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Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
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.
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.
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 ․․․․․․․․․․
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.
Subscribed, sworn to and acknowledged before me by ․․․․․․․․․․, the testator, and subscribed and sworn to before me by ․․․․․․․․․․ and ․․․․․․․․․․, witnesses, this ․․․․․․․․․․ day of ․․․․․․․․․․
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.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C. Probate Code § 2-503. Self-proved will - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/me/title-18-c-probate-code/me-rev-st-tit-18-c-sect-2-503/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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