Category: Individual & Family Law
Reflections on Defamation
By: Rudman Winchell Attorney Brent A. Singer My Mother always told me “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” So it’s a wonder I …
New Maine Budget Increases Estate Tax Exclusion
By Rudman Winchell Attorney Jonathan Hunter Maine’s recently adopted state budget includes important changes to Maine’s estate tax. The new budget greatly increases Maine’s estate tax exclusion, bringing it in …
Should I Transfer My Home to My Children? What to Consider Before Gifting Your House or Other Real Estate.
Many people wonder whether they should transfer real estate, usually their home, to their children or another close relative as a protection against possible future long-term care expenses. Given the …
The Importance of Succession Planning
We all know we should have an estate plan to ensure our assets go to the people and organizations we want to have them with as little delay and cost …
CHILD SUPPORT IS HOW MUCH?
By Rudman Winchell Attorney Anthony A. Trask I have written more than once about the difficulty of predicting how much a Maine Family Court will award in alimony in a …
THE DIVORCE PROCESS IN MAINE
By Rudman Winchell Attorney Anthony A. Trask DIVORCE PAPERS It is a common refrain, “I got served with divorce papers.” We hear it from hapless friends and colleagues from time …
Have an advance health-care directive? Now make the most of it.
By: Rudman Winchell Attorney Jonathan P. Hunter Maine law permits competent adults and emancipated minors to prepare an advance health-care directive. An advance directive authorizes an agent to make health-care …
FAMILY DIVISION TASK FORCE: Concludes Work and Issues Report
By: Rudman Winchell Attorney Anthony Trask (a member of the task force) Nearly a year ago I wrote about being selected to serve on the 2013 Family Division Task Force. …
“Penny Wise and Pound Foolish” when it comes to Legal Zoom and other Document Companies
The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled for two nieces not included in a will drawn up by a testator on an “E-Z Legal Form.” In Aldrich v. Basile (SC11-2147), the testator Ann Aldrich …
Top 5 Reasons Your Estate Plan May Need To Be Updated
We all know of David Letterman’s Top 10 List. While this will not be as amusing as David Letterman’s list, below are practical reasons you should dust off your estate …