What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate in Maine?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for the Maine estate inventory — what furniture, electronics, and appliances would sell for today, not what was paid.
Personal property in Maine is valued at fair market value: what the item would sell for on the open market as of the date of death, not what it cost. Most household goods (furniture, electronics, clothing) resell for a small fraction of their purchase price. Art, collectibles, jewelry and other high-value items are valued by a professional appraisal. Maine lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisal18-C MRSA §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, though a valuable item still warrants a qualified appraiser.
No. An executor in Maine can group low-value household goods into a single inventory line, such as "household furnishings and personal effects", while jewelry, art, vehicles and collectibles are listed individually. Each value is fair market value as of the date of death.
In Maine, the executor files the estate inventory within 90 days18-C MRSA §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment. Maine requires a supplemental inventory for assets discovered later18-C MRSA §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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. The test is the value of the personal property, so an inventory at fair market value is what decides eligibility.
High-value items such as art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles are appraised by a qualified professional, while ordinary household items (furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing) are valued from comparable sales. Maine lets the executor value most property without a formal appraisal18-C MRSA §§ 3-706, 3-707, 3-708Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, though a valuable item still warrants a qualified appraiser.
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Forms for Settling an Estate in Maine
Free forms for settling an estate in Maine: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Small Estate Affidavit
In Maine, the Small Estate Affidavit18-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source covers estates with personal property of $52,50018-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less, 30 days18-C M.R.S. § 3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death, presented directly to the bank or other holder, not filed with a court.
Estate Inventory
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.
Estate Closing
In Maine, the personal representative is discharged automatically once the statutory period runs18-C M.R.S. §§ 3-1003(2), 3-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and a final accounting is required.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Maine
Free tools for settling an estate in Maine: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Maine pays executors reasonable compensation18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, typically 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 the estate.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Maine has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is available18-C M.R.S. §§ 3-301, 3-302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
In Maine, the County Probate Court appoints the personal representative and the Register of Probate issues Letters of Authority of Personal Representative; an informal (registrar) track is available18-C M.R.S. §§ 3-301, 3-302Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Maine, creditors have 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 from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
When an estate owes more than it holds, Maine pays the claims in 918-C MRS § 3-805Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with costs and expenses of administration.
How Do I Open an Estate Account When Someone Dies?
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
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%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 under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Hire a Maine Probate Attorney
Browse 58 probate firms in Maine with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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Maine Estate Settlement Resources
In-depth guides covering Maine probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.