Estate Planning for York County, Maine Property Owners

For most York 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 York 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 York 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 York County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives York 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 →York County signing requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for York County are recorded with the Registry of Deeds at 45 Kennebunk Road, Alfred, ME 04002. Phone: 1-207-324-1576. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 339, Alfred, ME 04002.

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

York County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Registry of Deeds

York County

Hours

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

Office

45 Kennebunk Road, Alfred, ME 04002

E-recording

available via Simplifile

Open in Google Maps

Mail

P.O. Box 339 Alfred, ME 04002

Fax

1-207-324-2886

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving York County

FirmYork, ME

Brennan & Rogers, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Serves York and Cumberland counties from offices in York and Kennebunk, with Portland meetings by appointment. The practice is limited to probate, estate planning with wills and revocable and irrevocable trusts, elder law asset protection, and MaineCare/Medicaid applications. Attorneys are also licensed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and the firm offers free virtual introductory sessions.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning

Office
279 York StreetYork, ME 03909
Virtual consultations

Solo PracticeWells, ME

Brin Moore Esq., LLC

Serves 1 county

Serves York County from Wells, with clients in Maine and New Hampshire. Attorney Brin Moore assists families with probate administration after a death and prepares wills, revocable trusts, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs Planning

Office
76 Settlers Retreat RdWells, ME 04090

Solo PracticeKennebunk, ME

Dirigo Law LLC

Serves 1 county

Serves York County from Garden Street in Kennebunk, with office meetings by appointment. Attorney Craig McMurray handles probate administration and prepares wills naming a personal representative and trusts to avoid probate or keep legacy property in the family. Also handles select real estate and corporate transactions, and offers a free initial consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate Law

Office
6 Garden StreetKennebunk, ME 04043
Free consultation

Solo PracticeWells, ME

The Law Office of Clason & Nickerson, PLLC

Since 1963 · Serves 1 county

Serves York County from Route 1 in Wells. Helps a family member be appointed personal representative and administer the estate, administers family trusts after a death, and handles guardianship and conservatorship matters, along with wills and revocable and irrevocable trusts. The practice Charles L. Nickerson began in 1963 is carried on by attorney Dylan Clason, who offers a free consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipGuardianship

Office
2181 Post RoadWells, ME 04090
Free consultation

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
See all 23 firms serving York 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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