How Do I Claim a Deceased Person's Unclaimed Property in Maine?
In Maine, a deceased owner's unclaimed property is claimed from the Office of the Maine State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property33 M.R.S. Chapter 45 (Maine Revised Unclaimed Property Act); 33 M.R.S. 2153-2155Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. For a deceased owner, the claimant files the Treasurer's Estate Affidavit, a notarized form, with the claimClaim FAQ (Maine Unclaimed Property)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
File the claim with the Office of the Maine State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property33 M.R.S. Chapter 45 (Maine Revised Unclaimed Property Act); 33 M.R.S. 2153-2155Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The search and the claim start at the office's site. For a deceased owner, the claimant files the Treasurer's Estate Affidavit, a notarized form, with the claimClaim FAQ (Maine Unclaimed Property)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Heirs can claim without letters from a probate court through the Estate Affidavit, unprobated section, with the identification of heirsEstate Affidavit (Office of the Maine State Treasurer)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. For an unprobated estate, the claimant may pair the Affidavit of a Small Estate in Maine with the Treasurer's Estate Affidavit and legal proof of relationship, and the check can then be made payable to the claimant for claims up to $40,000Estate Affidavit (Office of the Maine State Treasurer)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The claim on that route includes: The Estate Affidavit, signed before a notary, listing the decedent's living and deceased relatives group by group; The claim form; Any further documents the Treasurer requests in writingEstate Affidavit (Office of the Maine State Treasurer)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
The most appropriate person, the surviving spouse or personal representative, completes and submits an Affidavit and Agreement Supporting Claim for a Deceased Person with the claim formClaim FAQ (Maine Unclaimed Property)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. With letters from a probate court, the claim is made by the most recent personal representative or executor a probate court appointed, including one named in informal probateEstate Affidavit (Office of the Maine State Treasurer)Verified Oct 26, 2026View source.
Every state where the person had an address can hold some of the property: the holding company reports it to the state of the owner's last-known address, and to its own home state where it has no address on record. MissingMoney.com searches most states at once. Insurance, savings bonds, pensions, refunds and failed-bank deposits sit in federal and national databases: the Treasury (TreasuryDirect), PBGC, the IRS, the FDIC, the NCUA, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and the VA.
A finder agreement made before the property has been with the Treasurer for 24 months is void; one made 24 to 36 months after may charge at most 15 percent. It must be written, signed by the owner and state the value before and after the fee. Finders must be Maine-licensed private investigators33 M.R.S. § 2201Verified Oct 26, 2026View source. The same property can be claimed directly through the state's own program, which charges no fee.
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Learn moreForms 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.
IRS Form 1310
Claim a refund due a deceased taxpayer on the official form, on the box the form routes you to, with what the form says to attach.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement, addressed to its claims department.
Affidavit of Death
In Maine, a transfer on death deed beneficiary records the “Notice of death affidavit18-C M.R.S. § 6-414Verified Oct 26, 2026View source”.
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 Letters Testamentary?
In Maine, the Register of Probate issues Letters of Authority of Personal Representative once the County Probate Court appoints the 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.
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In-depth guides covering Maine probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.