Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustNewForms & ToolsFreeResourcesStates
LoginGet started
Company
AboutCareersContactFormsCreate a TrustNew
Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSecurityAI Access

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.

SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Trust
  • Last Will
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Proxy
  • Financial POA
  • Transfer on Death Deed

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

A will is a wish. A trust is a plan.

Create and manage your trust online.

How it works

No probate. No public record. No court.

Estate Ledger

Every decision signed, timestamped, and hashed

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

Download

Get the app on iOS and Android

Home→Tools→Trust or Will Decision Tool→Maine

Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Maine?

Compare probate costs, trust administration fees, and digital signing options for your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maine uses reasonable compensation for probate fees, typically 2-4% of the estate value.18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (estate litigation expenses)Verified May 31, 2026 A trust avoids probate entirely and distributes assets faster than the 4-6 month probate timeline.

Probate in Maine typically costs 2-4% of the estate value in attorney fees alone.18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (estate litigation expenses)Verified May 31, 2026 A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Maine probate calculator.

No. A will must go through probate in Maine. However, estates with personal property under $52,500 may qualify for Small Estate Affidavit, which is faster and less expensive than full probate.18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditors; 4 months from first publication), § 3-803 (creditor claim limitations; 9-month absolute bar from death), § 3-1201 (small estate affidavit; $40K base CPI-indexed), § 1-108 (CPI adjustment), § 1-602 (graduated probate filing fees: $40 to $1,200+); Maine Probate Courts COLA table at maineprobate.net (2026 § 3-1201 adjusted amount: $52,500); PL 2025 c. 76 (2025 amendment adding § 1-108 cross-reference to § 3-1201)Verified May 31, 2026

Simple estates in Maine typically take 4-6 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 12-24 months or longer.18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditors; 4 months from first publication), § 3-803 (creditor claim limitations; 9-month absolute bar from death), § 3-1201 (small estate affidavit; $40K base CPI-indexed), § 1-108 (CPI adjustment), § 1-602 (graduated probate filing fees: $40 to $1,200+); Maine Probate Courts COLA table at maineprobate.net (2026 § 3-1201 adjusted amount: $52,500); PL 2025 c. 76 (2025 amendment adding § 1-108 cross-reference to § 3-1201)Verified May 31, 2026 A revocable trust avoids probate entirely, with assets typically distributed within weeks.

Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Maine. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.

Use the Maine probate calculator to estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and the probate timeline.18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditors; 4 months from first publication), § 3-803 (creditor claim limitations; 9-month absolute bar from death), § 3-1201 (small estate affidavit; $40K base CPI-indexed), § 1-108 (CPI adjustment), § 1-602 (graduated probate filing fees: $40 to $1,200+); Maine Probate Courts COLA table at maineprobate.net (2026 § 3-1201 adjusted amount: $52,500); PL 2025 c. 76 (2025 amendment adding § 1-108 cross-reference to § 3-1201)Verified May 31, 2026

Whether a trust is cost-effective depends on estate size, property types, and Maine's probate costs. The Maine trust need assessment evaluates these factors against your specific situation.

Trust vs Will in Maine

The will route in Maine pays attorney fees on a reasonable-compensation basis, typically 2%18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (estate litigation expenses)Verified May 31, 2026 to 4%18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (estate litigation expenses)Verified May 31, 2026 of the estate. There's negotiation room, but probate still takes time. The trust route is a higher upfront effort (the trust has to be funded), in exchange for skipping that fee entirely. The Maine probate calculator shows the dollar gap on your estate size; the Maine will cost calculator covers what each provider charges to draft the will itself.

Estates under $52,500§ 3-1201Verified May 31, 2026 clear Maine's small-estate procedure regardless of whether you used a trust or just a will. The decision matters above that threshold, when the will route exposes the estate to 4 months18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditorsVerified May 31, 2026-6 months18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditorsVerified May 31, 2026 of probate that a trust skips.

The will path puts Maine probate filings into public court records, which means anyone curious can pull the inventory and the distribution. The trust path keeps the same details inside a private document. Cost is the obvious factor; privacy often ends up being the decisive one.

For families on the trust side of the line, the Maine revocable trust builder is the next step. Not sure which side of the line you're on? The trust need assessment sorts that out first.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated May 31, 2026

Legal Sources

  • § 3-1201
  • 18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage); § 3-720 (estate litigation expenses)
  • 18-C M.R.S. § 3-719 (reasonable fees), § 3-603 (bond), § 3-801 (notice to creditors

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

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Maine Estate Planning Resources

In-depth guides covering Maine probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

$

Maine Last Will and Testament

Maine Revocable Living Trust

Nevada Revocable Living Trust

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,174,025

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,244,375

Estimated Net to Beneficiaries

$1,244,375

Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes

Probate fees are typically calculated on gross estate value before deducting 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.

SimplyTrust

Create your estate plan

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Home

New Home

Your home is probably your biggest asset. Protect it like one. Property titling, trust ownership, and how to keep your home out of probate.

Learn more
Marriage

Marriage

Starting a life together means planning for it. Beneficiary updates, asset titling, powers of attorney, and what blended families need to know.

Learn more