Maine Elder Law Blog

For many Maine families, December is busy. Between weather, holidays, work, and family obligations, fully completing an estate plan before the end of the year may not be realistic—and that’s okay. What does matter is getting started. Even taking a few small steps in December can make January feel far less stressful and help you […]

Smart Year-End Gifting: What Maine Families Need to Know About Taxes & the 5-Year Lookback As the holidays approach, many Maine families think about giving money or property to children, grandchildren, or charity. Year-end gifting can be a wonderful planning tool—but without the right guidance, it can also create unexpected tax issues or jeopardize future […]

As another Maine winter settles in and families around Bangor, Hermon, Brewer, and Hampden gather for the holidays, a lot of conversations naturally turn to “What happens if something happens to me?” Year-end is one of the best times to take a serious look at your estate plan—and for many Maine families, that means asking […]

As the year wraps up, most people are thinking about holidays, taxes, and plans for the new year. But there’s one more item that deserves a spot on your year-end checklist: reviewing your Will, Powers of Attorney, and healthcare documents. In Maine, where families are often spread across different towns—and sometimes different states—keeping your estate […]

December is the perfect time to slow down, gather with family, and prepare for a fresh start in the new year. It’s also one of the most important times to update your estate plan—especially for Maine families navigating rising costs of care, changing assets, and MaineCare eligibility rules. Whether you already have a Will and basic […]

🌻 Helpful Thanksgiving Tips for Families Caring for Someone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s 1. Keep the Day Simple Large gatherings, loud conversations, and long events can be overwhelming. Try shorter visits, small groups, or quiet moments away from the crowd. 2. Maintain a Familiar Routine Stick to regular meal times, medications, and rest periods. A […]

Thanksgiving in Maine is a time for warm kitchens, familiar faces, and the simple comfort of being together. It’s also a rare moment when multiple generations are under the same roof — making it one of the best opportunities to have gentle, meaningful conversations about future planning. These discussions don’t have to be heavy or […]

Looking Ahead: MaineCare and the 5-Year Lookback As families gather this holiday season, many Maine households find themselves thinking about the future — especially when a parent’s health is changing or caregiving needs are increasing. One of the most important (and most misunderstood) parts of long-term care planning in Maine is the MaineCare 5-year lookback […]

When a loved one is facing memory loss or increasing care needs, families often focus on day-to-day support — doctor’s appointments, medications, home-care services, and emotional care. But one critical planning task is easy to overlook: reviewing beneficiary designations. These designations control who receives certain assets outside of probate, including: Bank accounts with POD/TOD instructions […]