The District Court handles non-jury matters, both civil and criminal. In addition, the District Court has significant equity powers concurrent with those of the Superior Court, and can hear property foreclosure and partition cases, divorces, and landlord tenant matters, for example. The State has 13 District Courts, some of which have multiple divisions. Maine's Probate Courts are established by each of Maine's 16 counties. These courts are county courts rather than state courts.
Probate judges work part-time and many are practicing attorneys.
The probate court has jurisdiction over the administration of estates of deceased persons, wills, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes.