On Friday, March 13, 2026, Bangor Daily News reported that Hancock County Probate Judge William B. Blaisdell IV is facing arrest after failing to appear in court for a contempt hearing regarding unpaid child support payments to his ex-wife. A Belfast District Court judge issued a bench warrant for Blaisdell’s arrest on March 12, setting bail at $16,929.50.
Despite the legal troubles, Blaisdell technically retains his position as Hancock County’s probate judge, although he is currently suspended from serving as either a lawyer or a judge. In addition to his part-time judicial role, Blaisdell has also maintained a private law practice, representing clients in matters unrelated to probate cases.
Blaisdell’s law license was suspended for one year in April 2025 after he was found in contempt of court for violating conditions imposed by the overseers board, the state entity responsible for upholding conduct standards for licensed lawyers. Subsequently, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court suspended Blaisdell from the bench for the second time in less than a year.
During his suspension, Hancock County has been utilizing a multi-county agreement that allows probate judges from neighboring counties to handle its probate cases. These cases often involve wills, estates, adoptions, name changes, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Blaisdell has faced at least three contempt orders, issued by different judges, for repeatedly falling behind on child support payments to his ex-wife. Since their divorce in 2019, Blaisdell has allegedly avoided paying more than $67,000 in timely child support and attorney fees. Blaisdell’s ex-wife claims he is again in violation of court orders from last year, requiring him to pay overdue child support and her attorney fees, according to court documents.
Blaisdell was first held in contempt of court in March 2024 for being over $50,000 in arrears on child support and attorney fees. He also allegedly failed to file federal or state income tax for at least three years, according to court documents. In February 2025, a Waldo County judge found Blaisdell in contempt for failing to pay an additional $17,000 in child support and attorney fees.
In November 2025, facing a previous contempt order, Blaisdell paid $25,684 to his ex-wife’s lawyer and provided copies of his financial statements. These statements revealed a Charles Schwab account with $166,291 and a separate IRA account with $344,080 saved. Despite this, Blaisdell had previously testified under oath that he had “depleted all of the brokerage account funds available to him” and was unable to pay the $25,648 he owed in child support, or his monthly $1,500 Toyota Sequoia bill. Financial statements dated two days after his Oct. 29 hearing showed he had more than $510,000 in savings.
Blaisdell was first elected as Hancock County’s probate judge in 2014. He narrowly won reelection in 2018 and was reelected without opposition in 2022. The county’s probate position is up for election again in November. As of now, Blaisdell has not filed paperwork with the state to run for the post this year.
Source: Bangor Daily News
