SealFormsFree legal templates, cited to each state’s statute

Jurisdiction of this form

Maine, United States

Maine LLC Operating Agreement

Set out who owns your Maine LLC, who manages it, and how profits are split — and download a print-ready PDF. Single-member or multi-member. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.

Reflects current Maine rules · 2026Official source linkedFree PDF · no signup · nothing uploaded

Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.

Maine LLC act rules · as of 2026

Required by law?
Yes — required
Recognized form
"written, oral or implied" — 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition of "limited liability company agreement")
Governing act
Maine Limited Liability Company Act (31 M.R.S. §§ 1501–1693; short title per 31 M.R.S. § 1501)

Without an agreement: Distributions before dissolution are made on the basis of the agreed value of the contributions made by each person (not equal shares) — 31 M.R.S. § 1554. Source: 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope) · verify ↗.

Fill in the details

My documents
Optional clauses

Tick the terms you want. They appear in the document under “Additional terms”.

No card. No trial. No surprise subscription — ever. Free, no signup — nothing you type is uploaded; it all runs in your browser. What “free” means here

Your entries auto-save in this browser (only on your device). Drawn signatures ship in the PDF; the Word file keeps the signature line blank. When at least one party has signed, the PDF and Word file end with a signature certificate (who signed, when, and a SHA-256 fingerprint you can check later). If you use “Send to the other party”, the document travels inside the link you share — not through us.

Live preview · updates as you type

Generated with SealFormsReflects Maine law · verified 2026

Pick a contact

    Contacts live only in this browser. Manage contacts

    Why your Maine LLC needs this — even single-member

    • It overrides the default rules. Without an agreement, the Maine Limited Liability Company Act (31 M.R.S. §§ 1501–1693; short title per 31 M.R.S. § 1501) decides how profits are split and who can act for the company — not you.
    • It protects limited liability. A written agreement is core evidence that the LLC is a real, separate entity.
    • Banks and lenders ask for it. Opening a business account or getting a loan routinely requires it.

    Maine law

    Yes — Maine is one of the few states that require an operating agreement by law: 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B): "A limited liability company agreement must be entered into or otherwise existing" — it may be entered into before, after, or at the time of filing the certificate of formation. Because § 1502(15) defines the agreement as "written, oral or implied," an oral or even implied agreement satisfies the requirement; nothing is filed with the state. Note: certain modifications (e.g., of fiduciary duties, § 1521(3)) require a WRITTEN agreement. (as of 2026). Source: 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope). Check the current Maine LLC rules before relying on any default.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is an operating agreement required in Maine?

    Yes — Maine is one of the few states that require an operating agreement by law: 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B): "A limited liability company agreement must be entered into or otherwise existing" — it may be entered into before, after, or at the time of filing the certificate of formation. Because § 1502(15) defines the agreement as "written, oral or implied," an oral or even implied agreement satisfies the requirement; nothing is filed with the state. Note: certain modifications (e.g., of fiduciary duties, § 1521(3)) require a WRITTEN agreement. (as of 2026). Source: 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope).

    Does a single-member LLC need an operating agreement?

    It is not usually legally required, but yes in practice: a written agreement helps prove the LLC is a separate entity (protecting limited liability), is routinely requested by banks and lenders, and controls what happens if you bring in a partner or pass the business on. For a single member, it is a short document — this template works for that case.

    Does the operating agreement get filed with the state?

    No. Unlike the formation certificate (articles of organization), the operating agreement is an internal document — you sign it, keep it with your records, and give each member a copy. Banks, lenders, and courts may ask to see it, but no Maine agency records it.

    Can the agreement be oral in Maine?

    Maine's statute recognizes: "written, oral or implied" — 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition of "limited liability company agreement") (31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope)). Even where oral or implied agreements count, put yours in writing — proving an oral term in a dispute between members is exactly the fight the document exists to prevent.

    How does Maine compare? See which states actually require an operating agreement, every claim cited to the state LLC act.

    How Maine compares

    Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Maine: 31 M.R.S. § 1502(15) (definition); 31 M.R.S. § 1531(1)(B) (agreement must exist); 31 M.R.S. § 1521 (scope) ↗.

    • Maine is one of 4 of 51 jurisdictions that require an LLC to have an operating agreement (47 leave the operating agreement optional (statutory default rules apply without one)).

    LLC operating agreement in other states

    More Maine legal forms

    Different state? See LLC operating agreements by state →