When Can an Executor Be Removed in Maine (ME)?
When can an executor (personal representative) be removed under Maine law? Short answer: In Maine, the probate court can remove a personal representative (the term Maine uses for an executor) when the representative is unable or unfit to perform duties, breaches fiduciary duties, mismanages estate assets, refuses to account or give bond if required, or […]
Read article →What Is “Probate in Common Form” in ME?
Detailed Answer: What “probate in common form” means under Maine law Short definition: Probate in common form is a streamlined way to admit a deceased person’s will to probate. It lets the probate court accept the will based on written proof (typically affidavits from the attesting witnesses or a self‑proving affidavit) without calling witnesses to […]
Read article →Is probate administration required when there is no will in Maine?
Do you need probate administration when someone dies without a will in Maine? Short answer: Not always. Whether you must open a probate administration in Maine depends on what the decedent owned, how those assets were titled, and whether small‑estate procedures apply. Detailed answer — how intestacy and probate work in Maine When a person […]
Read article →How can I close an estate bank account and get the required closing statement in ME?
Detailed answer — Closing an estate bank account and getting the required closing statement under Maine law This answer explains, in plain language, the common steps a personal representative (executor or administrator) follows in Maine to close an estate bank account and obtain the official closing documentation the bank and the Probate Court may require. […]
Read article →How to properly document and file receipts for payments to heirs or service providers in an estate (ME)
Detailed Answer When you administer an estate in Maine, careful documentation of every payment to heirs or service providers protects the estate, the personal representative, and everyone with an interest in the estate. Under Maine law the personal representative (executor or administrator) must preserve estate property, pay valid claims, and render an accounting of receipts […]
Read article →How can next of kin qualify to be appointed as the estate administrator? (ME)
Detailed answer: How appointment of a personal representative (administrator) generally works under Maine law This section explains, in plain language, what a next of kin must do and prove to be appointed by a Maine probate court as the estate administrator (also called a personal representative). This is educational information only and not legal advice. […]
Read article →What documents are required to apply for probate appointment and oath in ME?
What documents you need to apply for probate appointment and to take the oath (Maine) Detailed answer — overview (Maine probate law) This explains the typical documents and steps to ask a Maine probate court to appoint a personal representative (executor or administrator) and to take the required oath. Maine probate law is found in […]
Read article →Which statements and financial documents are required for annual and final probate accountings? — ME
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under Maine probate practice, both annual and final accountings should present the same core financial information: an opening inventory or statement of assets, a clear statement of all receipts and income during the accounting period, a detailed list of all expenditures and distributions, supporting source documents (bank statements, cancelled checks, invoices, […]
Read article →What steps can heirs take to resolve an elective share dispute through mediation in ME?
Detailed Answer — How heirs can resolve an elective share dispute through mediation in Maine Short answer: Heirs can often resolve elective share disputes more quickly, privately, and cheaply by using mediation instead of immediate litigation. Mediation lets the parties negotiate a settlement with a neutral third party (a mediator) who helps them reach agreement. […]
Read article →What is the process for negotiating a creditor’s payoff amount in estate administration in Maine?
Negotiating a Creditor’s Payoff Amount During Estate Administration in Maine This FAQ-style article explains, in plain language, how a personal representative (executor or administrator) negotiates a creditor’s payoff amount while administering an estate in Maine. It walks through the practical steps, common strategies, and important legal considerations under Maine probate law so you can make […]
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