Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: August 2023

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for updating your library with the latest version of A Practical Guide to Probate in Maine . This newly revised publication brings updated resources within your immediate reach—for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions in this highly challenging area of practice.

  Highlights from the issues addressed in the 2023 edition include:

  • penalties imposed for violating the required minimum distribution (RMD) provisions for IRA accounts;

  • indexing of the homestead allowance and other family protections set forth in the Maine Uniform Probate Code (MUPC);

  • guidance on handling powers of attorney when moving to Maine or dealing with powers of attorney that are more than several years old;

  • a 2021 amendment clarifying that a delay in discharge from a hospital constitutes "substantial harm" for purposes of the statute's provisions on the appointment of an emergency guardian;

  • provisions regarding service on minors and incapacitated persons in informal probate proceedings;

  • updated federal estate tax exemption amounts, scheduled to sunset as of January 1, 2026 (absent further legisla-tive action), and updated state estate tax exclusion amounts;

  • procedures for notifying creditors and for disallowing claims against the estate;

  • resignation or removal of a personal representative;

  • the Maine Uniform Trust Decanting Act, which became effective on October 1, 2021, and the Maine Uniform Di-rected Trust Act, which became effective on January 1, 2020;

  • arrangements for handling client files, which may include an agreement to return the files or to store and dispose of them for a designated fee; and

  • guidance on using heir search services.

  We trust you will find this updated version of A Practical Guide to Probate in Maine an invaluable resource for your practice.

  Very truly yours,

  John M. Lawlor, Esq.

  MCLE Publications Attorney

Table of Contents

Chapter 01 expand

Formal Probate

Buy Chapter

Maryellen Sullivan, Esq., Port City Legal LLC

Checklist 1.1

- Common Conditions Under Which a Formal Probate Court Proceeding Is Commenced Buy Form

Checklist 1.2

- Requests Commonly Included in a Petition for Formal Probate of a Will (Me. Prob. Ct. Form DE-201) Buy Form

Exhibit 1A

- Petition for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy and Appointment of Personal Representative or for Formal Adjudication of Intestacy Only (Form DE-101) Buy Form

Exhibit 1B

- Petition for Formal Probate of Will or Appointment of Personal Representative or Both (Form DE-201) Buy Form

Exhibit 1C

- Renunciation/Nomination (Form DE-407) Buy Form

Exhibit 1D

- Chart of Consanguinity Buy Form

Exhibit 1E

- Bond for Personal Representative(s) (Form DE-403) Buy Form

Exhibit 1F

- Demand for Bond (Form DE-502) Buy Form

Exhibit 1G

- Acceptance of Appointment of Personal Representative (Form DE-104) Buy Form

Exhibit 1H

- Certificate of Value for Resident and Nonresident Estates (Form DE-401(A)) Buy Form

Exhibit 1I

- Probate Inventory (Form DE-405) Buy Form

Exhibit 1J

- Petition for Supervised Administration (Form DE-501) Buy Form

Exhibit 1K

- Petition for Formal Appointment of Special Administrator (Form DE-301) Buy Form

Chapter 02 expand

Informal Probate

Buy Chapter

Matie Little, Esq., LeBlanc & Young, PA

Checklist 2.1

- Register’s Requirements for Allowing a Will to Informal Probate Buy Form

Checklist 2.2

- Register’s Requirements for Appointing a Personal Representative in an Informal Probate Buy Form

Exhibit 2A

- Application for Informal Probate of Will or Appointment of Personal Representative Under Will or Both (Form DE-201(I)) Buy Form

Exhibit 2B

- Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative (Intestate) (Form DE-101(I)) Buy Form

Exhibit 2C

- Maine Estate Tax Statement of Value (Form 700-SOV) Buy Form

Exhibit 2D

- Certificate of Discharge of Estate Tax Lien Buy Form

Exhibit 2E

- Notice of Informal Probate Proceeding (Form N-109) Buy Form

Exhibit 2F

- Notice of Appointment of Personal Representative to Heirs, Devisees, and Other Interested Parties (Form N-115) Buy Form

Exhibit 2G

- Notice to Creditors (Form N-120) Buy Form

Exhibit 2H

- Claim Against Estate (Form DE-503) Buy Form

Exhibit 2I

- Certificate and Abstract (Form N-121) Buy Form

Exhibit 2J

- Informal Appointment of Personal Representative for Intestate Decedent: Findings of Register and Appointment (Form DE-102(I)) Buy Form

Exhibit 2K

- Informal Probate or Informal Appointment of a Personal Representative Under a Will, or Both: Findings and Acts of the Register (Form DE-202(I)) Buy Form

Exhibit 2L

- Notice to Personal Representative Re: Appointment (Form N-114) Buy Form

Exhibit 2M

- Letters of Authority of Personal Representative (Form DE-404) Buy Form

Exhibit 2N

- Sworn Statement of Personal Representative Closing Estate Under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-1003 (Form DE-602) Buy Form

Exhibit 2O

- Verified Application for Certificate of Discharge (Form DE-605) Buy Form

Exhibit 2P

- Petition to Reopen Estate (Form DE-507) Buy Form

Exhibit 2Q

- Order to Reopen Estate (Form DE-508) Buy Form

Exhibit 2R

- Notice of Appointment of Domiciliary Foreign Personal Representative (Form N-116) Buy Form

Chapter 03 expand

Powers and Duties of the Personal Representative

Buy Chapter

Jessica M. Scherb, Esq., Drummond Woodsum

Checklist 3.1

- Checklist of Duties of the Personal Representative Relative to Collecting and Identifying Assets Buy Form

Checklist 3.2

- Checklist of Powers and Duties of the Personal Representative, with Corresponding Statutory Authority Under the MUPC Buy Form

Exhibit 3A

- Closing Statement Buy Form

Exhibit 3B

- Closing Statement for Small Estates Buy Form

Exhibit 3C

- Petition for Order of Complete Settlement Buy Form

Chapter 04 expand

Testate and Intestate Distributions

Buy Chapter

Nathaniel S. Putnam, Esq., Eaton Peabody, PA

Exhibit 4A

- Demand for Bond (Form DE-502) Buy Form

Exhibit 4B

- Petition for Supervised Administration (Form DE-501) Buy Form

Exhibit 4C

- Petition for Order of Complete Settlement of Estate Under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-1001 or § 3-1002 or Special Finding or Both (Form DE-601) Buy Form

Exhibit 4D

- Petition for Removal of Personal Representative, 18-C M.R.S. § 3-611 (Form DE-509) Buy Form

Chapter 05 expand

Removal, Resignation, and Death of Fiduciaries

Buy Chapter

Jennifer L. Kruszewski, Esq., Epstein & O'Donovan LLP

Chapter 06 expand

Guardianships and Conservatorships

Buy Chapter

Parke Burmeister, Esq., Casco Bay Law PLLC

Exhibit 6A

- Petition for Appointment of a Guardian (Form PP-201) Buy Form

Exhibit 6B

- Petition for Appointment of a Conservator (Form PP-401) Buy Form

Exhibit 6C

- Joined Petition for Appointment of Guardian and Conservator (Form PP-205) Buy Form

Exhibit 6D

- Petition for Other Protective Arrangements (Form PP-601) Buy Form

Exhibit 6E

- Guardianship Plan (Form PP-502) Buy Form

Exhibit 6F

- Conservator’s Plan (Form PP-503) Buy Form

Exhibit 6G

- Joined Guardian’s/Conservator’s Plan (Form PP-504) Buy Form

Exhibit 6H

- Acceptance of Appointment by Guardian (Form PP-203) Buy Form

Exhibit 6I

- Joined Acceptance of Appointment by Guardian and Conservator (Form PP-207) Buy Form

Exhibit 6J

- Acceptance of Appointment by Conservator (Form PP-402) Buy Form

Exhibit 6K

- Physician’s/Psychologist’s Report (Form PP-505) Buy Form

Exhibit 6L

- Court-Appointed Visitor’s Report (Form PP-506) Buy Form

Exhibit 6M

- Bond for Conservator (Form PP-405) Buy Form

Exhibit 6N

- Inventory (Form PP-406) Buy Form

Exhibit 6O

- Report of Guardian (Form PP-209) Buy Form

Exhibit 6P

- Conservator’s Report (Form PP-412) Buy Form

Exhibit 6Q

- Conservator Account (Form PP-407) Buy Form

Exhibit 6R

- Petition for Interim Order (Form PP-410) Buy Form

Exhibit 6S

- Petition for Termination, Removal, or Resignation of a Guardian or Conservator (Form PP-413) Buy Form

Exhibit 6T

- Order Appointing Counsel for Parent of Minor Child (Form GS-011) Buy Form

Exhibit 6U

- Petition for Appointment of a Conservator (Form PP-107) Buy Form

Exhibit 6V

- Petition for Appointment of a Guardian for a Minor (Form GS-001) Buy Form

Chapter 07 expand

Trusts and Trustees

Buy Chapter

Smilie G. Rogers, Esq., Brennan & Rogers, PLLC

Chapter 08 expand

Preprobate Considerations

Buy Chapter

Smilie G. Rogers, Esq., Brennan & Rogers, PLLC

Exhibit 8A

- Estate Summary Sheet Buy Form

Exhibit 8B

- Uniform Single-Party or Multiple-Party Account Form Buy Form

Chapter 09 expand

Real Estate Transfer and Sales

Buy Chapter

Meghan L. Myers, Brann & Isaacson

Exhibit 9A

- Form N-116, Notice of Appointment of Domiciliary Foreign Personal Representative Buy Form

Exhibit 9B

- IRS Form 4422, Application for Certificate Discharging Property Subject to Estate Tax Lien Buy Form

Exhibit 9C

- IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return Buy Form

Exhibit 9D

- Certificate of Discharge of Estate Tax Lien Buy Form

Exhibit 9E

- Form 700-SOV, Maine Estate Tax Statement of Value Buy Form

Exhibit 9F

- Form DE-604, Order of Complete Settlement Under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-1001 or § 3-1002 Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Will Contests, Compromise Agreements, and Strategies for Avoiding Probate Litigation

Buy Chapter

Katherine E. Galloway, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP
Jacqueline W. Rider, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP
Danielle R. Starr, Esq., Verrill Dana LLP

Exhibit 10A

- Petition for Formal Probate (Form DE-201) Buy Form

Exhibit 10B

- Order Regarding Formal Probate with Appointment (Form DE-202) Buy Form

Exhibit 10C

- Petition Requiring Appointment of Special Administrator (Form DE-301) Buy Form

Exhibit 10D

- Petition for Removal of Personal Representative (Form DE-509) Buy Form

Exhibit 10E

- Order for Removal of Personal Representative (Form DE-510) Buy Form

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