Author Archives: Smilie G. Rogers

New England Estate Planning (“NEEP”), is, among other things, a state-specific automated drafting site for lawyers licensed in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and is now open for attorney registration. While the site, http://www.newenglandestateplanning.com, is not yet ready for attorney … Continue reading →

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Spousal Impoverishment Standards for 2020, which is available at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/downloads/spousal-impoverishment/ssi-and-spousal-impoverishment-standards.pdf  

Quality Control in Estate Planning – How to Run Your Firm like it is Made in Geneva.  How do you maintain constant quality control in your estate planning practice?  Of course,  as an attorney you pay attention to the details, … Continue reading →

Maine’s New Elective Share – Is a marriage more “worthy” with age? Maine’s new probate code thinks so.  What do you think? If a decedent leaves a will and the surviving spouse is not provided for, as in the case … Continue reading →

Hold on to your candy kiddos; this is a stickup! Title 18-C MRS Section 6-102(2) (http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec6-102.html) of Maine’s Uniform Probate Code introduces us to a new concept, nonprobate transferee liability.   The statute provides that, except as otherwise provided by statute, … Continue reading →

  The enactment of the Maine Uniform Probate Code on September 1, 2019, brought with it Title 18-C M.R.S. § 6-401, et seq., the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, see https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec6-401.html, which authorizes the use of transfer on … Continue reading →

The Maine Uniform Probate Code (MUPC), Title 18-C M. R. S. § 1-101 et seq., https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Cch0sec0.html, with a delayed effective date of September 1, 2019 (see Section 8-301(1), H.P. 1881- L.D. 1535) pursuant to emergency legislation, revokes Title 18-A. Title 18-C brings … Continue reading →