2021 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE
Article 3: PROBATE OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION
Part 4: FORMAL TESTACY AND APPOINTMENT PROCEEDINGS
18-C §3-402. Formal testacy or appointment proceedings; petition; contents

§3-402. Formal testacy or appointment proceedings; petition; contents

1.  Petition for formal probate of a will; contents.  Petitions for formal probate of a will, or for adjudication of intestacy with or without request for appointment of a personal representative, must be directed to the court, request a judicial order after notice and hearing, contain further statements as indicated in this section and contain such other information and be in such form as the Supreme Judicial Court may by rule provide. A petition for formal probate of a will must:  

A. Request an order as to the testacy of the decedent in relation to a particular instrument that may or may not have been informally probated and determining the heirs;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. Contain the statements required for informal applications as stated in section 3-301, subsection 1, paragraph A, subparagraphs (1) to (4) and the statements required by section 3‑301, subsection 1, paragraph B, subparagraphs (2) and (3); and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. State whether the original of the last will of the decedent is in the possession of the court or accompanies the petition.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

If the original will is neither in the possession of the court nor accompanies the petition and no authenticated copy of a will probated in another jurisdiction accompanies the petition, the petition also must state the contents of the will and indicate that it is lost, destroyed or otherwise unavailable.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

2.  Relief requested.  A petition for adjudication of intestacy and appointment of an administrator in intestacy must request a judicial finding and order that the decedent left no will and determining the heirs, contain the statements required by section 3-301, subsection 1, paragraphs A and D, indicate whether supervised administration is sought and contain such other information and be in such form as the Supreme Judicial Court may by rule provide. A petition may request an order determining intestacy and heirs without requesting the appointment of an administrator, in which case the statements required by section 3-301, subsection 1, paragraph D, subparagraph (2) may be omitted.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).