Lawmakers and advocates look to reform Maine’s probate court system after grantee series shows deep flaws

The Maine Monitor’s reporting showed that the challenges facing those who require the services of Maine's probate system are only getting worse, one advocate said. Photo by Fred J. Field.

A series in the Maine Monitor, produced with support from the Fund, documented serious problems with the state’s probate court system, which oversees adult guardianships. The series found that there are few safeguards in place to prevent fraud and abuse. Maine is unique in that probate judges are elected, work part-time and are not part of the state’s judiciary branch. Now, in response to the series, advocates and some lawmakers are pressing for reforms they say are long overdue.