Pitch for Judge Stephen Miller

While the state’s courts are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also concerns regarding other legal issues not being addressed or resolved. That problem does not stop at the Supreme, Municipal and Superior Courts, who need to mitigate intricate and diverse cases in due time.

This dilemma extends to the probate courts around Rhode Island. Some matters can be quickly resolved while contested cases can be much trickier to handle. How can people in this situation respond to these legal challenges?

Judge Stephen M. Miller, a long-time Lincoln resident and real estate attorney who presides over the Lincoln Probate Court, said some of the cases before him are not cut-and-dry. He said since the pandemic closed many businesses, it creates “havoc” for having trying to have justice served.

For instance, if someone dies and their final wishes are being contested by family members, then what happens if the newspaper offices are closed and a public notice does not get published by deadline? What if certain criteria for ether issuing or granting a Guardianship are not met?  In both cases, a notice in a local newspaper AND a Probate Court Order are required to proceed. 

These are a couple of reasons why Judge Miller looks at these cases and tries to hand down judgements that all involved parties will abide by. Many petitioners may be unaware of these rules and not knowing them can prolong an issue longer than necessary. 

Judge Miller can offer your outlet’s followers some ideas and tips on navigating through these uncharted waters. 

The Lincoln Probate Court, open during the fourth Monday of every month, can be a valuable resource during this period.

If you are interested in speaking with Judge Miller, then please contact him by email at steve@stevemillerlaw.com or call 401-524-4127.

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