---
title: Will Requirements in Maine (2026)
state: Maine
state_abbreviation: ME
document_type: Will Requirements
updated: '2026-08-26T19:40:02Z'
reading_time: 2 min read
url: https://killswitch.rip/states/maine/will
requirements:
  witnesses: 2
  minimum_age: 18
  special_rules:
  notary_required: false
  electronic_allowed: false
  holographic_allowed: true
  self_proving_affidavit: true
laws:
  estate_tax: true
  inheritance_tax: false
  primary_statute: Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C §2-502
  probate_threshold: 40000
  community_property: false
costs:
  diy_range: 39-99
  attorney_range: 600-1800
  attorney_average: 900
  killswitch_price: 69
  probate_cost_percentage: 3
---

# Will Requirements in Maine (2026)

So you've decided to finally write a will in Maine. Congratulations on acknowledging your own mortality. Most people can't even manage that. Here's what ME law requires to make sure your last wishes actually hold up in court instead of becoming an expensive piece of creative writing.

## The basic requirements

Maine requires 2 witnesses to make your will valid. Good news: Maine doesn't require a notary for your will, though getting one makes it self-proving and saves your executor a headache later. You must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind, though if you've been putting this off for years, the "sound mind" part is debatable.

Maine supports self-proving affidavits, which means if you get your witnesses to sign a sworn statement with a notary, they won't have to show up in court later to confirm they watched you sign. Future-you's executor will thank present-you.

## Handwritten and electronic wills

Maine does accept holographic (handwritten) wills, so technically you could scribble your wishes on a napkin. We don't recommend it, but you do you. Electronic wills aren't recognized in Maine yet, so you'll need actual paper like it's 1995.

## What Maine law says about your stuff

 Under Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 18-C §2-502, if you die without a will in Maine, your assets get distributed according to intestacy laws, basically, the state's default settings for dead people. These defaults rarely match what anyone actually wants.

## The bottom line

A valid will in Maine isn't complicated, but it does need to follow the rules. 2 witnesses, your signature, and a clear head. Skip any of these and you might as well not bother, your family will be stuck in probate court arguing about who gets the good china while lawyers bill $300 an hour to watch.




## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many witnesses do I need for a will in Maine?

Maine requires 2 witnesses for a valid will. They need to be competent adults who watch you sign and then sign the will themselves. Pro tip: don't pick someone who's inheriting, that's a conflict of interest that could invalidate their share.

### Does Maine require a notary for wills?

No, Maine doesn't require a notary for your will to be valid. However, getting a notarized self-proving affidavit means your witnesses won't have to testify in court later, worth the extra step.

### Are handwritten wills valid in Maine?

Yes, Maine recognizes holographic (handwritten) wills. They still need to be entirely in your handwriting and signed by you. No witnesses technically required for holographic wills, but a typed and witnessed will is much harder to contest.

### What is the minimum age to make a will in Maine?

You must be at least 18 years old to make a will in Maine. If you're 18 and already thinking about your will, you're either incredibly responsible or having a really rough week.