Estate Planning and Probate

Our firm has a longstanding and well established process for handling the estate planning needs of our clients.  From simple joint and reciprocal Wills for married couples (with or without children) in smaller estates with minimal tax considerations, to more complicated planning including trusts and asset protection/tax avoidance issues, we strive to meet a broad spectrum of needs.  We keep current with the Maine statutory requirements regarding advance health care directives, durable powers of attorney and general probate code matters.

Both attorneys regularly attend seminars to keep abreast of developments with regard to the probate process in Maine and national trends.  Our range of services includes estate planning for individuals who are concerned with protecting assets (usually real estate) from possible Medicaid and MaineCare recovery actions in the event they require long term institutional care and exhaust their assets.  We also assist with generational planning for individuals who wish to establish trusts for minors or older children in an effort to minimize or avoid the probate process.  The firm is experienced in submitting probate petitions for formal and informal proceedings in the York County Probate Court.  Some of those cases have resulted in contested hearings and other litigation.