Corporate and M&A

Trusts & Estates

Preti Flaherty has a multi-state trust and estate practice focused on the legal and financial issues associated with individuals and families and the accumulation, conservation and transfer of wealth. We develop close relationships with our clients, taking the time to understand their goals and objectives and educate them about the various options before assisting with the implementation of their estate plan. When a trust or estate dispute arises, we draw on the substantive knowledge of our attorneys and the strength of the firm’s litigation practice group. We provide counsel and legal solutions for the full range of matters involved in trusts and estates. Our experience includes:

  • Estate planning
  • Wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney and other family-controlled entities
  • Re-titling of assets
  • Retirement plan assets including IRAs, 401(k)s and qualified plans
  • Probate litigation
  • Representation of executors, personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries
  • Contested trust and estate matters
  • Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
  • Non-profit/charitable planning
  • Effective and efficient tax planning
  • Formation and operation of family foundations
  • Representation before the IRS, state revenue authorities and regulatory agencies

A wealth of experience in estate and trust administration

In addition to matters of planning and dispute resolution, our attorneys regularly advise and assist individual and professional fiduciaries with basic and complex legal and financial issues related to estate and trust administration. Our services include assisting with admission of decedent’s will to probate, identification and gathering of assets, representing the estate against legal actions such as third-party creditor claims, preparation of estate tax returns, the distribution of assets and obtaining the discharge of the fiduciary. We also advise trustees regarding legal issues associated with creation, operation and termination of a trust. As part of our services, we also prepare any fiduciary-related accountings and inventories.

Firm Highlights

Publication

How to navigate the legal side of nondisclosure agreements

Preti Flaherty attorney Kristy Abraham has authored an article for  MaineBiz  on navigating the legal side of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), outlining six questions for organizations to review before entering into a NDA.

Publication

Schutz and Harriman Author Article for MLRC on Mill's Veto of Constitutionally Fraught Legislation

In an article for the Media Law Resource Center's July 2023 Media Law Letter,  Preti Flaherty attorneys Sig Schutz and Alex Harriman explore Gov. Janet Mills' recent veto of L.D. 1610, “An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending...

News

Preti Flaherty Litigation Practice Group Adds Four New Attorneys

Preti Flaherty is pleased to announce the addition of four experienced Associates to the firm’s Litigation Practice Group: Stephen Garvey, Michael Hanify, Hanna May, and Tiffany Ottenga. Stephen Garvey is a graduate of Boston...

News

Matt Warner Named to Cannabis Law Journal Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers 2023

Preti Flaherty attorney and Cannabis Business Group member Matt Warner has been named to the list of Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers for 2023-2024. A joint publication of  Cannabis Law Report and  Cannabis Law...

Press Coverage

Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting Wins Public Records Dispute with York County Jail

Event

2023 Maine Employment Law Summit

For nearly 30 years, Preti Flaherty's Employment Law team has provided Maine employers with practical guidance and best practices at our annual Employment Law Summit. Join us  Thursday, October 5  for the 2023 Employment...

Press Coverage

Maine Media Organizations Oppose Foreign Electioneering Ban

Question 2 on Maine’s November ballot asserts that corporations owned or controlled by foreign governments do not have the same rights to political speech as companies here in the U.S. and that foreign governments should be prohibited...

Publication

Municipal Update: Maine Legislature Acts to Clarify Sales of Tax-Acquired Properties

Early this week, in response to the  United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in  Tyler v. Hennepin County, Minnesota  (598 U.S. (2023)) , the Maine Legislature passed emergency legislation establishing a new process for...

News

Jeffrey Talbert Named to American College of Environmental Lawyers

Jeffrey Talbert, Chair of Preti Flaherty’s Environmental Law Group, has been invited to become a Fellow in the distinguished American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL). Membership in the premiere association of environmental lawyers is by...

Publication

Maine Law Amended to Require More Details When Public Employees Disciplined

Governor Mills recently signed a bill amending the public disclosure requirements for public employees who have been disciplined. Although widely reported as applying to police misconduct, the law applies to all government employees. The...