Probate Court

Welcome

The Probate Court assists in the legal and social welfare needs for families and individuals in Cumberland County; and processes approximately 25% of the total probate filings within the State of Maine.  

Case Filings

Cumberland County Probate Court filings and the filings made in all of Maine's 16 counties, are available at www.maineprobate.net.  The Probate Court docket can be viewed at no charge, and copies of Probate Court filings can be purchased at a cost of $2 per page.  An online account may be created at a cost of $25 per month.  This account will permit online viewing of documents and copies at $1 per page.

Services
If you require legal assistance or advice, please contact an attorney.

The Probate Court determines the legitimacy of Last Wills and Testaments, the distribution of estates; and also processes:

  • name changes;
  • minor and adult adoptions;
  • minor and adult guardianships;
  • minor and adult conservatorships.

The Cumberland County Probate Office maintains the records of the Probate Court described above from 1908 to the present.  Probate records are open to the public with the exception of adoption records dated after August 8, 1953.

All vital record requests, such as birth, death or marriage records, should be addressed to the Maine State Office of Vital Records by calling 207-287-3771.

Additional Search Tips

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have microfilmed most of Maine town records of birth, marriage and death from before 1892.  They have research facilities throughout the world where these records can be obtained.
  • Call, write or visit the town or city clerks' offices holding vital records you need.
  • Catholic records of baptism, marriage, and death can often be found at the local parishes.
  • Call, write or visit county Registries of Deeds for records of land transactions.
  • The regional office of the National Archives Northeast Region (380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154; (617)647-8745) has material useful to the genealogist, such as census listings.

**NOTICE**

Due to high demand passports will remain APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call (207) 871-8382 to schedule your appointment.

Forms

Forms are available on the Maine Probate website.

Probate Officials

Elected Official - Register of Probate

Maine Statute Title 18-C: PROBATE CODE
§1-307. Register; powers

The register has the power to probate wills, appoint personal representatives as provided in sections 3‑302 and 3‑307 and perform other duties set out in this Code. The acts and orders that may be performed by the register under this Code may also be performed by a judge of the court or by a deputy register appointed under the provisions of section 1‑506. 

Maine Statute Title 18-C: PROBATE CODE
§1-501. Election; bond; vacancies; salary

1.  Election.  Registers of probate are elected or appointed as provided in the Constitution of Maine. A register's election is effected and determined as is provided for county commissioners by Title 30‑A, chapter 1, subchapter 2, and a register's term commences on the first day of January following the register's election, except that the term of a register appointed to fill a vacancy commences immediately.  
Full Text of Statute Code

Elected Official  - Probate Judge

Maine Statute Title 4, Chapter 7
§301. Terms; Vacancies; Salary

Judges of probate are elected or appointed as provided in the Constitution of Maine. Only attorneys at law admitted to the general practice of law in this State and resident in this State may be elected or appointed as judges of probate. Their election is effected and determined as is provided respecting county commissioners; and they enter upon the discharge of their duties on the first day of January following their election; but, when appointed to fill vacancies, their terms commence on their appointment. Vacancies caused by death, resignation, removal from the county, permanent incapacity as defined in Title 30‑A, section 1, subsection 2‑A or any other reason must be filled as provided in the Constitution of Maine. In the case of a vacancy in the term of a judge of probate who was nominated by primary election before the general election, the judge of probate appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy until a successor is chosen at election must be enrolled in the same political party as the judge of probate whose term is vacant. In making the appointment, the Governor shall choose from any recommendations submitted to the Governor by the county committee of the political party from which the appointment is to be made.   [PL 1995, c. 683, §1 (AMD).]

Judges of probate in the several counties are entitled to receive annual salaries as set forth in Title 30‑A, section 2.   [PL 1995, c. 245, §1 (AMD).]

The fees to which judges of probate are entitled by law must be taxed and collected and paid over by the registers of probate to the county treasurers by the 15th day of every month following the month in which they were collected for the use of their counties with the exception of the fees provided in section 304, which must be retained by the judge who collects those fees in addition to the judge's salary.