Two practicing attorneys are vying for a four-year term as Lincoln County Judge of Probate. Incumbent William Avantaggio, D-Bremen, is seeking re-election against challenger Meegan Burbank of Jefferson who has no political party affiliation.

Probate Court has jurisdiction over all subject matters relating to admitting wills to probate, appointment of personal representatives, appointment of guardians and conservators, name changes, and adoptions.

Avantaggio succeeded Thomas A. Berry, who served as judge of probate from 1988 to 2016. Avantaggio, a Damariscotta lawyer, ran for the position at Berry’s urging four years ago. “He told me he was retiring and I should consider running for the office,” Avantaggio said. 

Burbank also has a connection to the former probate judge. Burbank, a Boothbay Harbor lawyer, is a partner with Berry at the Berry & Burbank Law Firm. “Thomas (Berry) supports my run and is excited about my campaign,” she said.

Burbank, 45, lived in Fort Fairfield before her family moved to Jefferson when she was a young child. She is a 1993 Medomak Valley High School graduate. She attended Randolph Makin College in Ashland, Virginia before transferring to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. The transfer enabled her to graduate in three years. In 1999, Burbank graduated from the William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia. She became partners with Berry in 2017.

Burbank is president of the Lincoln County Bar Association and elected by her peers as governor representing the Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties Board of Governors of the Maine State Bar Association.

Avantaggio, 52, was born on an American Air Force Base in Germany. His father moved to Damariscotta and worked at Miles Memorial Hospital as a surgeon. Avantaggio graduated from Lincoln Academy in 1986. He studied philosophy at St. Lawrence College in Canton, New York. He earned a law degree at the University of Maine Law School in Portland. “I picked a field (law) where I could return to Maine after graduation,” he said.

Avantaggio worked at Howard & Bowie for eight years before entering into private practice. Avantaggio specializes in criminal and family law. He also handles property disputes, landlord/tenant issues, personal injury and construction. 

Burbank is a litigator and most of her cases include civil and family law, probate court, wills, trusts, criminal law, real estate and corporate work.  

As a student, Burbank read an article about the role of guardians as children’s advocates. This inspired her to study law. “I spent a good portion of my first 16 years as a lawyer working on these guardian types of cases,” she said. “I think a judge plays an important role ensuring people’s constitutional rights are upheld.”

Avantaggio learned a great deal about probate court in his first year. The probate practice code was revamped, requiring him to familiarize himself with the changes. “This took a significant amount of re-education,” he said. “Also, I now see cases presented in a whole different perspective. This helps me in becoming a better attorney and judge. I now see cases from both perspectives which helps me in both roles.”

As probate judge, Burbank is looking to make the process more efficient. She believes cases are taking too long. Burbank would also increase the number of touch points with more formal interaction with the judge in guardianship cases. Another change would be quicker court mediations and stacking more cases on trial dates with backups. “I believe a probate judge is an important position and people’s constitutional rights are important enough to put that type of thought and care into it,” she said.

Avantaggio lives with his wife, Annie Avantaggio, and the couple has two children. Burbank is single and has two sons.