware of a few important factors which ultimately contribute to the outcome of a given probate experience. The first has to do with understanding the ways that probate procedures work in Maine. This is particularly important seeing that the only way to get through the Maine state probate process is by adhering to the standardized procedures.
You’ll also want to know all about how the debts owed to the decedent are to be handled. This is especially the case for the personal representative who takes on responsibilities like these, as well as others. The surviving spouse and any children have a right to an “elective share”, meaning they are entitled to a portion of the estate, as is recorded in the will and as the state sees fit.
Finally, if you’re probating in Maine you need to know the specifics about wills. Things, even as basic as understanding who may witness the signing of a will can help you get through your probate process without delays. People nowadays often find that the best option is to hire an attorney to help them with these matters, seeing that attorneys have experience and extensive knowledge in the field.
In Maine, there are a couple of procedural factors than come into play during the probate system that are extremely important for the success of your case. The first of these is the management of deadlines and time limitations that are placed on certain tasks by the state. Examples of this are the filing of a petition for the probate of an estate and claims charged against the estate of a decedent. For things like this, it is important that time limitations are adhered to. If they are not, your case is likely to get delayed and held up in the system.
The second factor has to do with writing and reading formal, legal documentation. In Maine, some of the documents that need to be written in accordance with standards set by the state probate system include requests, petitions, wills, affidavits, waivers and inventories. People who have difficulty taking care of these documents on their own often find it helpful to hire an attorney to help them so that they assure the success of their probate case.
People dealing with the Maine state probate code should know all about how debts owed to the decedent are to be handled. To begin with, a debt owed to a decedent won’t be charged against the intestate share of any person except the debtor. That’s an important piece of information, given the fact that the personal representative will be responsible for overseeing the management of these affairs and will need to make sure that debts are paid by those responsible for them.
With respect to debts, it’s also important to know that a debt is not taken into account when a debtor dies before the decedent. That means that people who die in debt are not obligated to have the people who manage their estate and assets, pay off their debts after the time of their death.
It’s important that you’re aware of the fact that if a married person dies in the state of Maine, the surviving spouse has the right to take a portion of the estate for him or herself.
This is of course, subject to the rules and codes found in the Maine state probate code. For this and many other reasons, one could greatly benefit from legal expertise to ensure that their case is being handled properly.
When it comes time to write a will in the state of Maine, one important question to ask is: Who is allowed to witness? You should know that any person who is seen in the eyes of the court to be generally competent as a witness is allowed to act as one for a will. Choosing witnesses is a particularly important process in the writing of a will, given that these people will have roles later on, when the estate is up for probate.
It’s also important that you know that a will isn’t invalid if an interested witness has signed it. As opposed to situations like taking inventory of an estate in which only “disinterested” people are allowed to partake in these activities, interested people may also be witnesses in the Maine state probate process. For people who are not quite familiar with these kinds of laws, and who don’t have time to set aside to learn about them, the best option would be to hire an attorney to help them through the process.
As you can see, handling Probate laws is not an easy thing to go through or deal with, which is one of the many reasons why it’s often a good idea to hire an attorney experienced in the field of Maine probate law to help you with the matter. Having an attorney on your side will help you make sure that the estate and assets of your loved one’s particular case are handled in a proper and legal fashion.
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Maine Probate Lawyer Areas Served
Maine Cities Served By A 1800 Probate Lawyer
| Portland | Lewiston | Bangor |
| South Portland | Auburn | Brunswick |
| Biddeford | Sanford | Augusta |
| Scarborough | Saco | Westbrook |
| Waterville | Windham | Gorham |
| York | Kennebunk | Falmouth |
| Kittery | Presque Isle | Wells |
| Standish | Bath | Orono |
| Topsham | Lisbon | Cape Elizabeth |
| Brewer | ||
| And Many More! | ||
|---|---|---|
Maine Counties Served By A 1800 Probate Lawyer
| Androscoggin County | Aroostook County | Cumberland County |
| Franklin County | Hancock County | Kennebec County |
| Knox County | Lincoln County | Oxford County |
| Penobscot County | Piscataquis County | Sagadahoc County |
| Somerset County | Waldo County | Washington County |
| York County |
