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279 York Street
P.O. Box 467
York, Maine 03909
(207) 361-4680
2 Storer Street, Suite 111
Kennebunk, Maine 04043*
*Satellite office located in
Kennebunk, Maine is staffed for scheduled appointments made through the York office only *
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The Brennan & Rogers, PLLC Journal
October 2020 Edition
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October is
National Estate Planning Awareness Month
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Estate planning is the process of planning for the transfer of everything you own to those persons you want it to go to after you pass on. Your estate plan should also appoint individuals to make decisions for you if you are alive but incapacitated. Our mission is to provide clients with informed, compassionate legal care and to offer support with guidance through life's transitions because we know better than most that planning for or dealing with aging, disability and death can be an uncomfortable and unpleasant task. Our ultimate goal it to make the process as manageable as possible.
Estate planning is something people often put on the back burner as "something to do in the future when I am older". The problem with that mindset is we never know what the future holds; there are no guarantees for tomorrow. Benjamin Franklin said, "You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again" and this poignant statement couldn't be more true of estate planning. We are thrilled to have been seeing a trend showing that this mindset is changing with younger clients in their 40's and even 30's looking ahead into their future.
Estate planning is thought of in the financial sense however a factor often overlooked is if you have children, or even elderly parents, who have disabilities or special needs. Plans need to be in place to protect those who have no voice and this couldn't be more true for children. No parent wants to think "what would happen to my children if something happens to me" however, parents of children with disabilities often feel that "they can't die" because who will take care of their children when they are gone with all their complex needs? Documents need to be in place to ensure that everyone in the family is aware of who is responsible for these children and what that exactly entails.
Common estate planning documents include but are not limited to Wills, Powers of Attorney-both Financial and Health-Care, Advance Directives, and Trusts. These are only some of the tools used in estate planning by which asset transfer at death work together to achieve the desired result.
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The Estate Planning Dealership: We Offer Different Models of Trusts to Suit Your Individual Needs |
Driven by passion, value you love by people you trust: We will find the Trust that fits your estate planning needs! |
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How We Help Keep Your Estate Plan Current |
Estate plans are just like cars and trucks and need maintenance, but when do you take it into the shop? We offer a proactive program, our Annual Client Relationship Service, to attempt to help clients monitor life changes and provide clients a means of reporting them to us and a low-cost means of speaking to us if needed. |
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Current Office Procedures |
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In the ever-changing landscape in which we find ourselves due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we wanted to remind you of our current office procedures.
We are open during the Pandemic and here to make sure you are prepared, utilizing remote services and responsible social distancing measures.
The office door will be locked. If you have documents you would like us to review in advance of a meeting, please send them via e-mail, US Mail, fax, or drop them in the locked box outside our main office door to the left.
We offer remote pre-signing document reviews, and by telephone or video conference. We offer outdoor signings in York, and, in Kennebunk, we offer meetings and signings with a glass door barrier.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are crediting your consultation fees toward document fees. We are also including one (1) Transfer on Death Deeds (TODD), which are new to Maine as part of any basic estate plan, however they are not required. You can read about TODD’s on Smilie’s Blog.
We will do our best to accommodate client situations during this time by offering clients the ability to pay over time on a case by case basis.
Please call (207) 361-4680 for a virtual appointment or to speak with us at any time.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please stay safe and be well. We look forward to talking with you and seeing you soon.
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Limited-Time Free Virtual Meet & Greet Sessions in October |
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Reserve Your Free Virtual Meet & Greet Session with One of Our Attorneys,
Smilie G. Rogers, Esq., or
Mary Kathryn Brennan, Esq.
Allow us to introduce you to ourselves and the basic concepts surrounding estate planning. Learn more about Revocable Trusts (“Living Trusts”), Transfer on Death Deeds (aka TODD which you can also read about in Smilie’s Blog), Advance Healthcare Directives, Powers of Attorney, Wills, and their importance under normal circumstances, but more so now during the pandemic.
*During a Virtual Meet & Greet, our lawyers cannot give specific legal answers or advice, and sessions shall not constitute the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Sessions last for thirty (30) minutes.
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Availability with Smilie G. Rogers, Esq.
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
- Private session 5:00 pm- 5:30 pm
Availability with
Mary Kathryn Brennan, Esq.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
- Private session 5:00 pm- 5:30 pm
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Medicare Open Enrollment 2021 |
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Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Started on October 15, 2020 and ends December 7, 2020! |
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Absentee Ballot requests must be received in Maine by Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm.
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Helpful Links
Do you have something helpful you have found while spending more time at home ? If you find something useful, please forward them to either Smilie or Kim. We will make sure they get shared with others!
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General Information
End of Life
Documents
Religious
Religious Services Available Online
Organization of Personal Information
Our "Day After Guide" is available on our website for free to help you organize your everyday information.
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Shopping hours for Senior Citizens and the At-Risk population |
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These and other stores may also be limiting the amount of people in the store at one time in order to promote proper social distancing! Be prepared! This list could be changing daily so please check with the store before you go!
1) BJ's Wholesale Club
(Members 60+)
Monday, Wednesday & Friday
8:00 am -9:00 am
(First Responders)
Sunday
8:00 am- 9:00 am
2) Hannaford
(60+ and those who are immune-compromised)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
7:00 am -8:00 am
3) Market Basket
(60 years+)
Daily
6:00 am -7:00 am
4) Shaw's
(seniors citizens, immune-compromised, at-risk, pregnant, etc...)
Tuesdays and Thursdays
7:00 am - 9:00 am
5) Target
(65+, pregnant and those with underlying health conditions)
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
First hour the store is open
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Our December Newsletter featured National Handwashing Awareness Week and explained the proper method of washing your hands and other vital information. We didn't know at the time just how relevant this information would be. Read our December issue below and view archived issues on our website. Please forward our December newsletter to help spread awareness about the importance of proper handwashing. |
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See what our clients have to say about their experiences! |
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279 York Street
P.O. Box 467
York, Maine 03909
(207) 361-4680
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Closed
*Satellite office located in
Kennebunk, Maine is staffed for scheduled appointments made through the York office only *
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The information and/or materials appearing or contained in this newsletter of Brennan & Rogers, PLLC has been prepared for and made available for informational purposes only. The transmission and receipt of information contained in this newsletter, to clients or otherwise, do not constitute the giving of legal advice, professional advice and/or services, nor does it constitute the formation of an attorney-client relationship. No recipient of this newsletter should 1) act or 2) refrain from acting based upon any information contained herein without seeking legal advice. Links on this newsletter may lead to other websites. Brennan & Rogers, PLLC does not necessarily endorse or approve of any materials or information on linked sites and is not responsible for any contents on such linked websites.
You are receiving this newsletter as a courtesy for being our valued ACRS member or having opted in via web form. If you no longer wish to receive it, please feel free to unsubscribe with the link at the bottom of this email.
Brennan & Rogers, PLLC
279 York Street (PO Box 467)
York, Maine 03909 (207) 361-4680
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