18-A §1-501. Election; bond; vacancies; salaries; copies
Title 18-A: PROBATE CODE
Article 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEFINITIONS AND JURISDICTION
Part 5: REGISTERS OF PROBATE
§1-501. Election; bond; vacancies; salaries; copies
Registers of probate are elected or appointed as provided in the Constitution of Maine. Their election is effected and determined as is provided respecting county commissioners by Title 30-A, chapter 1, subchapter II, and they enter upon the discharge of their duties on the first day of January following their election; but the term of those appointed to fill vacancies commences immediately. All registers, before acting, shall give bond to the treasurer of their county with sufficient sureties in the sum of $2,500, except that this sum must be $10,000 for Cumberland County. Every register, having executed such bond, shall file it in the office of the clerk of the county commissioners of that register's county, to be presented to them at their next meeting for approval. After the bond has been so approved, the clerk shall record it and certify the fact thereon, and retaining a copy thereof, deliver the original to the register, who shall deliver it to the treasurer of the county within 10 days after its approval, to be filed in the treasurer's office. Vacancies caused by death, resignation, removal from the county, permanent incapacity as defined in Title 30-A, section 1, subsection 2-A or any other reason must be filled as provided in the Constitution of Maine. In the case of a vacancy in the term of a register of probate who was nominated by primary election before the general election, the register of probate appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy until a successor is chosen at election must be enrolled in the same political party as the register of probate whose term is vacant. In making the appointment, the Governor shall choose from any recommendations submitted to the Governor by the county committee of the political party from which the appointment is to be made. [1995, c. 683, §2 (AMD).]
Registers of probate in the several counties are entitled to receive annual salaries as set forth in Title 30-A, section 2. [1995, c. 245, §2 (AMD).]
The salaries of the registers of probate must be in full compensation for the performance of all duties required of registers of probate. They may make copies of wills, accounts, inventories, petitions and decrees and furnish the same to persons calling for them and may charge a reasonable fee for such service, which is considered a fee for the use of the county. Exemplified copies of the record of the probate of wills and the granting of administrations, guardianships and conservatorships, copies of petitions and orders of notice thereon for personal service, appeal copies and the statutory fees for abstracts and copies of the waiver of wills and other copies required to be recorded in the registry of deeds are considered official fees for the use of the county. [1995, c. 245, §2 (AMD).]
This section may not be construed to change or repeal any provisions of law requiring the furnishing of certain copies without charge. [1995, c. 245, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW). 1987, c. 737, §§C33,C106 (AMD). 1989, c. 6, (AMD). 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). 1989, c. 104, §§C8,C10 (AMD). 1995, c. 245, §2 (AMD). 1995, c. 683, §2 (AMD).