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Washington County, ME Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Washington County Probate Court, a county court funded and administered by county government. Maine's probate courts are county courts and are not part of the State of Maine Judicial Branch (which runs the District, Superior, and Supreme Judicial Courts). The judge is an elected, part-time Judge of Probate |
| Filing office | The Register of Probate (the Registry of Probate) in Washington County, the elected officer whose office takes applications and petitions and keeps the county's probate records |
| Courthouse | 85 Court Street, Machias, ME 04654 |
| Mailing address | Washington County Register of Probate, P.O. Box 297, Machias, ME 04654. The county's own probate page prints only the street address, so confirm the preferred mailing address with the Register before sending a filing by mail |
| Phone | (207) 255-6591, the Washington County Register of Probate office. This is the county's own probate line, not a statewide call center |
| [email protected], the Washington County Register of Probate office mailbox | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays. Confirm the counter and filing cutoff before making a trip to Machias |
| Filing fee | Set by statute and uniform statewide under the Maine Probate Code: the estate filing fee runs from $40 for an estate of $10,000 or less up to $1,200 for an estate over $2,000,000, on the estate-value scale in 18-C M.R.S. §1-602 (verified July 2026). A statewide $10 records surcharge set by statute is added to each petition and application (18-C M.R.S. §1-607), and Washington County's published fee schedule charges a $2 mailing fee for each packet the office mails (see fees below) |
| Local forms | None. Maine uses a single statewide set of standard probate forms, published on the forms page on MaineProbate.net and used by every county Register of Probate; there are no Washington County local probate forms |
| E-filing | Available statewide through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system, which accepts electronic filings for the county Probate Courts with a $7 e-file fee (effective September 1, 2021). Paper filing in person or by mail with the Register of Probate is also accepted. The county Probate Courts are not on the state Judicial Branch's eCourts system |
| Case search | The statewide MaineProbate.net docket search (maineprobate.net/search) indexes the dockets of all 16 county Probate Courts, including Washington. The docket search is free, and document images on cases filed since 2008 can be viewed online at no charge; there is a charge for printed or certified copies |
| Hearings and remote appearance | The county schedules hearings for two Tuesdays a month and on an as-needed basis. Most uncontested estates are decided by the Register of Probate on the papers with no hearing at all; where a hearing is set, ask the Register whether it can be handled remotely |
| Website | https://washingtoncountymaine.com/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Washington County, know exactly what is in the estate. The route you take depends on whether there is a will, on who inherits, and on whether the estate is uncontested, because Maine's default path is informal probate handled by the Register of Probate on an application, while contested matters go to formal probate before the Judge of Probate. Those paths and the statewide thresholds that go with them are explained on the Maine state page; identify the estate first so you, and if needed your attorney, file the right papers once.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, and parcel of real property, along with every debt, before you file. In Washington County this matters for real estate in particular, because a decedent's home, woodlot, or coastal property Downeast is often the largest asset, and conveying it requires a personal representative whose authority is on record at the Washington County Registry of Deeds in Machias. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Washington County Register of Probate in Machias is the single probate office for all of Washington County, Maine. It serves the entire county, including Machias (the shire town), the cities of Calais and Eastport, and the towns of Lubec, Jonesport, Milbridge, Cherryfield, Baileyville, Princeton, Harrington, Columbia Falls, and Dennysville, along with the county's extensive unorganized territory. Estates from every one of these communities are filed with the Register of Probate at 85 Court Street in Machias, or by mail to P.O. Box 297. Washington County is a large, rural county on Maine's eastern coast, so a filer in the far corners of the county may be a long drive from Machias; because probate papers can be e-filed through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system or filed by mail, most filing can be done without traveling to the courthouse, and the distance matters mainly for any in-person hearing.
Venue for a decedent's estate is the county where the decedent was domiciled at the time of death (18-C M.R.S. §3-201). If the decedent lived in Washington County, file with the Washington County Register of Probate. If the decedent was not domiciled in Maine but owned property in the county, venue is also proper here. Subsequent proceedings in the estate stay in the county of the first proceeding. The judge is the county's elected, part-time Judge of Probate, and the Register of Probate maintains the county's estate records.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and identification, the names and addresses of the heirs, devisees, and other interested persons, and a list of the assets and debts with values. A person named in a will to settle the estate is an executor; a person appointed where there is no will, or where the will names none, is an administrator. Maine's umbrella term for either is personal representative.
- Choose the path. For an uncontested estate the default is informal probate: the applicant files an application and the Register of Probate, if the papers are in order and enough time has passed, informally admits the will and appoints the personal representative without a hearing (18-C M.R.S. §3-301). Contested wills, questions of heirship, or matters needing court supervision go to formal probate before the Judge of Probate (18-C M.R.S. §3-401). These statewide paths are explained on the Maine state page; identify the right one before you file.
- Prepare the Maine forms. Maine uses one statewide set of standard probate forms, published on the forms page on MaineProbate.net and used by every county Register of Probate, including the informal probate application, the formal probate petition, and the small-estate affidavit. There is no separate Washington County form set. Confirm the current form and its number on the forms page on MaineProbate.net before you file.
- File with the Washington County Register of Probate. You can file electronically statewide through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system, which carries a $7 e-file fee (effective September 1, 2021), or deliver the completed forms and the original will to the Register of Probate at 85 Court Street in Machias, or mail them to P.O. Box 297, Machias, ME 04654 (the county's own page prints only the street address, so confirm the preferred mailing address with the Register). The county's fee schedule charges a $2 mailing fee for each packet the office mails, so ask the Register what to enclose if you file by mail and need papers mailed back. E-filing and filing by mail mean a filer at the far end of the county does not have to drive to Machias to open the estate.
- Pay the filing fee. The estate filing fee is set by statute and uniform statewide, running from $40 for an estate of $10,000 or less up to $1,200 for an estate over $2,000,000 on the estate-value scale in 18-C M.R.S. §1-602 (verified July 2026). A statewide $10 records surcharge set by statute is added to each petition and application (18-C M.R.S. §1-607). On its own published schedule Washington County also charges a $2 mailing fee per packet the office mails, form-purchase charges, and $1 per page for copies. Other statutory fees include a certificate of appointment ($10 single, $20 double).
- Give notice. The personal representative gives notice to the heirs, devisees, and other interested persons as the Maine Probate Code requires, and publishes notice to creditors so that claims can be presented within the statutory period. The Register of Probate can tell you which notices your particular filing requires.
- Attend a hearing only if one is scheduled. Most uncontested Washington County estates are handled by the Register of Probate on the papers, without an in-person hearing. Where a matter is formal or contested, it is set before the Judge of Probate; the county schedules hearings for two Tuesdays a month and on an as-needed basis, so ask the Register when your matter will be heard and whether it can be handled remotely.
- Receive the letters. On appointment the Register of Probate issues letters (letters testamentary where there is a will, or letters of administration where there is not) and, on request, a certificate of appointment. These documents prove the personal representative's authority to open the estate account, collect assets, and act for the estate.
- Administer and close. Inventory the assets, pay valid claims in the order set by law, account as the estate's path requires, distribute the remaining assets, and close the estate. If the estate includes a Washington County home or coastal property that must be sold, the personal representative records the authority and the deed at the Washington County Registry of Deeds in Machias.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Washington County
Maine has a single statewide set of standard probate forms, used at every county Register of Probate, and the Washington County Register of Probate uses the same forms as the rest of the state; there is no separate Washington County form set. The county's own probate-forms page links to the statewide forms and notes that they may be purchased at any Maine probate registry. The forms are published centrally on the forms page on MaineProbate.net and cover the common filings: the application for informal probate and informal appointment, the petition for formal probate, the small-estate collection-by-affidavit form, the inventory, and the accounting and closing documents. Confirm the current form and its number on the forms page on MaineProbate.net before you file, because a form's name or number can change.
In Washington County the completed forms can be filed electronically through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system, which carries a $7 e-file fee (effective September 1, 2021), or on paper with the Register of Probate at 85 Court Street in Machias, in person or by mail to P.O. Box 297. The county's fee schedule charges a $2 mailing fee for each packet the office mails, including forms it sends out, so ask the Register what to enclose with a mailed filing or a mailed forms request. For questions about what the Register needs on intake, the office can be reached at (207) 255-6591 during business hours.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Maine standard probate forms (the forms page on MaineProbate.net) | The statewide set of standard Maine probate forms, including the informal probate application, the formal probate petition, and the small-estate affidavit, used by every county Register of Probate |
| MaineProbate.net docket search (maineprobate.net/search) | The statewide docket search that indexes the case lists of all 16 county Probate Courts, including Washington; the docket search is free, document images on cases filed since 2008 are free to view online, and there is a charge for printed copies |
| Washington County Register of Probate (washingtoncountymaine.com/probate) | The county Registry of Probate page for hours, directions, the mailing address, the county fee schedule, and contact information |
Fees
The estate filing fee itself is set by statute and is the same in every Maine county: it runs from $40 for an estate of $10,000 or less up to $1,200 for an estate over $2,000,000, on the estate-value scale in 18-C M.R.S. §1-602 (verified July 2026), with a certificate of appointment at $10 (single) or $20 (double) and copies at $1 per page on the same statutory schedule.
Beyond that statutory scale, two smaller charges are worth knowing about before you file. First, a $10 surcharge is added to each petition and application except a name change; it appears on the county's schedule but is the statewide records-preservation surcharge set by statute, and the judge may waive it for hardship (18-C M.R.S. §1-607, verified July 2026). Second, Washington County's own published probate fee schedule (effective October 18, 2021) charges a $2 mailing fee for each packet the office mails, and all forms mailed out must add the mailing fee, so budget for it whenever the Register will mail forms, letters, or copies back to you and ask the office what to enclose with a mailed filing. The county also charges for the paper forms themselves ($1 for one to four pages, $2 for five pages or more) and $1 per page for photocopies of probate documents. Filing electronically through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system carries the separate statewide $7 e-file fee. Confirm the current amounts with the Washington County Register of Probate, because the county can revise its published schedule.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Washington County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Machias-area or coastal home was held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, it passes to the surviving spouse outside probate once a death certificate is recorded at the Washington County Registry of Deeds. If the home was in the decedent's sole name and there is a will, the spouse files an application for informal probate with the Register of Probate and, once appointed, receives letters proving authority to act. | Asset discovery to confirm how title is held and what else is in the estate. Packet generation for the informal probate application. Guidance on recording the survivorship documents at the Washington County Registry of Deeds. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | Where the estate is modest, personal property only, and no real estate is involved, a successor may be able to use Maine's collection of personal property by affidavit ($52,500 for deaths in 2026 (18-C M.R.S. §3-1201, adjusted per §1-108, 2026)) instead of opening an estate. Otherwise the child files an application for informal probate with the Register of Probate, through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system or by mail to P.O. Box 297, so a child living out of state can proceed without repeated trips to Machias. | Asset discovery to confirm what is in the estate and locate accounts from out of state. Packet generation for the affidavit or the informal probate application, prepared so an out-of-state filer can proceed by e-filing or by mail. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds real property that must be sold, it generally proceeds through a full appointment: the parent files with the Register of Probate, is appointed administrator, and receives letters of administration. With that authority the parent can sell the Washington County home and distribute the proceeds, recording the authority and the deed at the Washington County Registry of Deeds in Machias. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the appointment filing. Attorney referral if the sale or a dispute among heirs turns contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Washington County Register of Probate (washingtoncountymaine.com/probate) | The county Registry of Probate page: hours, directions, the mailing address, the county fee schedule, and contact information for the Machias office |
| MaineProbate.net docket search (maineprobate.net/search) | The statewide docket index for all 16 county Probate Courts, including Washington; the docket search is free, document images on cases filed since 2008 are free to view online, and there is a charge for printed or certified copies |
| Maine standard probate forms (the forms page on MaineProbate.net) | The statewide set of standard Maine probate forms used by every county Register of Probate, with instructions; the same site's EZ-File system accepts electronic filings with a $7 e-file fee |
| Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Maine probate courts guide (ptla.org/maine-probate-courts) | Free plain-language guidance on Maine probate and, for eligible low-income Mainers, free civil legal services |
| Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service (mainebar.org) | Referrals to Maine probate attorneys; confirm the current referral phone and hours on the association's site |
When to hire an attorney
Many Washington County estates are uncontested and can be handled without an attorney, especially where informal probate applies and the Register of Probate can act on the papers, or where a modest personal-property estate qualifies for collection by affidavit. Consider counsel when the estate holds real estate that must be sold and the will grants no clear authority, when a will contest or a dispute among heirs is likely, when the estate is insolvent or a creditor is pressing a claim, or when the estate includes a business interest, timberland, or out-of-state property. The Register of Probate can explain procedure but cannot give legal advice. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Maine probate attorney serving Washington County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Washington County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Maine estate settlement path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the Maine probate forms for your path, including the informal probate application and its companions, ready to file with the Washington County Register of Probate, through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system or on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. When a matter is contested or otherwise calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted Maine probate attorney serving Washington County.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Washington County, Maine?
With the Washington County Register of Probate at the county courthouse, 85 Court Street, Machias, ME 04654, or by mail to P.O. Box 297, Machias, ME 04654. It is the single probate office for the whole county. Applications and petitions can be filed electronically through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system or on paper, in person or by mail.
Can I file probate electronically in Washington County?
Yes. E-filing is available statewide through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system, which accepts electronic filings with the Maine county Probate Courts, including Washington, for a $7 e-file fee (effective September 1, 2021). Paper filing with the Register of Probate, in person or by mail to P.O. Box 297, is also accepted. Note that the county Probate Courts are not on the state Judicial Branch's eCourts system, so do not look for probate e-filing there.
Do I have to travel to Machias to settle an estate in Washington County?
Usually not for filing. Because probate papers can be e-filed through MaineProbate.net's EZ-File system or filed by mail to P.O. Box 297, a filer in Calais, Eastport, Lubec, or elsewhere in the county can open and run an uncontested estate without driving to Machias. The distance matters mainly for any in-person hearing in a formal or contested matter.
What forms do I need for probate in Washington County?
Maine uses one statewide set of standard probate forms; there is no separate Washington County form set. The common forms are the application for informal probate and appointment, the petition for formal probate, and the small-estate collection-by-affidavit form, all published on the forms page on MaineProbate.net. Confirm the current form and number there before you file.
How much does it cost to file probate in Washington County?
The estate filing fee is set by statute and uniform statewide, running from $40 for an estate of $10,000 or less up to $1,200 for an estate over $2,000,000 on the estate-value scale in 18-C M.R.S. §1-602 (verified July 2026). A statewide $10 records surcharge set by statute is added to each petition and application (18-C M.R.S. §1-607), and Washington County's published fee schedule charges a $2 mailing fee per packet the office mails, plus form and copy charges. A certificate of appointment is $10 (single) or $20 (double) on the statutory schedule.
Can I look up a Washington County probate case online?
Yes, through the statewide MaineProbate.net docket search at maineprobate.net/search, which indexes the dockets of all 16 county Probate Courts, including Washington. The docket search is free, and document images on cases filed since 2008 can be viewed online at no charge in every county. There is a charge for printed or certified copies.
What days does the Washington County Probate Court hold hearings?
The county schedules hearings for two Tuesdays a month and also holds them on an as-needed basis. Most uncontested estates are handled by the Register of Probate on the papers, without a hearing at all. Where a formal or contested matter needs to be heard by the part-time Judge of Probate, ask the office at (207) 255-6591 when your matter will be set and whether it can be handled remotely.
Who issues the authority document in a Washington County estate?
The Register of Probate issues letters, meaning letters testamentary where there is a will or letters of administration where there is not, and, on request, a certificate of appointment. These documents prove the personal representative's authority to act for the estate, open the estate account, and collect assets.
What is the phone number for probate in Washington County?
(207) 255-6591, the Washington County Register of Probate office in Machias, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is the county's own probate line; Maine has no statewide probate call center.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.