Clark & Howell

Estate Planning

Did You Know?

A Will allows a person to dictate who inherits their assets and possessions upon their death. With this type of document, a person can avoid the intestate process through which a court becomes involved in distributing assets.

Case Study:

In Merry v. Lebel, 443 A.2d 579 (Me. 1982) the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine held that specific legatees under a will were relieved of the burden of state inheritance taxes by an introductory clause that clearly expressed the testator’s intent to charge his estate, rather than his specific legatees.

Jeffery J. Clark is an Estate Law Specialist

Attorney Clark has provided thousands of people with thoughtful advice to insure their last wishes are met, minimize taxes and intervention by the legal system. You can count on his knowledge and experience to build a wisely drafted Estate Plan. It’s what your friends and neighbors have come to expect from attorney Jeff Clark of Clark & Howell, LLC, located in York, Maine. 

Estate Planning is not just for the Wealthy

Everyone benefits from appropriate estate planning. You can prevent confusion and disappointment at the time of your death with clear directives in your will. You can also protect and preserve your assets for the use and benefit of your heirs.  

All facets of Estate Planning must be managed with thoughtfulness and attention to detail:

  • Discuss your wishes, make recommendations and write your Last Will and Testament.
  • Discuss estate tax issues and design an Estate Plan to minimize your exposure to potential Estate Tax.
  • Discuss whether Trusts are an appropriate estate planning vehicle for you.
Estate Planning is for the Here and Now

Who should manage your financial affairs and know your medical wishes should you become incapacitated? Two documents to answer these question include:

  • Power of Attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business or some other legal matter.
  • Health Care Directive empowers a proxy to make health care decisions for the grantor, up to and including terminating care and ending life supports that are keeping a critically and terminally ill patient alive.  It also provides pre-determined instructions of the grantor who is no longer in a position to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.