Free Maine Transfer on Death Deed

In Maine, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notary, then recorded with the county before the owner's death.

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Owner Information

Enter your information as the property owner (transferor). If the property is jointly owned, you’ll add the second owner below.

How is the property owned?*

Choose “Jointly owned” if two people are on the title (e.g. spouses as joint tenants or tenants by the entirety). Both owners must sign.

I am the sole ownerJointly owned with one other person

First Name*

Middle Name

Last Name*

Street Address*

City*

State*

ZIP Code*

State Where Property Is Located*

County Where Property Is Located*

Email Address*

Phone Number*

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Maine provides a statutory form, and a deed in substantially that form is accepted. The deed must state that the transfer to the designated beneficiary is to occur at the transferor's death (18-C M.R.S. 6-409(2)).

A Maine transfer on death deed is recorded with the County Registry of Deeds for the county where the property sits and must be on record before the owner's death to take effect. The deed must be recorded in the registry of deeds in the county where the property is located before the transferor's death.

Co-owners may sign one deed together. The deed is signed by every owner whose interest it transfers.

Maine lapses the share of a beneficiary who dies before the owner. The deed can name a successor beneficiary to take in that case. A beneficiary's interest is contingent on that beneficiary surviving the transferor; the interest of a beneficiary who does not survive the transferor lapses (18-C M.R.S. 6-413(1)(B)).

The beneficiary takes the property subject to the mortgages, liens and other encumbrances on it at death. A transfer on death deed does not affect eligibility for public assistance during the transferor's life (18-C M.R.S. 6-412(4)), but the property stays within MaineCare estate recovery, which reaches assets passing to a survivor, heir or assign by any arrangement other than joint tenancy in real property (22 M.R.S. 14(2-I)(B)(2), (F)(2)). The deed moves this parcel alone; a revocable living trust set up with SimplyTrust carries the rest of the estate.

Maine Transfer on Death Deed

Maine authorizes transfer on death deeds: a property owner names a beneficiary who receives the property at death — bypassing probate entirely for that asset. The owner retains full control during their lifetime, including the right to revoke the deed at any time.

Without a TOD deed, real property in Maine passes through probate — a process that takes at least 4 months for simple estates. A TOD deed removes that property from the probate estate entirely. Estates under $52,500 may qualify for simplified procedures, but a TOD deed avoids the process altogether. See the full cost breakdown with the probate calculator.

TOD deeds are a focused tool — one deed per property, covering only real estate. A revocable trust handles all assets and provides incapacity planning as well. The trust vs. will tool compares the two approaches side by side.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated October 17, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Maine statutes and official state code. How we research.

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In-depth guides covering Maine probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

Free Maine Transfer on Death Deed

In Maine, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notary, then recorded with the county before the owner's death.

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Maine Transfer on Death Deed

Free Maine Transfer on Death Deed

Owner Information

Is this your situation?

New Home

Retirement

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Maine

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Financial Power of Attorney

Living Will

Last Will and Testament

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Maine

Do I Need a TOD Deed?

Do I Need a Vehicle TOD?

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

How Much Does Probate Cost?

When you're ready, we're here.

Maine Estate Planning Resources

Free Maine Transfer on Death Deed

Owner Information