Maine estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Maine
Maine sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Maine will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Maine law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Maine estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | Yes — 2025 exemption $7 million |
| State inheritance tax | None |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Maine courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Maine
A Maine will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses. Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Maine recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, but a properly witnessed will is far stronger and easier to probate.
Spousal protection. Elective share is 50% of the marital-property portion of the augmented estate on a sliding scale by length of marriage — not a flat one-third (18-C M.R.S. §§ 2-202, 2-203). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Maine
A will still has to pass through Maine probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Maine situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Maine
A financial power of attorney in Maine must be acknowledged before a notary to be effective. (18-C M.R.S. § 5-905)
A Maine healthcare directive must be signed before two qualified witnesses. (18-C M.R.S. § 5-803)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Maine's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Maine estate & inheritance tax
Maine levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $7 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Maine tax while owing no federal tax. Maine has no separate inheritance tax.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Maine department of revenue.
Maine statutes referenced
- 18-C M.R.S. § 2-502
- 18-C M.R.S. § 5-905
- 18-C M.R.S. § 5-803
Maine estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Maine?
- Yes. Maine does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Maine's execution rules. A will is valid in Maine when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people (18-C M.R.S. § 2-502). Estateur builds each Maine will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Maine?
- Maine requires two witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Maine also recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, though a witnessed will is stronger.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Maine?
- No. Maine law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Maine documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Maine attorney is wise.
- Does Maine have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Maine levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $7 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Maine tax while owing no federal tax. Maine has no separate inheritance tax.
- How much does an online will cost in Maine?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Maine as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Maine estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Maine, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Maine law in general terms and may change.
Estateur covers all 50 states and D.C. Browse another state →