United States — Maine Act or statute

United States — Maine legislation

Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18-C, § 2-503: Self-proved will, 2017

A will may be made self-proved by the testator’s acknowledgment and the witnesses’ affidavits before an authorized officer.

estate planningself-proving affidavitswill execution

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“A will may be made self-proved by the testator’s acknowledgment and the witnesses’ affidavits before an authorized officer.”

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Self-proved will

A will may be made self-proved by the testator’s acknowledgment and the witnesses’ affidavits before an authorized officer.

Section 2-503

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Source record from legislature.maine.gov · Enacted 2017 · Source version 1 Oct 2025

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Part 5

part 5 WILLS

§ 2-503Self-proved willProvision

A will may be made self-proved by the testator’s acknowledgment and the witnesses’ affidavits before an authorized officer.

1. Self-proved at execution. Any will may be simultaneously executed, attested and made self-proved by acknowledgment thereof by the testator and affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the state where execution occurs and evidenced by the officer's certificate in substantially the following form: 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 eighteen 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 eighteen 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) [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] 2. Self-proved subsequent to execution. An attested will may at any time subsequent to its execution be made self-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of the state where the acknowledgment occurs and evidenced by the officer's certificate, attached or annexed to the will in substantially the following form: The State of .................................... County of ........................................ We, ......................................, ...................................... and ......................................, the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator signed and executed the instrument as (his) (her) last will and that (he) (she) had signed willingly (or willingly directed another to sign for (him) (her)), as (his) (her) free and voluntary act, and that each of the witnesses, in the presence and hearing of the testator, signed the will as witness and that to the best of (his) (her) knowledge the testator was at that time eighteen years of age or older or a legally emancipated minor, of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence. ................................................................... Testator ................................................................... Witness ................................................................... Witness 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) [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).] 3. Affidavit sufficient. A signature affixed to a self-proving affidavit attached to a will is considered a signature affixed to the will, if necessary to prove the will's due execution. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
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  • 1 Oct 2025 · currentEnglish

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