# Maine LD 1545: An Act to Clarify the Maximum Value That a Small Estate May Be Under the Maine Uniform Probate Code to Permit Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit

Maine LD 1545, An Act to Clarify the Maximum Value That a Small Estate May Be Under the Maine Uniform Probate Code to Permit Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Donna Bailey (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-16 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 76) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1545-132
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 1545
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Clarify the Maximum Value That a Small Estate May Be Under the Maine Uniform Probate Code to Permit Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-04-10
- Last action: 2025-05-16, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 76
- Sponsor: Donna Bailey (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Subjects: PROBATE, PROBATE - PROCEEDINGS
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Affidavit option for estates up to $40,000: benefit, medium. Maine sets the small‑estate cap at $40,000 for the entire estate, minus liens and encumbrances. The $40,000 amount adjusts each year for inflation. If the estate is at or under that limit, you can collect the decedent’s personal property by affidavit instead of opening probate. Each county probate…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donna Bailey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Adam LEE
- Cosponsor: Amy Kuhn (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anne M. Carney (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Haggan (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jennifer Poirier (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Rachel Henderson (Republican), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-05-16: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 76
- 2025-05-13: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-05-07: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-05-06: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-04-30: Report READ and ACCEPTED.READ ONCEUnder suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED.Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-04-10: Committee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on JUDICIARY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0629&item=2&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0629&item=1&snum=132)

## Related bills

- LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed)
- LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed)
- LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed)
- LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed)
- LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed)
- LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0629&item=2&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0629&item=1&snum=132)

## Related
- [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132)
- [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132)
- [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132)
- [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132)
- [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132)
- [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132)
- [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills)
- [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1545-132 (as of 2026-10-17).