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Best Probate Lawyers in Portland

2023

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Website
100 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Eaton Peabody Portland offers the services of estate planning, estate administration, and probate lawyers in Portland. Founded in 1917, the firm is headquartered in Bangor and has 4 other offices across Maine. Eaton Peabody's attorneys serve families, individuals, closely-held businesses, nonprofits, and tax-exempt organizations in all matters related to estates and charitable giving. They help clients navigate the probate process, including asset inventory, fiduciary accountings, and preparation of income and estate tax returns. They also provide representation in probate litigation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
David Austin - Shareholder and Managing Partner25 yrs
Bruce Hochman - Shareholder41 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Detail

Website
5 Alfred St, Suite 102, Biddeford, ME 04005
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Jason Litalien, Attorney at Law, caters to Portland residents who have probate law needs. The office handles probate administration matters and represents parties in litigation arising from the interpretation of last wills and testaments. The firm creates estate plans and establishes revocable and irrevocable trusts to facilitate the preservation of a decedent's properties. Jason Litalien, an inheritance law practitioner, served in the US Air Force. He is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Jason Litalien - Principal3 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (35)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
408 U.S. Route One Second Floor, York, ME 03909

Why choose this provider?

Ballou & Bedell, Attorneys at Law, is a legal firm that serves the Portland area. Its team helps the personal representatives of decedents navigate the process of probate, which involves estate administration. The attorneys also go over revocable living trusts, which allow clients to avoid probate. In addition, they offer estate planning services, which may entail drafting wills and powers of attorney. Firm co-director Kathryn Bedell, who was admitted to the bar in 1991, is a member of the Maine Bar Association's Trusts and Estate Planning Section.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kathryn Bedell - Partner32 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (70)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
90 Bridge Street, Suite 100,, Westbrook, ME 04092
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Douglas McDaniel & Campo LLC, PA Attorneys and Counselors at Law, provides services to clients involved in legal proceedings in Portland. It represents clients in various civil cases, including probate litigation. It also takes on other practice areas, such as family law matters, personal injury and wrongful death claims, business conflicts, and landlord-tenant disputes. The law firm pursues alternative dispute resolutions through mediation, fostering an amicable environment between parties to obtain fair settlement and mutual agreement. The firm's attorneys bring over 50 years of combined legal experience. 

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.1
Avvo
4.0 / 5 (58)
Google
4.3 / 5 (18)
Facebook
4.3 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail

Website
6 City Center, Suite 400, Portland, ME 04101
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Hopkinson & Abbondanza is a boutique law firm serving a wide range of clientele in Portland, from small estates to multi-generation family businesses. It aids clients in navigating the probate and estate administration process and creates custom strategies according to the complexity of estates. Its team assists in the inventory, appraisal, and distribution of estate assets. One of the attorneys, Jim Hopkinson, has been in practice since 1983 and is a member of the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association. He is admitted to the US Tax Court.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
James Hopkinson - Partner36 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Yelp
4.9 / 5 (78)
Google
4.9 / 5 (10)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail

Website
3 Webhannet Place, Suite 1, Kennebunk, ME 04043
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Maine Center for Elder Law is a legal practice that serves clients in Portland. Its services focus on helping senior citizens and their families prepare plans for their estate and possible long-term care. Its scope of work ranges from drafting wills to reviewing documents for plausible avenues of estate tax reduction. Its attorneys also guide clients through probate. Attorney at law Barbara Schlichtman serves on the executive committee for Legal Services for the Elderly in Maine.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Barbara Schlichtman - Partner31 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (8)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Helpfulness
Detail

Website
238 Western Ave, South Portland, ME 04106
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Jackson & MacNichol Attorneys at Law is an estate planning firm counseling Portland and the surrounding areas. Its probate lawyers educate clients about the laws governing trust, estate, and probate administration. They help people prepare for their families' future by analyzing their needs and discussing available options. They also assist individuals seeking social security and veterans benefits. One of the firm's lawyers, Alexandra Jackson, is an estate planning attorney with experience in business, elder, and tax law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Alexandra Jackson - Partner6 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Yelp
4.9 / 5 (72)
Google
4.5 / 5 (70)
Facebook
4.4 / 5 (26)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
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Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
75 Pearl Street Suite 470, Portland, ME 04101
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Fairfield & Associates is a law firm serving Portland and the surrounding areas. It assists in trust and estate matters, including drafting of wills and trusts, probate of wills, administration of intestate estates, and asset protection. Its team of lawyers also handles business succession and tax planning. Founder Amy L. Fairfield was given the President's Award in 2018 and the Unsung Hero Award in 2010, both by the MACDL. Her firm also practices family law, personal injury, and criminal defense.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.8
Avvo
3.4 / 5 (10)
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
Two Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Epstein & O'Donovan delivers probate law services to clients in Portland. The firm handles issues pertaining to the management and distribution of inheritable assets, the payment of transfer taxes, and the judicial distribution of estates. The office creates estate plans and tackles the establishment of trusts and the drafting of last wills and testaments. Counsel Dennis J. O'Donovan joined the practice in 1994 and has completed studies in finance. He was president of the Maine Estate Planning Council.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (19)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
261 US Route 1, Suite 201, Falmouth, ME 04105
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Lanman Rayne Nelson Reade handles legal transactions in Portland and the surrounding areas. For over 30 years, the firm has been assisting executors or administrators in the probate process. It also drafts estate planning documents, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, financial powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives. Additionally, it addresses elder law concerns like long-term care planning and Medicaid (MaineCare) applications. Two of its legal practitioners are certified elder law attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kate Rayne - Managing Attorney14 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 206, Topsham, ME 04086
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Moncure & Barnicle Attorneys at Law helps Portland families, businesses, and individuals solve complex problems. It counsels personal representatives dealing with probate for the first time. The law firm assists beneficiaries with reasons to believe their inheritance has been jeopardized. Its lawyers design plans to protect the rights of clients during the probate process. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, Paul Brunetti had served as special assistant to the commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
John Barnicle - Partner41 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.6 / 5 (39)
Yelp
3.5 / 5 (3)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
62 Portland Road, Kennebunk, ME 04043
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Based in Portland, Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, LLC is a law firm founded in 2007 by Gene Libby, Timothy O’Brien, and Gail Kingsley Wolfahrt. The firm has represented individuals, corporations, businesses, and other entities. Comprised of a team of experienced probate attorneys and criminal attorneys, the firm has experience in probate, estate planning, wills and trusts, as well as civil litigation. The team is also passionate about assisting clients with personal injury services and family law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Gene Libby - Partner45 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.5 / 5 (8)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
431 Main St, Saco, ME 04072
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Weinstein Lovell & Ordway P.A. is a law firm that serves businesses, entrepreneurs, families, and individuals from all over Portland. With over 80 years of combined experience, its team helps clients resolve legal issues in probate courts and guides them through estate administration. It also drafts documents that make up a person's estate plan, including trusts, wills, advanced healthcare directives, and business succession policies. One of its partners, Karen B. Lovell, was named a Fellow of the ACTEC.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Paul Weinstein - Partner10 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
511 Congress Street Suite 502, Portland, ME 04101
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Jewell & Bulger offers legal solutions to clients in Portland. It handles probate matters and assists clients in navigating the process, such as identifying and notifying beneficiaries and creditors, appraising the property, paying taxes and creditors, and distributing the assets to the beneficiaries. The firm also protects the client's assets from future contests and conflicts by drafting various estate planning documents, including trusts for minors and supplemental needs trusts for the disabled. The firm has been serving communities since 2013, concentrating on commercial real estate matters.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Jewell - Co-FOunder43 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
Four Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04112
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

LeBlanc & Young, is a Portland-based law firm that represents individuals who seek assistance in probate proceedings. Its team of lawyers helps them with asset and debt identification, tax returns, asset liquidation, and estate distribution. Additionally, to prevent probate court proceedings, the firm offers a family-driven approach to mediation by organizing an open dialog. It also handles matters involving estate planning, premarital and postnuptial agreements, family holding entities, and adoption. One of the office's partners, Elizabeth High, has been practicing trust and estate law since 1984.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Justin Leblanc - Partner24 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.5 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
75 York Street, Portland, ME 04101
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Opticliff Law offers legal services to clients in Portland who are in need of probate assistance. It aims to alleviate the stress of losing a loved one by assessing estates to determine their eligibility to undergo the long process of probate. Handling of will and testament, will amendments, healthcare directives, trusts, and premarital agreements are also provided by the firm. Outside probate, the firm practices business law, including trademark and startup, helping small businesses thrive in the market.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Ezekiel Callanan - Founder15 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (34)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
10 Moulton Street 4th Floor, Portland, ME 04101

Why choose this provider?

Based in Portland, Port City Legal is a general practice law firm that assists clients who want to file a probate case in the local metro. Its team of attorneys provides personalized attention throughout the probate litigation process and keeps its clients informed about the different aspects of their cases. The legal professionals also handle various probate matters, such as estate administration, guardianship of minors, and conservatorship. One of the firm's principal attorneys, Joe Lewis, is a volunteer lawyer for the Courthouse Assistance Project.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Maryellen Sullivan - Partner29 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (55)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
121 Main Street, Yarmouth, ME 04096
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Bopp & Guecia Attorneys at Law is a legal practice serving clients in Portland. With over 40 years of combined experience, the firm's lawyers assist clients in a broad range of legal matters, including probate and estate-related concerns. They help prepare wills, trusts, or powers of attorneys to protect clients' wealth and guide asset transfers upon death. One of the founding attorneys, Fred W. Bopp III, is a civil litigator who has been practicing since 1989. He is also licensed in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
550 Forest Ave, Suite 206, Portland, ME 04101
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The law firm of Vogel & Dubois has been focusing on probate and elder law matters in Portland and the surrounding areas since 1994. Its attorneys assist with the probate process of decedent’s estates and develop and implement long-term care plans for Medicaid (MaineCare) eligibility. They advise on legal issues concerning long-term care funding and insurance, help with adult guardianship, and draft estate planning documents. Its managing attorney, Matthew R. Dubois, handles LGBTQ-specific planning and civil matters.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Matt Dubois - Partner23 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.8 / 5 (72)
Facebook
4.2 / 5 (56)
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Website
6 City Center, 3rd Floor, Portland, ME 04101
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Power of Attorneys

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Dylan Boyd handles matters of probate law and litigation in Portland and neighboring areas. Its founder has been practicing for over a decade and, while studying, won the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award for Business and Commercial Law. He and his staff guide trustees and executors in enacting all tasks of the will, from compiling assets to notifying beneficiaries. They also educate them on the probate process for those without wills. The office's other areas of practice include family law and criminal defense.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
5.0 / 5 (7)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (2)

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Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Portland, Maine?

    The non-emergency phone number for the local police of Portland is 207-874-8479.

  • What are the common probate matters handled by lawyers in Portland?

    Lawyers in Portland handle various matters surrounding probate law. The common issues probate lawyers encounter in a case include contested wills and accounts, removal and appointment of fiduciaries, breach of duties, real estate partitions, and trust interpretation and administration. Lawyers can handle probate-related disputes with sensitivity and discretion, given their experience in the industry.

  • How much time does it take to complete a probate process in Portland?

    In general, the probate process in Portland takes nine to 12 months to conclude. Probate cases can take longer than expected in some cases, especially if there are complications, such as litigation. If there are only a few assets to manage and no disagreements among family members, the probate process can be completed sooner.

  • What is the role of a personal representative in the probate process in Portland?

    A personal representative is a court-appointed fiduciary in Portland. This person's role is to supervise the daily activities and the entire process of settling a decedent's estate. They also oversee the inventory, debts, and distribution of the estate. The probate court, on the other hand, keeps track of a personal representative's activities.

  • Is probate a requirement in Portland?

    The answer is no. Certain properties in Portland do not require probate. For example, properties with a Right of Survivorship will be automatically transferred to the other joint owner upon death. Property can also be passed through trusts established while the decedent was still alive.

  • Why do estates in Portland need to go through probate?

    The probate process in Portland is important because it officially transfers the titles of a decedent's properties to the people who will inherit them under state law or in accordance with a will. Other people will have no right to claim the property once the title transfer is completed. As a result, the beneficiaries or heirs will inherit the decedent's debts.

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