Opinion ID: 1533318
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: probate court's verbatim adoption of appellee's proposed findings

Text: After the hearing and at the Probate Court's request, both parties submitted proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Probate Court subsequently adopted Glendon Richard's proposed findings and conclusions verbatim. Dow argues on appeal that this often-condemned practice frustrates a primary purpose of M.R.Civ.P. 52(a), to encourage the trial judge's careful attention in ascertaining and articulating the facts, and calls for us to review the trial court's legal conclusions more critically than we otherwise would. Although we do not approve of trial courts adopting verbatim the proposed findings of counsel, [4] we note that it does not constitute automatic error for a trial court to do so. In re Sabrina M., 460 A.2d 1009, 1012 (Me.1983). We will, however, closely scrutinize such findings to determine whether the trial court has adequately performed its judicial function. Sabrina M., 460 A.2d at 1013. In this case we are satisfied that the Probate Court's findings, although not supported by the record in every detail, adequately indicate the underlying facts upon which the court's decision was based. Id. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.