Estate Planning & Probate in Knox County, Maine
There are two reasons people look up Knox County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. This page points you to the right path—planning ahead, or settling an estate at the Probate Court.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Probate Court, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Knox County →Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Knox County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Knox County →The Probate Process in Knox County
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 Knox County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 62 Union Street, 1st Floor, Rockland.
Full Knox County probate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Knox County Probate Court
Knox County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Knox County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Recording Office Record
Registry of Deeds
Knox County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Recording fee
E-recording
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Vital Records Office Record
Maine Department of Health and Human Services - Data, Research, and Vital Statistics
Knox County · State vital records office
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Certified copies
Certified copy fee
Full death certificate details →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
State Medical Examiner
Knox County · Office of Chief Medical Examiner
Phone
Website
Serves this county
Cremation authorization
Full coroner or medical examiner details →
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Probate Court
The Probate Court schedules probate hearings First and third Wednesday of each month, and as needed.
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.
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Maine happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust Code18-B M.R.S. § 101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 days18-B MRSA §§ 813, 1005, 105Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
Do I Need Probate?
In Maine, estates with personal property of $52,50018-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate Affidavit18-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 30 days18-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Maine, a surviving spouse takes the entire estate18-C M.R.S. § 2-102Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita at each generation18-C M.R.S. § 2-106Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
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.
Maine Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Knox County.
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