Opinion ID: 1484931
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Equitable Jurisdiction to Partition

Text: [¶ 10] The brothers argue that the Probate Court had jurisdiction to partition the property to conform to current zoning requirements pursuant to 18-A M.R.S. § 3-911 (2009), which grants the court jurisdiction to partition undivided property: When 2 or more heirs or devisees are entitled to distribution of undivided interests in any real or personal property of the estate, the personal representative or one or more of the heirs or devisees may petition the court prior to the formal or informal closing of the estate, to make partition. After notice to the interested heirs or devisees, the court shall partition the property in the same manner as provided by the law for civil actions of partition. The court may direct the personal representative to sell any property which cannot be partitioned without prejudice to the owners and which cannot conveniently be allotted to any one party. The Probate Court's authority to partition property is similar to that of the Superior and District Courts granted pursuant to 14 M.R.S. §§ 6501-6525 (2009). In addition, the Probate Court is invested with equitable jurisdiction extend[ing] to all matters relating to the administration of estates. See Estate of Haynes, 594 A.2d 1112, 1113 (Me.1991); see also 4 M.R.S. § 252 (2009). [3] [¶ 11] We have previously held that the Superior Court's equity jurisdiction to partition land attaches when a civil action is brought seeking partition of the property. See Murphy v. Daley, 582 A.2d 1212, 1213 (Me.1990). Equitable partition is a more flexible procedure than a civil action for partition. Id. Because section 3-911 permits the Probate Court to partition property in the same manner as provided by the law for civil actions of partition, and because the Probate Court has equitable jurisdiction in all cases and matters relating to the administration of the estates of deceased persons pursuant to 4 M.R.S. § 252, the Probate Court had the authority to equitably partition the Newcastle property pursuant to the affected devisees' express request. The entry is: Judgment affirmed.