World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed each year on June 15th to raise public awareness of elder abuse. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011, following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). Elder abuse is any act […]
Read MoreDealing With Debt After Death
Families face a number of challenges when a loved one dies. The last thing a grieving family member needs is to be bombarded with calls from creditors trying to collect the debts of the deceased relative. It happens, nonetheless. Fortunately, the obligation of repayment generally does not extend to the deceased debtor’s family members. Instead, […]
Read MoreITEMS TO CONSIDER WHEN RECORDING A DIVORCE DECREE THAT WILL AFFECT REAL ESTATE
At the end of a divorce proceeding, the Court will issue a judgment which lays out the division of property and assets between the parties as well as detailing other family matters. Because divorce judgments can be quite lengthy and not just discuss the division of real estate, an Abstract of Divorce Decree is often […]
Read MoreINSURANCE MATTERS
Don’t waste the insurance you’ve already bought. Through the years, certain client problems seem to come across my desk now and again, and then not again for a long time. Recently, there seems to have been a spate of situations in which clients have lost coverage, or almost lost coverage, under insurance […]
Read MoreCHANGES IN THE TAX LAW Spousal Support No Longer Tax Deductible
One of the more complicated and uncertain aspects of divorce is how much spousal support, also called alimony, a party will have to pay. Maine law does provide some guidance, but not a great deal. 1 The law presumes that there will be no general ongoing spousal support if the marriage lasted less than ten […]
Read MoreRudman Winchell welcomes Attorney Chris Hatch to the firm.
Rudman Winchell is delighted to announce that attorney Chris Hatch has joined the firm. Chris will practice in the firm’s Municipal and Real Estate sections with a concentration in Timberland and Forest practices work. Chris comes to Rudman Winchell, from Tate Bywater in Vienna, Virginia, where his practice was a mix of transactional and litigation […]
Read MoreSPOLIATION OF EVIDENCE AND THE DUTY TO PRESERVE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If you own a business, or find yourself in a situation where you may have evidence related to a potential dispute, you may have a duty to preserve that evidence. It is important to understand your obligations and the steps you should take. The obligation to preserve evidence arises when (1) you have notice that […]
Read MoreNew DOL Opinion Letter Addresses FMLA Question
On April 12, 2018, the federal Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the DOL issued its first opinion letters since 2009. One of the letters addressed an issue under the FMLA. The question posed by the employer was whether a non-exempt employee’s use of a 15-minute rest break every hour for a serious health condition […]
Read MoreWhat is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and When Should I Get One?
Recently we assisted a client looking to purchase a commercial industrial site that leased heavy equipment. Prior to completing the transaction, the buyer got a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). A Phase I ESA is an investigation of a subject property by an environmental professional that reviews current and past history of the property, […]
Read MoreEstate Planning and Elder Law: Tax Planning in 2018
On December 22, 2017, the President signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The changes to the Internal Revenue Code impact virtually every individual and business and are generally effective in 2018. Estate and Gift Tax The federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping tax credits will shelter gifts and estates up to $11.2 million […]
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