Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 4, § 251 (2026)

General jurisdiction

✓ current as of May 2026

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Each judge may take the probate of wills and grant letters testamentary or of administration on the estates of all deceased persons who, at the time of their death, were inhabitants or residents of the judge's county or who, not being residents of the State, died leaving estate to be administered in the judge's county, or whose estate is afterwards found therein; and has jurisdiction of all matters relating to the settlement of such estates. A judge may grant leave to adopt children, change the names of persons, appoint guardians for minors and others according to law and has jurisdiction as to persons under guardianship, and as to whatever else is conferred by law, except in cases in which the District Court has jurisdiction over a child pursuant to section 152, subsection 5‑A. [RR 2015, c. 2, §1 (COR).]

SECTION HISTORY

RR 2015, c. 2, §1 (COR). PL 2015, c. 460, §3 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 10 cases, 1975–2014 · leading case: Est. of Mary E. Hiller, 2014 ME 2 (Me. 2014).

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Est. of Mary E. Hiller, 2014 ME 2 (Me. 2014). · cites it 4× “[¶ 2] Ligor argues that the amended judgment is void because the Probate Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims against him based on the factual allegations contained in the complaint. Because the Probate Court has subject matter jurisdiction to…”

In Re Est. of Hodgkins, 2002 ME 154 (Me. 2002). · cites it 2× “§ 251 establishes the jurisdiction of the probate courts, and provides, in pertinent part: Each judge may take the probate of wills and grant letters testamentary or of administration on the estates of all deceased persons who, at the time of their death, where inhabitants or…”

Adoption of M.A., 930 A.2d 1088 (Me. 2007). “Regardless of whether the adoption petitions filed in this case may be filed individually or jointly, that procedural issue does not affect the Probate Court’s subject-matter jurisdiction.”

In Re Melissa C., 516 A.2d 946 (Me. 1986). · cites it 2× “4 M.R.S.A. § 251 (1979); 19 M.R.S.A. § 531 (Supp.”

In Re Reben, 342 A.2d 688 (Me. 1975). · cites it 2× “1, § 3(II)) that use of words of the masculine gender may include the female, did not alter the intended inclusion of females. The statute now also contains an additional sentence added by P.”

In Re Est. of Colburn, 2006 ME 125 (Me. 2006). “2d 626, 630 (emphasis omitted); see 4 M.R.S. § 251 (2005). Subject matter jurisdiction is granted to the Probate Court “over all subject matter relating to .”

In re Adoption of G., 502 A.2d 1044 (Me. 1986). “” The more specific provisions of our statutes relating to the adoption of children are found in Chapter 9 of Title 19. See 19 M.”

Champagne v. Fortin, 402 A.2d 471 (Me. 1979). “If the possessor unduly restricts access to the property or otherwise unreasonably interferes, the proper remedy is to obtain an injunction from the Probate Court, which has ample authority to protect its own orders under 4 M.R.S.A. §§ 251, 252 (1979). See In re Wolpert’s…”

In re Joseph B.G., 704 A.2d 327 (Me. 1997). “4 M.R.S.A. § 251 (1989). The court’s jurisdiction also extends to equitable matters pertaining to such cases.”

In re Murray, 462 A.2d 33 (Me. 1983). · cites it 2× “The court’s jurisdiction over adoption proceedings is derived from 4 M.R.S.A. § 251 *35 (1979) 2 and 19 M.R.”

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