33 M.R.S. § 471
This is the official text of 33 M.R.S. § 471, part of Maine’s M.R.S — part of the compiled statutory law of Maine, published by the state as "M.R.S." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
33 §471. Preservation of claims by filing of notice
Official statutory text
The spouse of a grantor who, 20 years or more before October 1, 1975, has conveyed land without the joinder therein of such spouse in release of the spouse's right and interest by descent in the land conveyed, and which spouse intends to claim such right and interest, or any person claiming by, through or under the spouse after such right and interest has become vested in the spouse, may preserve such right and interest, or claim thereto, by filing the notice provided in section 472 in the registry of deeds for the county in which the land is located, within 2 years of October 1, 1975. [PL 1977, c. 564, §126 (AMD).]
The spouse of a grantor who, less than 20 years before or at any time after October 1, 1975, has conveyed land without the joinder therein of such spouse in release of the spouse's right and interest by descent in the land conveyed and which spouse intends to claim such right and interest, or any person claiming by, through or under the spouse after said right and interest has become vested in the spouse, may preserve such right and interest, or claim thereto, by filing the notice provided in section 472 in the registry of deeds for the county in which the land is located, before the recording of the conveyance or within the later of 20 years of the date of recording of the conveyance or 2 years of October 1, 1975. [PL 1977, c. 564, §126 (AMD).]
A spouse may also preserve a claim to right and interest by descent by filing the notice provided in section 472 at any time prior to a conveyance in which the spouse does not intend to join in the release of such right and interest. [PL 1975, c. 511 (NEW).]
In all cases the spouse must bring a claim of record for title or possession within one year of the later of the filing of the notice or the vesting of the right and interest. [PL 1975, c. 511 (NEW).]
The spouse of a grantor who, less than 20 years before or at any time after October 1, 1975, has conveyed land without the joinder therein of such spouse in release of the spouse's right and interest by descent in the land conveyed and which spouse intends to claim such right and interest, or any person claiming by, through or under the spouse after said right and interest has become vested in the spouse, may preserve such right and interest, or claim thereto, by filing the notice provided in section 472 in the registry of deeds for the county in which the land is located, before the recording of the conveyance or within the later of 20 years of the date of recording of the conveyance or 2 years of October 1, 1975. [PL 1977, c. 564, §126 (AMD).]
A spouse may also preserve a claim to right and interest by descent by filing the notice provided in section 472 at any time prior to a conveyance in which the spouse does not intend to join in the release of such right and interest. [PL 1975, c. 511 (NEW).]
In all cases the spouse must bring a claim of record for title or possession within one year of the later of the filing of the notice or the vesting of the right and interest. [PL 1975, c. 511 (NEW).]
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Maine?
Find a Maine lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.