Serves Lincoln County and the midcoast from 181 Main Street in Damariscotta. Guides families through the administration of an estate, representing personal representatives at hearings and in contested and uncontested probate matters, and files petitions for guardianship and conservatorship. Formed in 2016 by the merger of Gallagher and Stein with the Law Office of Marcia E. DeGeer.
Damariscotta is in Lincoln County.
Probate in Lincoln County
Probate Court Record
Lincoln County Probate Court
Lincoln County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
32 High Street, Wiscasset, ME 04578
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Lincoln County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Lincoln County? →Settling an estate in Lincoln County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Maine
Free Maine forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Maine.
$12/month
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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Free
Last Will and Testament
In Maine, a will is signed before 218-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimony18-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Maine requires 218-C M.R.S. § 5-805Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses for a healthcare power of attorney; notarization is not required18-C M.R.S. § 5-805Verified Oct 15, 2026View source.
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Free
Financial Power of Attorney
Maine treats a power of attorney as durable by default18-C M.R.S. § 5-905, § 5-904, § 5-906, § 5-907, § 5-909, § 5-913, § 5-931, § 5-951Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and it is signed before a notary18-C M.R.S. § 5-905, § 5-904, § 5-906, § 5-907, § 5-909, § 5-913, § 5-931, § 5-951Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
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Free
Pour-Over Will
In Maine, a pour-over will is signed before 218-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
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Free
Transfer on Death Deed
In Maine, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notary18-C M.R.S. 6-401 to 6-420Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's death18-C M.R.S. 6-401 to 6-420Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. Maine does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Maine
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Maine: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Maine.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Maine, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.9%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
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Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Maine takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.9%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
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How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Maine costs an estimated $26,31318-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.9%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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What Are the Estate Laws in My State?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Maine costs an estimated $26,31318-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.9%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%Modeled estimate under 18-C M.R.S. § 3-721 (court review of the reasonableness of attorney compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (reasonable attorney fees in estate litigation): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $52,50018-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Maine: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 days18-C MRSA §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 months18-C MRS §§ 3-801, 3-803, 3-805, 3-806Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
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What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Maine runs $5,390Estimate: 10 hours at $539, Clio's Maine Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $8,085Estimate: 15 hours at $539, Clio's Maine Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,029Estimate: 3 hours at $343, Clio's Maine Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,058Estimate: 6 hours at $343, Clio's Maine Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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