© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.
Maine follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-B, § 708Verified May 31, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Maine trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Maine is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 4 months in Maine — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Maine trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Maine average $343 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $1,029–$2,058 for a simple individual will and $5,390–$8,085 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Maine allows estates under $52,500 to use a simplified Small Estate Affidavit procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Maine probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Maine, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; estates near or above the Maine estate tax threshold; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 3,941 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
20 firms
A Portland-founded firm (1915) and one of northern New England's largest, with 100+ attorneys. Its Trusts & Estates group handles estate and trust administration, probate, business succession, charitable planning, and fiduciary representation for Maine families and executors.
Location
100 Middle Street, West TowerPortland, ME 04101
Phone
(207) 774-1200
Established
1915
Service Area
Statewide
A law firm in Portland's Old Port district focused on wills and trusts, estates, probate, and business law. Effective, cost-conscious, and focused on clients.
Location
1 Union Street, Suite 501Portland, ME 04101
Phone
(207) 608-6865
Service Area
1 county
Serving Maine families since 1963, originally founded by Charles L. Nickerson. Specializes in estate planning, probate, and trust administration for York County clients. Offers complimentary initial consultations.
Location
2181 Post RoadWells, ME 04090
Phone
(207) 324-4396
Established
1963
Service Area
1 county
A Portland firm representing Maine people and businesses since 1881. Its Estate Planning & Elder Law team prepares wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, living trusts, and special needs trusts, and handles probate, estate and trust administration, and estate disputes throughout Maine.
Location
One Monument WayPortland, ME 04101
Phone
(207) 774-0317
Established
1881
Service Area
Statewide
A Portland firm founded in 1965 with 100+ attorneys. Its estate planning team handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, gift and estate tax matters, business succession, charitable giving, and guardianships and conservatorships, with extensive Maine probate court experience.
Location
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600Portland, ME 04101
Phone
(207) 772-1941
Established
1965
Service Area
Statewide
A Portland boutique trusts and estates firm founded in 1992, practicing statewide with by-appointment offices in Norway and Rockland. Drafts wills and trusts, prepares prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, probates estates, administers trusts, and represents parties in probate and trust litigation.
Location
2 Monument SquarePortland, ME 04101
Phone
(207) 772-4100
Established
1992
Service Area
Statewide
Lincoln County's largest firm, formed by a 2016 merger of Damariscotta practices. Handles estate and trust planning, wills, probate, and elder law for midcoast families.
Location
181 Main StreetDamariscotta, ME 04543
Phone
(207) 563-5828
Service Area
1 county
Formerly Jones, Kuriloff & Sargent, LLC, rebranded as JKS, LLC effective January 1, 2026. Specializes in trusts, estate planning, elder law, probate, and related matters. Jeffrey Jones has been practicing trust and estate law in Ellsworth since 1985 and serves on the Maine Probate and Trust Law Advisory Commission (PATLAC).
Location
134 Surry RoadEllsworth, ME 04605
Phone
(207) 664-0002
Service Area
1 county
Operating since 1987, this solo practice serves the midcoast region handling everything from simple wills to complex multi-jurisdictional estate planning. Admitted to practice in Maine and Massachusetts, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Member of MSBA Elder Law and Estates & Trusts committees.
Location
P.O. Box 1086Damariscotta, ME 04543
Phone
(207) 563-1144
Established
1987
Service Area
6 counties
A boutique elder law firm founded in 2011 serving southern and central Maine. Focuses on high-quality, cost-effective legal services with personalized attention. Fully accessible office with in-person conferences available at hospices and nursing facilities for clients with mobility limitations.
Location
210 Western AvenueSouth Portland, ME 04106
Phone
(207) 219-8785
Established
2011
Service Area
2 counties