Estate Planning

We start with a conversation, not a form. Who's in your family? Do you own land or camp property? Is there a child or grandchild with special needs, a blended family, or a family business? The answers shape the plan. A retired couple in Brewer and a young family in Hampden need very different documents.

A will is the foundation for most people. It names who receives your property, who will settle your estate, and who should raise your children if something happens to both parents. For some families, a revocable trust makes sense too. Property held in a trust can pass to your heirs without going through probate, which can save time and keep things private. A special needs trust can leave money to a loved one without putting their public benefits at risk.

Just as important are the documents that work while you're alive. A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances if you become ill or injured. An advance health care directive names the person who can make medical decisions for you and records your wishes about treatment. Without these, your family may have to go to probate court and ask for a guardianship or conservatorship just to pay your bills or talk to your doctors.

We also look at the things a will doesn't control. Life insurance, retirement accounts, and bank accounts with a named beneficiary or a joint owner pass directly to that person, no matter what your will says. Out-of-date beneficiary forms are one of the most common problems we find, especially after a divorce or remarriage.

Once your plan is signed, it's worth looking at again every few years, and any time there's a marriage, divorce, birth, death, or big move. When it's time, our probate team can help your family carry the plan out.