Step 1: Discovery & Decision
Discovery & Decision is the first step for families, landowners, and communities who need a thoughtful way to decide what should happen next with a meaningful property. Over a defined 10–12 week process, we clarify who should be involved, surface your property’s holistic value, and arrive at a shared decision about next steps.
Start here
The value of land is never just financial. It holds stories, memories, ecological and scenic value, community benefit, and future possibilities, alongside market price. Discovery & Decision gives you structured time and support to:
Identify who needs to be part of the conversation.
Gather key context: ownership, history, maps, documents, and concerns.
Surface emotional, cultural, ecological, and financial value.
Clarify where hopes, responsibilities, and constraints align—and where they differ.
Develop a clearer, shared picture of what “doing right by this place” could mean.
We don’t force a decision or rush into legal language. It is about understanding your situation enough so the decisions feel grounded and wise.
What the process includes
Discovery & Decision is a flat‑fee engagement with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Across about 12 weeks we typically:
Hold an initial intake conversation to understand your land, people, and questions.
Facilitate a group discovery meeting with the people you choose to include.
Review maps, documents, and relevant background, and gather additional context as needed.
Draft a written summary of your property’s holistic value and key themes from the conversations, including a recommendation.
Meet again to talk through the summary and consider possible next paths together.
At the end of the process, you will have:
A written summary describing the land’s holistic value and your situation.
A clearer shared understanding among participants.
A decision about whether and how to move forward into conservation preparation, ownership structure work, or another appropriate next step.
After Discovery & Decision
If you choose to continue, follow‑on work such as legacy planning support, conservation preparation, or consulting on ownership structures can be scoped separately, usually on an hourly or project basis. Site visits, coordination with other professionals, and specialized support are offered within that next phase.
Maine Land Legacy helps you explore options and organize information so you can make informed choices. We do not provide legal advice; you may wish to consult with an attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional to implement formal transactions, or legal structures