The Maine Elder Law Firm

  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…

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,…

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…

One of the many federal tax changes in 2018 is that the annual gift tax exclusion amount has increased from $14,000 to $15,000. This change is actually due to inflation rather than the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 signed into law this past December. What does the exclusion amount really mean? The exclusion…

Individuals often believe that a last will and testament is sufficient estate planning. However, a complete estate plan includes a last will and testament and planning for incapacity with a financial power of attorney and an advance health care directive. In some cases, a revocable living trust will also be included in the estate plan.…

A research article published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that one-half of United States citizens turning age 65 will develop a need for long-term care services and supports.i One out of seven elderly adults will require long-term care services for more than five years. These same individuals can expect to…