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

Maine Workers’ Compensation New Year Update 2023

The new year brings proposed legislation, an update to the Medical Fee Schedule, and two recent decisions from the Appellate Division. Proposed Legislation Workers’ compensation bill LD 53 (HP 28) would amend 39-A M.R.S.A...

Press Coverage

What’s Inside Maine Freight Trains? Public Can Only Hazard a Guess

Due to an exemption from the state's Freedom of Access Act, Maine residents are prevented from reviewing information regarding the transportation through their communities via freight trains of potentially hazardous materials. Rail industry officials...

Event

Bodie Colwell will be a Featured Panelist at ABI Annual Spring Meeting

Bodie Colwell will be a featured panelist on "Danger Ahead! Avoiding and Addressing Ethical Landmines in Attorney Engagement and Compensation" at the American Bankruptcy Institute's Annual Spring Meeting. The panel focuses on disputes regarding engagement...

News

Attorney Jeffrey Thaler Named to 2023 Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Energy Law

For the second time, Preti Flaherty attorney Jeffrey Thaler has been recognized by the esteemed legal publication Lawdragon as an elite practitioner in the field of energy law. Jeff is the only Maine-base lawyer...

News

Maine Lawyers and Judges Once Again Show Overwhelming Support of Campaign for Justice

2022 proved to be another challenging year for Mainers. Skyrocketing inflation, an uncertain economic future, an ongoing housing crisis and more factors continue to push more at-risk individuals into a tight spot. Maine’s civil...

Publication

FY2024 H-1B Registration Fact Sheet for Employers

Registration Process To file H-1B petitions subject to the FY2024 cap for an employee, you must first electronically register and pay a $10 fee for each electronic registration. The electronic registration includes basic information about...

Press Coverage

Authorities Refuse to Release Records for Maine School Shooter Hoax Calls

On November 15, 2022, multiple law enforcement agencies in Maine received false calls alerting police to active shooter situations at several high schools throughout the state. In the wake of this widespread hoax, the Kennebec...

Event

Jeff Talbert to Moderate Panel on PFAS Regulatory Action at ABA Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Conference

Jeff Talbert, Chair of Preti Flaherty's Environmental Law Group, will moderate "Regulatory Action: History & Horizon" at the ABA Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Conference. This panel will discuss the 2016 EPA health advisory, the...

Publication

Enforcers Make It Easy to Report Cartels

This article was originally published in the American Bar Association  Antitrust Newsletter  on February 8, 2023.  Did you know that global competition enforcers have easy-to-find websites to encourage reporting of anticompetitive conduct? Not only...

News

Benchmark Litigation Names Preti Flaherty 2023 “Maine Firm of the Year”

Benchmark Litigation has named Preti Flaherty as 2023 Litigation Firm of the Year in the State of Maine. The Benchmark Awards honor distinguished litigators and law firms in all 50 states and 10 practice...