Opinion ID: 1903080
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Court's Authority to Revoke a Power of Attorney

Text: [¶ 11] Nichols also contends that the Probate Court is not authorized to revoke a valid general durable power of attorney because no statute specifically confers such authority, and thus that the court's temporary order purporting to do so was of no effect. The authority of the court is a matter of law that we review de novo. Cf. Town of Carmel v. McSorley, 2002 ME 33, ¶ 5, 791 A.2d 102, 105 (holding that the jurisdiction of the court is afforded de novo review). [¶ 12] We are not persuaded by Nichols's argument. The court's authority in this matter is tied to its jurisdiction. Title 18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-302 sets out the subject matter jurisdiction of the Probate Court: (a) To the full extent provided in sections 3-105, 5-102, 5-402, 7-201 and 7-204, the court has jurisdiction over all subject matter relating to (1) estates of decedents . . .; (2) protection of minors and incapacitated persons; and (3) trusts. (b) The Court has full power to make orders, judgments and decrees and take all other action necessary and proper to administer justice in the matters which come before it. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-302 (1998 & Supp. 2004) (emphasis added). Section 5-102 further provides that the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings and has jurisdiction over protective proceedings to the extent provided in section 5-402. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 5-102 (1998). Finally, section 5-402 provides that in matters in which the petitioner seeks appointment of a conservator or other protective order, the Probate Court has: (1) Exclusive jurisdiction to determine the need for a conservator or other protective order until the proceedings are terminated; (2) Exclusive jurisdiction to determine how the estate of the protected person which is subject to the laws of this State shall be managed, expended or distributed to or for the use of the protected person or any of his dependents; (3) Concurrent jurisdiction to determine the validity of claims against the person or estate of the protected person and his title to any property or claim. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 5-402 (1998). Taken together, these provisions, couched in terms of the court's jurisdiction, grant authority to the Probate Court to appoint a guardian and conservator to determine how an incapacitated person's estate is to be managed, and to take all other action necessary and proper to administer justice in the matters which come before it. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 1-302. [¶ 13] In this case, the court determined, based on competent evidence in the record, that the need for protection of Florence was brought about by Nichols, the very person who held the power of attorney. Indeed, it was pursuant to that power of attorney that Nichols purported to act in removing Florence from her home. Accordingly, the Probate Court was authorized to revoke Nichols's power of attorney as necessary and proper to the administration of Florence's guardianship proceedings.