In the Maine Legislature in the first regular session for 2019, the House of Representatives proposed legislation that would reduce the Maine Estate Tax Exclusion Amount from its current $5.6 million (indexed for inflation) back down to only $2 million per person for those individuals dying after January 1, 2020. It would also remove the… Read more »
Law Court hands down important decision regarding public access to beaches
In a prior article, I wrote about a Maine Supreme Court case about seaweed ownership. The Court recently handed down its decision in Ross v. Acadian Seaplants, holding that the waterfront property owner owns the seaweed growing in the intertidal zone. The Law Court reasoned that taking seaweed is not “fishing” and accordingly not within… Read more »
Savings clause to the Maine Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act is triggered by discovery of the fraud, not discovery of the transfer
So holds the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, sitting as the Law Court, in today’s decision in State of Maine v. Tucci, 2019 ME 51, — A.3d —. Tucci was found to have fraudulently transferred property in 2009. More than six years later, the State of Maine filed a lawsuit against Tucci alleging that the transfers… Read more »
Docks and the law
Maine has no shortage of lakes and ponds—so many, in fact, that there are several thousand that do not even have a name. Naturally, swimming, boating, and kayaking/canoeing are popular activities, especially at the lakefront camp. Those water-dependent activities rely on docks and other improvements. But whether a property owner may construct a dock on… Read more »
Do I have to take field sobriety tests?
If you are pulled over and the officer suspects that you may be impaired, you will likely be asked to exit the car and take field sobriety tests. In Maine, you are not required to take field sobriety tests. The officer will not tell you that you can refuse to take a field sobriety test. If… Read more »
Aging: The need for Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives
It was recently reported by CBS News that Aretha Franklin passed away, without any Will regarding her nearly $80 million estate. Therefore, the State of Michigan will be deciding the distribution of her assets rather than she. Unfortunately, this is too often the headline in the paper, yet the rest of us go on with… Read more »
Airbnb In Maine: A patchwork of regulation
Maine is renowned as a summer tourism destination. In Portland, my hometown, even the “budget” hotels can cost over $300/night during the peak season. Given the shortage of rooms, and high prices, it’s no surprise that vacationers have looked to other options to shack up. Enter Airbnb. Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a platform on… Read more »
What should I do if charged with a Maine OUI?
In Maine, drunk driving is called operating under the influence, or OUI for short. An OUI conviction can result in jail time, fines, and a license suspension. Your license will likely be suspended by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles before you even go to court. If you are arrested for OUI, there are five… Read more »
What do the new amendments to Maine’s Marijuana Legalization Act mean for employers?
By citizen’s initiative, Maine voters approved the Marijuana Legalization Act in November 2016. As originally enacted, the law prohibited employers from refusing to hire or penalizing applicants or employees for off-site marijuana use. In 2018, the Maine Legislature passed L.D. 1719, “An Act to Implement a Regulatory Structure for Adult Use Marijuana.” The Governor vetoed… Read more »
Don’t let the tail of the increased federal exemption wag the estate planning dog
On December 22, 2017 the President signed the TAX CUT AND JOBS ACT (The “Act”) that became effective January 1, 2018. For estate tax purposes and for estate tax planning purposes, the Act essentially doubled the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions through the end of 2025. This means that as of January… Read more »