AUGUSTA — One of Ronda Snyder’s first experiences in probate court was adopting newborn twins, now 16.

Ronda Snyder, above, defeated Abigail St. Valle in the race for register of probate in Kennebec County. Contributed photo

Snyder, who was elected last week as register of probate in Kennebec County, said even a positive experience like adopting twins can be stressful to those not familiar with the court system. The probate process can be intimidating.

Snyder said she aims to help with that in her new position, including taking the stress out of probate matters.

“I want to make people feel more at ease and more comfortable,” Snyder, 59, said. “I’m there to help, and that’s one of the things I’ve always loved doing.”

In unofficial results, Snyder, a Republican, topped Abigail St. Valle, a Democrat, by a vote of 36,252 to 31,970.

While Snyder said she is proud to have been elected to a position in Kennebec County that has rarely been filled by a Republican, she does not seek to make the job political, and wants to use her professional experience to help residents with probate matters.

That experience includes 20 years as a senior paralegal, doing estate and probate work, including seven years working as the director of administration for a Boston law firm.

“I’m very proactive, and really excited to start this job,” Snyder said. “I’m pretty sure I can help the probate court with some standards of practices. My plans are to ensure the registry stays within budget, and that people receive prompt, professional and courteous service.”

Snyder is to be sworn in as register of probate in January. Until then, St. Valle, the incumbent Kennebec County register of probate, will continue to fill the role. St. Valle is also an at-large city councilor in Augusta, though she did not seek reelection earlier this month.

Before she starts in Kennebec County, Snyder said she plans to job shadow with the register of probate in Lincoln County to get a feel for the job.

The register of probate in Kennebec County is paid an annual salary of $67,782, according to County Administrator Scott Ferguson.

In Maine, county probate courts are staffed by part-time judges who preside over hearings without a jury, full-time registers, deputy registers and, in some cases, clerks and secretaries, according to the Maine Association of Registers of Probate.

Probate courts handle wills and the distribution of estates, adoptions, guardianships, name changes, estates and trusts.

Probate registers accept, docket, scan, preserve and provide access to probate court filings.

Elizabeth H. Mitchell was uncontested in her bid to remain Kennebec County’s judge of probate.

Snyder lives in Sidney with her husband and twins. She previously served a term as a selectman in Sidney, and is a writer in her spare time.