Estate Planning for Sagadahoc County, Maine Property Owners

For most Sagadahoc County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Sagadahoc County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Probate Court. The two tools that keep a Sagadahoc County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Registry of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Probate Court decides who receives the property: a simple Maine probate takes 4+ months and opens with $50 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Sagadahoc County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Sagadahoc County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Registry of Deeds during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Maine transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgment18-C M.R.S. 6-401 to 6-420Verified Oct 18, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's death18-C M.R.S. 6-401 to 6-420Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Create a Maine TOD deed →Sagadahoc County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Sagadahoc County are recorded with the Registry of Deeds at 752 High Street, Bath, ME 04530. Phone: 1-207-443-8214. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

The Registry of Deeds charges $40 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $40 to record in Sagadahoc County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Sagadahoc County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Registry of Deeds

Sagadahoc County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Office

752 High Street, Bath, ME 04530

E-recording

available via Simplifile

Open in Google Maps

Fax

1-207-443-8216

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Sagadahoc County

Solo PracticeDamariscotta, ME

Law Office of Deborah Potter

Since 1987 · Serves 6 counties

Serves Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Kennebec, and Cumberland counties from Damariscotta. Represents personal representatives in estate administration and ancillary administration, administers testamentary and living trusts, files estate and fiduciary tax returns, and handles will contests. Licensed in Maine and Massachusetts, with multi-jurisdictional work for summer residents.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more

Office
10 Bristol RoadDamariscotta, ME 04543

Solo PracticeWinthrop, ME

Levey, Wagley, Putman & Eccher, P.A.

Serves 3 counties

Serves Kennebec County from Winthrop and meets clients by appointment in the Waterville and Brunswick/Topsham areas. Files to have personal representatives appointed, advises them through paying debts, selling property, and distributing the estate, assists trustees, and represents parties in will contests or serves as mediator. Daniel J. Eccher continues the practice.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more

Office
161 Main Street, Suite 1-AWinthrop, ME 04364

FirmPortland, ME

Drummond & Drummond, LLP

Since 1881 · Serves the whole state

Serves clients throughout Maine from One Monument Way in Portland. Its Estate Planning & Elder Law attorneys guide personal representatives through probate administration, handle trust administration, and represent heirs and beneficiaries in will contests and disputes over the distribution of estate property. The firm has represented Maine people and businesses since 1881.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more

Office
One Monument WayPortland, ME 04101

FirmPortland, ME

Drummond Woodsum

Since 1965 · Serves the whole state

Serves clients in probate courts throughout Maine from Marginal Way in Portland. Its estate planning and administration team represents personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries in administering estates and trusts, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and with the firm's trial group represents clients in contested probate, will, and trust matters. Founded in 1965.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600Portland, ME 04101

FirmWaterville, ME

Elder Law Offices of John & Mark Nale

Serves the whole state

Serves clients throughout Maine from Waterville. Assists personal representatives with probate administration, including the inventory, accounting and distribution of estate assets, works with trustees to administer trusts, and handles guardianships, conservatorships and MaineCare long-term care applications. The firm is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 5 more

Office
58 Elm StreetWaterville, ME 04901

FirmPortland, ME

Epstein & O'Donovan, LLP

Since 1992 · Serves the whole state

Represents clients across Maine from Portland, and meets clients in Norway and Rockland by arrangement. Probates estates, administers trusts, advises on estate, gift and fiduciary income tax, and represents parties in probate and trust litigation and in guardianship and conservatorship matters. Founded in 1992 as Maine's first boutique trusts and estates firm.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
2 Monument SquarePortland, ME 04101
See all 21 firms serving Sagadahoc County →

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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

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

Forms for Planning Your Estate in Maine

Free forms for planning your estate in Maine: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Maine.

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.

Get Started
Free

Codicil to a Will

In Maine, a codicil is signed before 218-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimony18-C M.R.S. § 2-503Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.

Get Started
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.

Get Started
Free

HIPAA Release

In Maine, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and mental health records5 MRS § 19203(1)-(2); 34-B MRS § 1207(1)(A)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.

Get Started
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.

Get Started
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.

Get Started
Free

Living Will

In Maine, the living will is the Advance Health Care Directive18-C M.R.S. §§ 5-801 to 5-817 (Title 18-C, Article 5, Part 8, Uniform Health Care Decisions Act)Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.

Get Started
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.

Get Started

All Maine forms

Tools for Planning Your Estate in Maine

Free tools for planning your estate in Maine: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Maine and read its answer.

How Do I Sign Estate Documents?

In Maine, a will is signed before 218-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not required18-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Check the Rules

Will My Estate Documents Transfer?

Maine recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signed18-C M.R.S. § 2-505Verified Oct 18, 2026View source; a will signed in Maine itself needs 218-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not required18-C M.R.S. § 2-502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

Get the Answer

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.

Calculate Costs

How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable living 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 for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

Calculate Costs

How Much Does a Will Cost?

An attorney-prepared will in Maine runs $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 $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $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.

Calculate Costs

How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?

Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.

Compare Options

How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?

In Maine, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C, §§ 5-202, 5-203, 5-204Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 1, §§ 72(2-B), 73Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

See the Steps

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.

Get the Answer

All Maine tools

Maine Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for Maine.