Top York, ME Probate Lawyers Near You
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477 Congress Street, 5th Floor, Portland, ME 04101
One City Center, Suite 11100, Portland, ME 04101
53 Exchange Street, Suite 400, Portland, ME 04101
PO Box 3786, Portland, ME 04104-3786
247 Portland St, Yarmouth, ME 04096
2 Monument Square, Seventh Floor, Portland, ME 04101
66 Pearl Street, Suite 200, Portland, ME 04101
527 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103
75 Pearl St, Suite 215, Portland, ME 04101
10 Moulton St, Portland, ME 04101
1 Union Street, Suite 501, Portland, ME 04101
226 York St., PO Box 836, York, ME 03909
100 Middle Street, PO Box 9729, Portland, ME 04104-5029
136 Commercial Street, Fourth Floor, Portland, ME 04101
48 Free St, Suite 260, Portland, ME 04101
Two Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101
56B Maine St., Brunswick, ME 04011
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600, Portland, ME 04101-2480
477 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Two Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04101
Merrill's Wharf, 254 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
11 Main St, Suite 4, Kennebunk, ME 04043
183 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04112
813 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME 04103
2 Monument Square, Suite 400, Portland, ME 04101
York Probate Information
Lead Counsel Verified Attorneys in York
Lead Counsel independently verifies Probate attorneys in York and checks their standing with Maine bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the process through which assets from a deceased person’s estate are transferred to beneficiaries, such as spouses, children, and other loved ones. In plain terms, reading a person’s will and distributing the items contained in it is part of the probate process. In some states, probate courts also handle matters related to guardianships and conservatorships of children or disabled adults.
What Happens if You Don’t Do Probate?
Without an estate plan in place, the probate process will often still go forward, but it can get messier. Someone who dies without a will in place will often have their assets given to any survivors, even if that would have gone against their wishes. Court battles can unfold among relatives who feel like they deserve more.
How Long Does Probate Take?
In a simple case where there are no disputes, and the deceased had a strong plan in place, the probate process of distributing assets and paying off debts may only take a few months to complete. If someone challenges the will or any other part of the estate distribution, it can take much longer.
How Can You Avoid Probate?
If you want your beneficiaries to avoid the hassle of probate, you have several options. You can make sure to name beneficiaries of bank accounts, retirement accounts, and life insurance policies. You could also move your assets to a living trust, which will allow you to access them while you are still alive but will automatically pass to your beneficiaries upon your death.