Strout & Payson, P.A. is a full-service law firm headquartered in Rockland, Maine and serving Midcoast Maine to meet the diverse legal needs of Midcoast Maine individuals and businesses since 1963. For over 50 years, residents of Knox, Lincoln, Waldo and other Maine counties have trusted the Firm’s skilled and personable attorneys for sound advice and zealous representation in matters involving Business and Construction Law; Employment and Workers Compensation Law; Estate Planning, Probate and Elder Law; Divorce and Family Law; and Criminal, Personal Injury, and Landlord/Tenant disputes. Strout & Payson’s attorneys have for decades also been known throughout the Midcoast Maine area for their professional, cordial and compassionate handling of Real Estate transactions, from the simple title search or deed drafting to the most complex of the thousands of real estate closings the Firm’s real estate attorneys have brought to successful conclusion. Strout & Payson’s skilled attorneys regularly appear in Criminal and Civil court proceedings and conduct trials in Maine state courts in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo Counties, the Maine Business Court, Midcoast Maine individuals and employers have also come to rely on Strout & Payson’s skilled attorneys to zealously represent them before numerous Maine administrative bodies such as the Maine Workers Compensation Board, Maine DHHS, and Maine Human Rights Commission.
Child Custody and Visitation
Bob concentrates on trial work with a focus on criminal defense, divorce, parental rights and responsibilities, personal injury and general civil litigation. Over his forty-year career, Bob has successfully represented individuals charged with murder and other serious felonies, to traffic infractions. His practice has also involved the trial of many complicated divorce and child custody cases.
Adoption
Guardianship
Maine has 16 probate courts, one for each county, and these courts are under county jurisdiction. Each Probate Court has an elected judge, and these courts sit without a jury. Matters before the Probate Court include estate administration, guardianships for both adults and minors, conservatorships, name changes, adoptions, and other legal matters. The attorneys at Strout & Payson are experienced in these areas and are available to assist you with all necessary filings, as well as represent you at hearings, contested or otherwise, in front of the Judge of Probate.
He served as a Member of the Maine Criminal Rules Committee from 1979 – 1987. Currently he is a member of the Maine State Bar Association, Maine Trial Lawyers Association, Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Knox County Bar Association.
Misdemeanors
Strout & Payson's Criminal Law Group represents clients in District and Superior Courts throughout Maine. Representation is available for misdemeanors and felony matters. The attorneys at Strout & Payson assist clients with Operating Under the Influence, other motor vehicle-related charges, and drug offenses. Focus is also placed on administrative hearings in front of the Secretary of State/Department of Motor Vehicles. Appeals to Maine's Law Court are handled should the need arise.
Drug Crimes
Murder
Rick handles a wide-range of trial work, including criminal defense, divorce, parental rights and responsibilities, personal injury and general civil litigation in both State and Federal courts throughout Maine. His criminal cases have ranged from the successful defense and jury acquittal in a murder trial, to felony drug, OUI, and domestic violence charges. He has also represented many clients in complicated divorce and child custody trials throughout the Midcoast region. Rick has always focused on an active trial practice.
Strout & Payson takes pride in being able to provide guidance for our clients from the inception of their business through any periods of growth and transition. We assist in analyzing business opportunities, advise clients with regard to the appropriate corporate form they should utilize, and all matters concerning corporate governance. We also analyze existing contracts and draft new documents as necessary to effectuate business goals. We provide employment agreements, standard contracts for goods and services, contracts related to the acquisition of new or additional real estate, and numerous other business related legal services, including litigation of business disputes.
Business Disputes
With more than 20 years of litigation experience, Patrick has successfully handled business disputes, land use disputes, probate issues, personal injury cases and municipal law matters as well as other administrative matters before various State administrative boards. His substantial experience as a litigator led him to become a mediator, where he uses his litigation acumen and calm demeanor to assist litigants in resolving their disputes rather than going to trial.
Limited Liability Companies
Patrick focuses his practice on business law and civil litigation, including probate and will contest issues. In addition to assisting hundreds of clients create corporations or limited liability companies, he has guided clients through employer / employee agreements, substantive asset transactions, partnership agreements, corporate by-laws that define the rights and obligations of the owners, members and shareholders, and LLC agreements.
Strout & Payson’s attorneys have for decades been known throughout the Midcoast Maine area for their professional, cordial and compassionate handling of Real Estate transactions, from the simple title search or deed drafting to the most complex of the thousands of real estate closings the Firm’s real estate attorneys have brought to successful conclusion. Strout & Payson’s skilled attorneys regularly appear in Criminal and Civil court proceedings and conduct trials in Maine state courts in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo Counties, the Maine Business Court. Midcoast Maine individuals and employers have also come to rely on Strout & Payson’s skilled attorneys to zealously represent them before numerous Maine administrative bodies such as the Maine Workers Compensation Board, Maine DHHS, and Maine Human Rights Commission.
Employment Contract
We represent employees and employers in various types of employment disputes, including both state and Longshore workers' compensation disputes. Strout & Payson attorneys also provide counsel to our business clients in numerous aspects of employment law including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour law, personnel policy development and review, employment agreements, drug testing, and discipline and discharge issues. When disputes arise we regularly prosecute and defend claims in state or federal court and all state administrative tribunals.
Our firm's five litigation attorneys collectively bring over 70 years of experience, a solidly developed relationship with and knowledge of area courts, their workings and personnel. This knowledge and practical experience often leads to timely results, benefitting our clients. If litigation is required, Strout & Payson is known as a firm that provides aggressive and intelligent advocacy. Our attorneys have successfully litigated everything from sophisticated injunctive matters to everyday collection matters. Some of the types of litigation matters we handle include: Partnership, Corporate/Shareholder and Limited Liability Company disputes; Bankruptcy Adversary Proceedings, Bankruptcy Contested Matters, Breach of contract; Boundary disputes; Partition actions; Fraud and misrepresentation claims; Slander and defamation claims; Unfair Trade Practices; Interference with existing and prospective contractual relations; Construction disputes and home warranty claims; Wrongful use of civil proceedings and abuse of process claims; Collection cases; Successor liability, alter ego, and piercing the corporate veil cases; and Preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders.
Construction Litigation
Strout & Payson Construction Law Group is an experienced team committed to providing effective and competent counsel to all participants in the construction process, including contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, owners, developers, construction managers, design/builders, and engineers. The practice is local and statewide in scope. Clients are assisted in all matters, no matter the magnitude, including adapting industry agreements to meet the particular needs of the client, drafting customized documents, if necessary, and reviewing and revising proposed contracts. The firm practices all aspects of construction law from negotiation, contract formation, and litigation.
Real Estate Transactions
Strout & Payson’s attorneys in Midcoast Maine work on Real Estate transactions, title search, deed drafting. real estate closings with real estate attorneys. Criminal and Civil court lawyers conduct trials in Maine state courts in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo Counties, the Maine Business Court, and in federal courts and bankruptcy courts in Bangor and Portland, Maine and beyond. Midcoast Maine individuals and employers have also come to rely on Strout & Payson’s skilled attorneys to zealously represent them before numerous Maine administrative bodies such as the Maine Workers Compensation Board, Maine DHHS, and Maine Human Rights Commission.
Easement
Land Use and Zoning
Strout & Payson attorneys regularly assist clients in obtaining all federal, state, and local approvals for development projects throughout Midcoast Maine. We counsel our clients on zoning, subdivision, site approval, wetland, and shoreland requirements, and we appear before state and local regulatory agencies and planning and zoning boards. Our attorneys regularly work with and appear before various state and local regulatory boards.
Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Strout & Payson's attorneys represents both buyers and sellers, property management firms, businesses and individuals in all types of commercial and residential real estate matters, including services in real estate transactions, leases, contract and deed drafting, negotiation, real estate litigation, landlord and tenant disputes, partition actions, easement and permit disputes, and other land use issues.
In 2007. Laura comes from a lawyering family: her father and uncles practiced personal injury law at Shortill & Shortill, PA in Sanford. Laura now lives with her husband, Paul and daughter in South Thomaston.
Auto Accidents
Dog Bites
If you have been hurt in a car accident or you are dealing with injuries as a result of someone else's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The complexity of dealing with insurance adjusters, doctors and other experts can oftentimes be confusing and all consuming. The lawyers of Strout & Payson bring years of skill and experience to the table to skillfully navigate these waters and bring your claim to a successful resolution. From dog bites to slip and falls to motor vehicle accidents, the lawyers of Strout & Payson will provide you with a no-charge consultation to discuss your situation. Our attorneys look forward to obtaining the compensation you deserve and seeing you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Estate planning involves the creation of a plan for the distribution of an individual's property upon death. Without a will, property will be distributed pursuant to the laws of the State of Maine. The best way to ensure that your property will be distributed pursuant to your wishes is to create a will. The attorneys at Strout & Payson can discuss the best plan for you, including how to minimize the tax implications for your estate.
Wills
Our elder law attorneys advise clients with regard to methods of preserving assets of an elderly individual in the event they are required to enter a nursing home. We also are experienced in the prosecution and defense of guardianship proceedings; counseling clients with regard to health care planning including the preparation of living wills.
Trusts
Power of Attorney
Other important documents include a durable power of attorney and a health care power of attorney. A durable power of attorney is a written instrument by which an individual designates another person (the agent, or attorney-in-fact) to act on his or her behalf. A health care power of attorney, often referred to as a living will or an advance health care directive, enables the agent to make health care related decisions for the principal.
Probate
Laura joined Strout & Payson in 2018 after practicing trust, estate and probate law in Penobscot and York counties. Laura graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in 2014. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University
Strout & Payson is experienced in assisting individuals, businesses, and financial institutions with the collection of their debts. This representation includes mortgage foreclosures, enforcement of the rights of secured creditors under Maine's Uniform Commercial Code, the recovery of money judgments, and the use of all available remedies afforded by Maine law to collect money judgments.