Deed Transferring Real Property into Living Trust - Maine
Prepared by: [NAME AND ADDRESS]
After recording, return to: [NAME AND ADDRESS]
Municipality and county: [MUNICIPALITY], [COUNTY] County, Maine
Tax map and parcel: [MAP / LOT]
QUITCLAIM DEED WITH COVENANT — TRANSFER TO LIVING TRUST
Grantor and grantee
The Grantor(s) are [FULL LEGAL NAME OF EACH CURRENT OWNER], of [MAILING ADDRESS] (collectively, "Grantor").
The Grantee is [FULL LEGAL NAME OF ACTING TRUSTEE], as Trustee of [EXACT TRUST NAME] dated [__/__/____], of [TRUSTEE MAILING ADDRESS] ("Grantee"). Title is conveyed to Grantee in that trustee capacity under the identified trust, subject to its terms. A transfer to a trustee may create trust property under 18-B M.R.S. § 401.
Consideration and conveyance
Cash consideration paid, if any: [$________]. Existing mortgages, liens, and encumbrances: [DESCRIBE OR "NONE"]. The parties shall determine transfer-tax consideration and value under 36 M.R.S. § 4641; a nominal cash amount does not by itself establish zero taxable value.
Grantor, for the consideration stated above, grants with quitclaim covenant to Grantee, as Trustee, and Grantee's successors in trust, all of Grantor's right, title, and interest in the real property described in Exhibit A, together with its improvements, easements, and appurtenances (the "Property").
This deed is made subject to [SPECIFY RECORDED EASEMENTS, RESTRICTIONS, MORTGAGES, AND OTHER EXCEPTIONS, OR "NONE"]. The parties' rights and duties concerning any existing loan remain governed by the loan documents and applicable law.
In accordance with 33 M.R.S. § 765, Grantor covenants to warrant and forever defend the Property against the lawful claims and demands of persons claiming by, through, or under Grantor, and against none other.
Maine real estate transfer-tax statement
Select the applicable treatment after reviewing the trust, present and future beneficial ownership, consideration including liens, and 36 M.R.S. §§ 4641, 4641-A, and 4641-C. Select one:
☐ Section 4641-C(15)(A): This deed is to a trustee for Grantor as beneficial owner. Facts establishing that status: [DETAILS].
☐ Section 4641-C(19): This transfer is a mere change in identity or form of ownership of an entity, with no change in beneficial ownership. Facts establishing both conditions: [DETAILS].
☐ No exemption claimed: The parties will report and pay transfer tax as applicable under 36 M.R.S. § 4641-A.
The completed declaration of value accompanying this deed must state the reason for any claimed tax exemption under 36 M.R.S. § 4641-D. A trust's revocability or the Grantor's status as one beneficiary, standing alone, is not a completed exemption analysis.
Grantor signatures
Executed on [__/__/____].
| Grantor | Signature | Printed name |
|---|---|---|
| Grantor 1 | ______________________________ | [NAME] |
| Grantor 2, if a current owner | ______________________________ | [NAME] |
Maine acknowledgment
State of Maine, County of [COUNTY]
This record was acknowledged before me on [__/__/____] by [NAME(S) OF GRANTOR(S) WHO APPEARED]. The notarial officer completes this certificate under 4 M.R.S. §§ 1916-1917.
Signature of notarial officer: ______________________________
Printed name: [NAME]
Title of office: [TITLE]
My commission expires, if I am a notary public: [__/__/____]
Official stamp, if used: [STAMP]
Exhibit A — legal description
Common address: [STREET ADDRESS, MUNICIPALITY, MAINE]
Prior vesting deed: dated [__/__/____], recorded in the [COUNTY / DISTRICT] Registry of Deeds, Book [____], Page [____] or Document No. [____].
Full legal description:
[INSERT COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION FROM CURRENT VESTING DEED, WITH PLAN AND EASEMENT REFERENCES AS NEEDED. ATTACH ADDITIONAL PAGES IF NECESSARY.]
Recording and completion record
Before signing, confirm the current ownership, legal description, trust terms and trustee authority, loan and title-insurance treatment, insurer, co-owner rights, and the tax classification selected above.
Submit the signed and acknowledged deed to the proper county or district Registry of Deeds for recording. Under 33 M.R.S. § 201, recording in the proper place affects priority against persons without actual notice; § 203 addresses acknowledgment. Determine whether the declaration of value is required under 36 M.R.S. § 4641-D and file it with the deed if required. A trustee may furnish a certification under 18-B M.R.S. § 1013 to a person other than a beneficiary who needs evidence of authority; the recipient may ask for relevant trust excerpts.
Recording date and reference: [DATE, BOOK/PAGE OR DOCUMENT NO.]
Declaration of value / exemption reason recorded: [DETAILS]
Insurer, lender, assessor, and title-company follow-up: [CONTACT / DATE / RESULT]
About this template
- Last updated
- October 17, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 17, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Maine
- Category
- Estate Planning & Wills
Legal authority
- 33 M.R.S. § 765 (quitclaim deed with covenant)
- 33 M.R.S. § 201 (recording priority and place)
- 33 M.R.S. § 203 (acknowledgment before recording)
- 4 M.R.S. § 1916 (notarial certificate)
- 4 M.R.S. § 1917 (short-form acknowledgment)
- 36 M.R.S. § 4641 (consideration and value)
- 36 M.R.S. § 4641-A (transfer tax)
- 36 M.R.S. § 4641-C (transfer-tax exemptions)
- 36 M.R.S. § 4641-D (declaration of value)
- 18-B M.R.S. § 401 (transfer of property to trustee)
- 18-B M.R.S. § 1013 (certification of trust)
Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 17, 2026.
33 M.R.S. § 765 (checked October 17, 2026): "A deed in substance following the form entitled "Quitclaim Deed With Covenant" shall when duly executed have the force and effect of a deed in fee simple to the grantee, his heirs and assigns forever, with covenant on the part of the grantor"
33 M.R.S. § 201 (checked October 17, 2026): "No conveyance of an estate in fee simple, fee tail or for life, or lease for more than 2 years or for an indefinite term is effectual against any person except the grantor, his heirs and devisees, and persons having actual notice thereof unless the deed or lease is acknowledged and recorded in the registry of deeds within the county where the land lies"
33 M.R.S. § 203 (checked October 17, 2026): "must be acknowledged by the grantors, or by the persons executing any such written instruments, or by one of them"
4 M.R.S. § 1916(1) (checked October 17, 2026): "A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate."
Draft your Deed Transferring Real Property into Living Trust in the editor
Answer a few questions, let the AI editor draft each section from your answers, review it, and download Word and PDF. $99 one time, or $249 per month for every document and every Ezel app.