Statutes, codes, and regulations
Maine Statutes
Title 18-C - PROBATE CODEArticle 2 - INTESTACY, WILLS AND DONATIVE TRANSFERS
Part 5 - WILLS
Section 2-517 - Statutory wills

Me. Stat. tit. 18-C § 2-517

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Current through 131st (2023-2024) Legislature Chapter 684
Section 2-517 - Statutory wills
1.Form. Any person may execute a will on the following form, and the will must be presumed to be reasonable. This section does not limit any spousal rights, rights to exempt property or other rights set forth elsewhere in this Code.

Maine Statutory Will

NOTICE TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNS THIS WILL:

1. THIS STATUTORY WILL HAS SERIOUS LEGAL EFFECTS ON YOUR FAMILY AND PROPERTY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THIS WILL THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LAWYER AND ASK THE LAWYER TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.
2. THIS WILL DOES NOT DISPOSE OF PROPERTY THAT PASSES ON YOUR DEATH TO ANY PERSON BY OPERATION OF LAW OR BY CONTRACT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE WILL DOES NOT DISPOSE OF JOINT TENANCY ASSETS OR YOUR SPOUSE'S ELECTIVE SHARE, AND IT WILL NOT NORMALLY APPLY TO PROCEEDS OF LIFE INSURANCE ON YOUR LIFE OR YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN BENEFITS.
3. THIS WILL IS NOT DESIGNED TO REDUCE DEATH TAXES OR ANY OTHER TAXES. YOU SHOULD DISCUSS THE TAX RESULTS OF YOUR DECISIONS WITH A COMPETENT TAX ADVISOR.
4. YOU CANNOT CHANGE, DELETE OR ADD WORDS TO THE FACE OF THIS MAINE STATUTORY WILL. YOU SHOULD MARK THROUGH ALL SECTIONS OR PARTS OF SECTIONS THAT YOU DO NOT COMPLETE. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS MAINE STATUTORY WILL AND YOU MAY AMEND IT BY CODICIL.
5. THIS WILL TREATS ADOPTED CHILDREN AS IF THEY ARE NATURAL CHILDREN.
6. IF YOU MARRY OR DIVORCE AFTER YOU SIGN THIS WILL, YOU SHOULD MAKE AND SIGN A NEW WILL.
7. IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHILD AFTER YOU SIGN THIS WILL, YOU SHOULD MAKE AND SIGN A NEW WILL.
8. THIS WILL IS NOT VALID UNLESS IT IS SIGNED BY AT LEAST TWO WITNESSES. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE WITNESSING PROCEDURE DESCRIBED AT THE END OF THIS WILL.
9. YOU SHOULD KEEP THIS WILL IN YOUR SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX OR OTHER SAFE PLACE.
10. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS WHETHER OR NOT THIS WILL ADEQUATELY SETS OUT YOUR WISHES FOR THE DISPOSITION OF YOUR PROPERTY, YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LAWYER.

MAINE STATUTORY WILL OF

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

(Print your name)

Article 1.Declaration

This is my will and I revoke any prior wills and codicils.

Article 2. Disposition of my property
2.1 REAL PROPERTY. I give all my real property to my spouse, if living; otherwise it shall be equally divided among my children who survive me; except as specifically provided below: (specific distribution not valid without signature.)

I leave the following specific real property to the person(s) named:

(name) (description of item) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________

2.2 PERSONAL AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. I give all my furniture, furnishings, household items, personal automobiles and personal items to my spouse, if living; otherwise they shall be equally divided among my children who survive me; except as specifically provided below: (specific distribution not valid without signature.)

I leave the following specific items to the person(s) named:

(name) (description of item) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________

2.3 CASH GIFT TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS OR INSTITUTIONS. I make the following cash gift(s) to the named charitable organizations or institutions in the amount stated. If I fail to sign this provision, no gift is made. If the charitable organization or institution does not survive me or accept the gift, then no gift is made.

(name) (amount) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________

2.4 ALL OTHER ASSETS (MY "RESIDUARY ESTATE"). I adopt only one Property Disposition Clause by placing my initials in the box in front of the letter "A," "B" or "C" signifying which clause I wish to adopt. I place my signature after clause "A" or clause "B," or after each individual distribution in clause "C." If I fail to sign the appropriate distribution(s) or if I sign in more than one clause or if I fail to place my initials in the appropriate box, this paragraph 2.4 will be invalid and I realize that the remainder of my property will be distributed as if I did not make a will.

Property Disposition Clauses. (select one)

___ A. I leave all my remaining property to my spouse, if living. If my spouse is not living, then in equal shares to my children and the descendants of any deceased child.

_________________ (signature).

___ B. I leave the following stated amount to my spouse and the remainder in equal shares to my children and the descendants of any deceased child. If my spouse is not living, that share shall be distributed in equal shares to my children and the descendants of any deceased child.

_________________ (signature).

___ C. I leave the following stated amounts to the persons named:

____________________ ____________________ ____________________
(name) (amount) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
(name) (amount) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
(name) (amount) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
(name) (amount) (signature)
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
(name) (amount) (signature)

2.5 UNDISTRIBUTED PROPERTY. If I have any property that, for any reason, does not pass under the other parts of this will, all of that property shall be distributed as follows: (Draw a line through any unused space.)

____________________
(this paragraph only valid if signed)

Article 3. Nomination of guardian, conservator and personal representative
3.1 GUARDIAN. (If you have a child under 18 years of age, you may name at least one person to serve as guardian for the child.)

If a guardian is needed for any child of mine, then I nominate the first guardian named below to serve as guardian of that child. If the person does not serve, then the others shall serve in the order I list them. My nomination of a guardian is not valid without my signature.

FIRST GUARDIAN ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
SECOND GUARDIAN ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
THIRD GUARDIAN ____________________ ____________________
(signature)

3.2 CONSERVATOR. (A conservator may be named to manage the property of a minor child. You do not need to name a conservator if you wish the guardian to act as conservator. If you wish to name a conservator in addition to a guardian, complete this paragraph 3.2. If you do not wish to name a separate conservator, do not complete this paragraph.)

I nominate the first conservator named below to serve as conservator for any minor children of mine. If the first conservator does not serve, then the others shall serve in the order I list them. My nomination of a conservator is not valid without my signature.

FIRST CONSERVATOR ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
SECOND CONSERVATOR ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
THIRD CONSERVATOR ____________________ ____________________
(signature)

3.3 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE. (Name at least one.) I nominate the person or institution named as first personal representative below to administer the provisions of this will. If that person or institution does not serve, then I nominate the others to serve in the order I list them. My nomination of a personal representative is not valid without my signature.

FIRST PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
SECOND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ____________________ ____________________
(signature)
THIRD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ____________________ ____________________
(signature)

I sign my name to this Maine Statutory Will on ______________ (date) at _____________ (city) in the State of _______________.

____________________
Your Signature

STATEMENT OF WITNESSES (You must have two witnesses.)

Each of us declares that the person who signed above willingly signed this Maine Statutory Will in our presence or willingly directed another to sign it for him or her or that he or she acknowledged that the signature on this Maine Statutory Will is his or hers or that he or she acknowledged that this Maine Statutory Will is his or her will and we sign below as witnesses to that signing.

Signature ________________________

Printed name ____________________

Address ________________________

Signature ________________________

Printed name ____________________

Address ________________________

Completing the following section and having all signatures acknowledged by a notary public or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments is optional but if completed will simplify the submission of your will to the probate court after your death.

I, ......................................, the testator, on this .......... day of .........., 20.., being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that I sign and execute this instrument as my last will and that I sign it willingly (or willingly direct another to sign for me) as my free and voluntary act and that I am 18 years of age or older or am a legally emancipated minor, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

...................................................................

Testator

We, ......................................, ......................................, the witnesses, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator has signed and executed this instrument as (his)(her) last will and that (he)(she) signed it willingly (or willingly directed another to sign for (him)(her)), and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the testator, signs this will as witness to the testator's signing, and that to the best of our knowledge the testator is 18 years of age or older or is a legally emancipated minor, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

...................................................................

Witness

...................................................................

Witness

The State of ...............................

County of ...................................

Subscribed, sworn to and acknowledged before me by ......................................, the testator, and subscribed and sworn to before me by ...................................... and ......................................, witnesses, this ........ day of ..........

(Signed) ..........................................................

...................................................................

(Official capacity of officer)

[2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]

2.Forms provided. Forms for executing a statutory will must be provided at all probate courts for a cost equivalent to the reasonable cost of printing and storing the forms. The probate courts shall make the statutory will form available via the Internet for free printing by anyone choosing to use the form. A statutory will is deemed to be valid if the blanks are filled in with a typewriter or in the handwriting of the person making the will. Failure to complete or mark through any section or part of a section in the statutory will does not invalidate the entire will. Failure to sign any section or part of a section in the statutory will requiring a signature invalidates only the part not signed, except as specifically provided in paragraph 2.4.

[2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2(NEW); 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14(AFF).]

18-C M.R.S. § 2-517

Amended by 2019, c. 417,§ B-14, eff. 6/20/2019.
Added by 2018, c. 402,§ A-2, eff. 7/1/2019.