Sec. J-1. 18-A MRSA §1-510, as amended by PL 1981, c. 470, Pt. A, §42, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§1-510. Register or Probate Court employee; prohibited activities
1. Prohibited activities. A register may not:
A. Be an attorney or counselor in or out of court in an action or matter pending in the court of which the register is register or in an appeal in such action or matter;
B. Be administrator, guardian, commissioner of insolvency, appraiser or divider of an estate, in a case within the jurisdiction of the court of which the register is register, except as provided in Title 4, section 307, or be in any manner interested in the fees and emoluments arising from such an estate in that capacity; or
C. Commence or conduct, either personally or by agent or clerk, any matter, petition, process or proceeding in the court of which the register is register, in violation of this section.
2. Assistance in drafting. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a register may not draft or aid in drafting documents or paper that the register is by law required to record in full or in part. A register may aid in drafting applications in informal proceedings, petitions or sworn statements relating to the closing of decedents' estates that have not been contested prior to closing, applications for change of name and petitions for guardians of minors. A register or an employee of the Probate Court may not charge fees or accept anything of value for assisting in the drafting of documents to be used or filed in the court of which the person is the register or an employee.
3. Penalties. The following penalties apply to violations of this section.
A. A register who violates subsection 1 commits a Class E crime. Violation of subsection 1 is a strict liability crime as defined in Title 17-A, section 34, subsection 4-A.
B. A register or employee of the Probate Court who violates subsection 2 is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $100, to be recovered by a complainant in a civil action for the complainant's benefit or by indictment for the benefit of the county.
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