Sandra found her father's will within days of his passing. Relieved, she assumed the will would settle everything: the house, the car, and his savings account would pass directly to her and her brother. Instead, she still had to file paperwork with the probate court and await a judge's approval before the home could be sold. Like Sandra, many people believe a will keeps an estate out of probate. In Maine, the two often go hand-in-hand.

People often seek to avoid probate because they think it's costly and time-consuming. It can also make the content of a will public, which could be embarrassing if the person who died intentionally omitted an heir. The legal process for distributing a deceased person's assets and settling their debts varies by state. Compared to other states, in Maine, it is generally fairly inexpensive and efficient.