What to Do When Someone Dies in Franklin County, Maine
Probate in Franklin County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Franklin County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Wednesday is a designated court day and services may be limited or unavailable during normal business hours. Passport services by appointment: Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Franklin County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 140 Main Street, Suite 6, Farmington.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Maine intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Maine estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 4 months18-C M.R.S. § 3-801(1) (4 months from first publication); § 3-803(1) (outer bar: earlier of 9 months after death or the § 3-801 period)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in Franklin County
What probate costs in Franklin County, Maine comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 140 Main Street, Suite 6, Farmington.
Maine charges $40 - $1,200+ (based on estate value)18-C M.R.S. § 1-602(2)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Maine are negotiated, typically 1.9%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Maine requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
Probate in Maine typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate cases in Franklin County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Other Requirements
Main Street entrance only; security screening required (effective January 2025). New security system went live March 10, 2025.
Before You Go
Hearing schedule
Wednesdays (designated court day - services may be limited)
What to Bring
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in Franklin County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Registry of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Franklin County are recorded with the Registry of Deeds, led by Register of Deeds Susan A. Black, at 140 Main Street, Suite 5, Farmington, ME 04938. Phone: 207-778-5889. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
The Registry of Deeds charges $40 flat, regardless of page count.
Franklin County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Registry of Deeds
Franklin County · Register of Deeds · Susan A. Black
Maine allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Franklin County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Maine are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.9%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.1%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)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Franklin County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Attorney Ronald J. Cullenberg has practiced for over 40 years in Farmington, serving Franklin County and throughout Maine. Previously served as Assistant Attorney General for Maine and Assistant General Counsel for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before establishing the firm in 1981. Initial telephone calls are handled at no charge.
Serving Maine seniors and their families since 1996, now practicing as Kienitz and Pross. Kathleen Kienitz is one of the first certified elder law attorneys (CELA) in Maine with over 30 years of practice and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawMedicaid PlanningLong Term Care PlanningProbate Administration
Attorney Michael L. Dubois has over 37 years of experience with probate and estate planning matters. Serves clients in Lewiston, Auburn and surrounding communities in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford and Kennebec Counties. Member of the Maine State Bar Association and American Bar Association.
A multi-generational Farmington law firm with over a century of experience guiding Franklin County families through probate, estate, and real estate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningGeneral PracticeProbate AdministrationReal Estate Law
Attorneys serving clients for over 170 years. Provides responsive and reasonably priced legal services for wills and trusts, estate and gift tax planning, prenuptial agreements, and MaineCare advice.
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningBusiness Successionand 2 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Franklin County Guides
Step-by-step tools for families in Franklin County, Maine.
