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Practice Areas
Maine Elder Law Firm in Bangor offers elder law, special needs planning, and estate planning services throughout the State of Maine. We welcome you to learn more about our practice. For additional information and to schedule a consultation, please contact us.
Long-Term Care Planning
Asset Protection
Our clients may seek advice on how to protect their real estate, their investments, and their personal savings from liabilities including long-term care expenses. Where appropriate, we call on other professionals, including accountants, financial advisors, and long-term care insurance specialists. We also advise clients on the risks of lifetime transfers and the benefits of various types of trusts to accomplish their objectives.
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MaineCare Planning and Applications
When an individual faces an immediate need for expensive long-term care, our elder law attorneys consider many factors, including the individual’s income and assets, any medical and long-term care insurance coverage, military service, family circumstances, and especially the individual’s objectives. Even after a health care crisis, there often are legitimate strategies available to protect an individual’s assets from long-term care expenses, including costs of nursing homes, of residential care/assisted living facilities, and of nursing services in the home.
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Special Needs Planning
Special Needs Planning Excerpt
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Special Needs Trusts
A “special needs trust” can be a helpful tool in preserving an inheritance or settlement proceeds while maintaining a beneficiary’s eligibility for public benefits. There are two types of special needs trusts. A third-party supplemental needs trust is funded with assets belonging to someone other than the beneficiary. For example, a parent might establish this type of trust for an adult child as part of their estate plan. A first-party special needs trust is created and funded by an individual with a disability for their own benefit. Our team will design a plan to meet each family’s specific circumstances and unique needs and goals.
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Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Disabilities
Parents of minor or adult children who have a disability often think they cannot leave an inheritance to a beneficiary who relies on public benefits. This is not true. Our special needs planning attorneys advise on special needs trusts and other legal and financial planning tools which provide a more comprehensive and compassionate approach to ensuring the well-being of individuals with disabilities. With a deep understanding of the eligibility criteria for government assistance programs, we can create an estate plan that avoids disruption of these benefits and is sensitive to the needs of each individual beneficiary and their family.
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Guardianships, Conservatorships, and Other Protective Proceedings
The firm represents parties in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings in Maine Probate Courts. A guardian is responsible for the physical well-being and the residential, medical, and social needs of an individual in need of protection. A conservator manages the income, assets, and financial and business affairs of an individual who is unable to do so. We also assist with more proactive planning to reduce the likelihood that a court-ordered guardianship or conservatorship will be needed. Learn More about Maine Guardianships and Conservatorships We welcome you to browse our articles on guardianship and conservatorship. We’re Here to Help To consult with us about whether a protective proceeding is needed and the process for petitioning the Probate Court. Get started here.
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Other Services
Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney
We help individuals and families create personalized estate plans that protect assets during life and ensure a smooth transition after death. Our planning often includes wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, with a focus on long-term care planning and special needs planning. Our experienced team will guide you through strategies to preserve assets from long-term care costs, protect inheritances for beneficiaries who may need additional support, and prepare for the possibility of future incapacity.
Read MoreEstate and Trust Administration
At Maine Elder Law Firm, we advise personal and professional fiduciaries, including trustees of revocable and irrevocable trusts, personal representatives of decedents’ estates, and agents acting under powers of attorney and advance health care directives. These fiduciaries may need legal advice on inventorying assets, dealing with creditors and addressing Medicaid estate recovery claims, correctly distributing assets, interpreting legal documents, communicating with beneficiaries, addressing income and estate taxes, understanding their obligations and authorities, and more.
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Maine Elder Law Firm — We're Here to Help
To request a consultation or additional information about any of our legal services, we welcome you to contact Maine Elder Law Firm.
