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Against Their Will: Maine’s probate courts lack a method to detect fraud. Some other states have robust audit systems.

Crystal Chappell poses for a photo while holding an image of her mother.

Families are frustrated by the probate courts' handling of loved one's estates and final wishes.

BySamantha Hogan

December 3, 2023

The Latest

A trio of panelists at the Sunrise Economic Council summit.

Statewide initiative recruits employers to combat substance use disorder with innovative workplace program

ByJoyce Kryszak

December 9, 2023

Host of Maine Monitor podcast Genius Black receives “Grant for Change” funding

ByThe Maine Monitor

December 7, 2023

Tribes in Maine spent decades fighting to rebury ancestral remains. Harvard resisted them at nearly every turn.

ByMary HudetzandByAsh Ngu

December 4, 2023

Mining rulemaking process begins; Committee rejects water bill

ByKate Cough

December 3, 2023

A man and a woman smile as they are in the process of moving homes. The man is holding a moving box tucked underneath his right arm with his left arm around the woman who is holding up the key to their new house in her left hand

Maine attracted new residents from as far as California in 2022

ByCici Yu

December 3, 2023

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Tribes in Maine spent decades fighting to rebury ancestral remains. Harvard resisted them at nearly every turn.

ByMary Hudetz Ash Ngu

December 4, 2023

Against Their Will: Maine’s probate courts lack a method to detect fraud. Some other states have robust audit systems.

BySamantha Hogan

December 3, 2023

Thanksgiving meal set out on a dining table

Column: Let’s talk turkey, and make that list of those we should applaud

ByL. Sandy Maisel

November 26, 2023

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Monitor Projects

A black sign reading "Probate Office" is attached to the wall outside the doorway to the office.

Maine’s Part-Time Court

Maine’s probate courts stand alone. Their judges are part-time and elected, and they operate independently from each other and the state supreme court. A lack of oversight by the probate courts may leave Maine’s most vulnerable residents at risk.

The interior of a room at an assisted living facility.

Long-Term Challenge

With the disappearance of nursing home beds across Maine, thousands of aging Mainers are being sent to “nonmedical” residences that aren’t equipped to handle more intensive health needs.

Hooked on Heating Oil

Maine relies on home heating oil more than any other state. Ending that costly dependence could improve lives and fight climate change. This series examines Maine’s reliance on oil, the efforts to transition to new kinds of heat, and the potential for our homes to someday be fossil-free.

Our Picks

A photo of the Woodlands facility. Overlayed the photo are cut out phrases from various DHHS reports about violations. Observed resident with shallow breathing, redness all over body and purple finger nails. Resident number one was struck on the face by employee number one. Based on record review and interview, the facility neglected to protect a resident's health and welfare. Resident was found at 8:40 p.m. outside in the snow.

ByRose Lundy

Maine rarely sanctions residential care facilities even after severe abuse or neglect incidents

An illustrated version of Laurie Wall and Janice Sirois.

BySamantha Hogan

Eight deaths raise questions about oversight of Maine’s public guardianships

Mary and Gary Freeman pose for a photo in their test pit.

ByKate Cough Alana Semuels

A remarkable discovery in Maine’s wilderness sparks a debate over the risks and rewards of mining

Judge David Paris speaks with an individual (not shown) in front of a sign that lists him as the county's probate judge.

BySamantha Hogan

Calls to overhaul Maine probate courts have stalled for half a century. The most vulnerable people may be at risk.

ByRose Lundy

As residential care homes expand in Maine, seniors don’t always get the care they need

ByAnnie Ropeik

Hooked on heating oil: Maine’s reliance on a dirty, expensive fuel

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Multimedia

Sunrise on Casco Bay as seen from a boat.

ByRoger McCord

Marvel at Casco Bay’s breathtaking sunrise cruise

ByMidcoast Forum on Foreign Relations

MIT professor discusses climate policy challenges

ByGenius Black

The history of John Brown Russwurm and an interview with Adilah Muhammad

Aerial photo of a statue of a fisherman by the waters of Eastport.

ByRoger McCord

Magic in a small city: Eastport

Dave Gutter plays a red guitar while sitting in a chair.

ByRoger McCord

Home Page

Against Their Will: Maine’s probate courts lack a method to detect fraud. Some other states have robust audit systems.

Statewide initiative recruits employers to combat substance use disorder with innovative workplace program

Host of Maine Monitor podcast Genius Black receives “Grant for Change” funding

Tribes in Maine spent decades fighting to rebury ancestral remains. Harvard resisted them at nearly every turn.

Mining rulemaking process begins; Committee rejects water bill

Maine attracted new residents from as far as California in 2022

More Stories

Tribes in Maine spent decades fighting to rebury ancestral remains. Harvard resisted them at nearly every turn.

Against Their Will: Maine’s probate courts lack a method to detect fraud. Some other states have robust audit systems.

Column: Let’s talk turkey, and make that list of those we should applaud

Monitor Projects

Maine’s Part-Time Court

Long-Term Challenge

Hooked on Heating Oil

Our Picks

Maine rarely sanctions residential care facilities even after severe abuse or neglect incidents

Eight deaths raise questions about oversight of Maine’s public guardianships

A remarkable discovery in Maine’s wilderness sparks a debate over the risks and rewards of mining

Calls to overhaul Maine probate courts have stalled for half a century. The most vulnerable people may be at risk.

As residential care homes expand in Maine, seniors don’t always get the care they need

Hooked on heating oil: Maine’s reliance on a dirty, expensive fuel

Multimedia

Marvel at Casco Bay’s breathtaking sunrise cruise

MIT professor discusses climate policy challenges

The history of John Brown Russwurm and an interview with Adilah Muhammad

Magic in a small city: Eastport

The Songwriter: Dave Gutter talks being a Grammy winner