A Maine deed is a document that transfers real estate ownership from a grantor to a grantee. The legal ownership of real property is legally identified by its “title,” and is conveyed through a deed that is recorded and kept at the registry of deeds for the property’s jurisdiction. Unless the conveyance is exempt, the grantee will be required to pay real estate transfer tax on the property transaction by completing and filing the Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration Form with the deed and making the payment.
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Types (4)
General Warranty Deed – Provides the grantee with the grantor’s promise that there are no liens or encumbrances on the transferred property.
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Quitclaim Deed without Covenant – Also known as a “non-warranty” deed, this deed type doesn’t provide the grantee with any guarantee that the property is free of claims.
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Quitclaim Deed with Covenant – Assures the grantee that the grantor has no claims against them regarding the conveyed property.
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Transfer on Death Deed – Used in estate preparation to arrange for a property title to be transferred to a beneficiary at the time of the owner’s death. The owner retains ownership during their lifetime.
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Laws & Requirements
- Statutes: Title 33 – Property
- Formatting:
- Signing Requirements (§ 203): Notary Public
- Where to Record: Registry of Deeds
- Recording Fees (County Deeds Fee Schedule): $19 plus a $3 surcharge and $2 for each additional page.
- Forms:
- Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration (Form RETTD) (Online/PDF): Must be filed along with the transfer tax payment and deed unless the transfer is exempt.
- Property Disclosure Statement (§ 173): State law requires property sellers to complete this form and provide it to potential buyers. The completed document relays the property’s condition, services, inventory, and any potential hazards.
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