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It's Just Stuff, After All

July 11th, 2017

It is not surprising that only 42% of adults in the U.S. have a documented estate plan. It is easy to put estate planning off until tomorrow rather than confront the uncomfortable truth that we will some day die, and face the difficult decisions that… Read More

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Planning Ahead: Asset Protection Trusts

June 27th, 2017

Why Plan Ahead for Long-Term Care? Long-term care services are “a combination of medical, nursing, custodial, social, and community services designed to help people who have disabilities or chronic care needs, including dementia. Services may be pr… Read More

Categories: Long-Term Care Planning

2017 MSBA Elder Law and Estate Planning Institute

May 16th, 2017

Maine Elder Law Firm Attorney Jane Skelton and Rudman Winchell Attorney Jennifer Eastman both presented at the Maine State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Estate Planning Institute on May 5 and 6, 2017. This year’s Institute featured Attorney Nat… Read More

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Proposed Maine Law: An Act to Support Death with Dignity

April 10th, 2017

The joint standing Committee on Health and Human Services heard public testimony on LD 347 and LD 1066 on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Representative Jennifer Parker introduced LD 1066 titled An Act to Promote Life with Dignity1. The Committee reported… Read More

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Survivor Benefits Plan: Protecting Military Survivor Benefits for a Child with Disabilities

April 10th, 2017

Military families who stay in the service until retirement can easily provide survivor benefits for a child with disabilities without effect that child’s eligibility for public benefit programs. In December of 2014, the Disabled Military Child Prot… Read More

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Gifting Powers in Financial Powers of Attorney

January 5th, 2017

A financial power of attorney (also called durable power of attorney or general power of attorney) is an important part of your estate plan. If you become incapacitated and are unable to act and make decisions for yourself, a financial power of attor… Read More

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Enactment of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act

December 16th, 2016

By: Attorney Rachel Trafton On Tuesday December 13, 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act. Several pieces of the legislation focus on medical breakthroughs. It also includes the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act. Elder law attorneys… Read More

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Changes to the Federal Nursing Home Requirements

November 23rd, 2016

By: Attorney Rachel Trafton In order for skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities to receive payment under the Medicare or Medicaid programs, the facility must meet certain requirements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) h… Read More

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Stetson Special Needs Trusts Conference 2016

November 1st, 2016

Jane Skelton presented at the annual National Conference on Special Needs Trusts and Special Needs Planning in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 20, 2016. This is the 18th year that the Stetson University College of Law has provided this nationally… Read More

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2016 WealthCounsel and Elder Counsel Symposium

October 26th, 2016

Attorneys Rachel Trafton and Kristy Hapworth recently returned from the Washington D.C. area where they attended the Symposium, an annual educational event for estate planning and elder law professionals. The conference is collaborative and full of i… Read More

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