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After a parent dies · Maine
Small estates in Maine: collecting a parent's property without full probate
Maine's small estate affidavit is for estates worth no more than $40,000 after liens, adjusted for inflation. In Maine, the affidavit can be used once thirty days have passed since the death. Maine county probate courts must publish the inflation-adjusted small estate limit on their websites each year.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- Maine's small estate affidavit is for estates worth no more than $40,000 after liens, adjusted for inflation. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-C §3-1201. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Maine, the affidavit can be used once thirty days have passed since the death. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-C §3-1201. Checked November 2, 2026
- Maine county probate courts must publish the inflation-adjusted small estate limit on their websites each year. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-C §3-1201. Checked November 2, 2026
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Maine
- Creditor claim deadlines for an estate in Maine
- How to order a death certificate in Maine
- Executor duties and deadlines in Maine
- How probate works in Maine after a parent dies
- Transfer-on-death deeds for a home in Maine
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- Small estates: collecting a parent's property without full probate: all states
Neighbouring states
- Small estates in Louisiana: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in Maryland: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in Massachusetts: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in Kansas: collecting a parent's property without full probate
Questions
Where do these Maine facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-C §3-1201. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Maine or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.