Practice Areas
Real Estate Law
From the initial review of
the contract and handling of negotiations to the preparation
of the final policy of title insurance, our
attorneys work hand in hand with you, your realtor, and your
financial institution to insure a smooth and successful closing.
We are certified and insured to conduct closings for all lending institutions,
both local and national. Locally we serve Camden
National Bank, Rockland Savings and Loan Association, TD Banknorth,
and The First. We have done closings for
such national
banks as Wells Fargo,
Bank of America, GMAC and Cendant. We write for Chicago
Title Insurance, First American Title Insurance and Lawyers
Title Insurance.
IF YOU ARE
A SELLER: One of the best investments a seller can make is
to have an attorney review any proposed
purchase and sale agreement (contract) before
signing. Though contracts appear to be pretty standard,
you want to make sure your contract is right for you and that
there are no hidden costs or obligations. All of our
attorneys are well qualified to assist you in this process.
Once the contract is signed, you will need assistance in preparing
the deed of transfer, Maine State Transfer Tax Form, and any
forms required to satisfy the Real Estate Withholding Tax requirements.
While it is not absolutely necessary to have your attorney
attend
the closing with you, all of our attorneys are prepared to
do so,
or, if you are unable to attend the closing, can attend on
your behalf using a limited power of attorney. Your attorney
would then deposit or wire your proceeds directly to your account.
Perhaps
the best return on your investment is if the purchaser's
attorney has questions concerning the title
to your property. This is where our attorneys' years
of experience, immediate access to over 5,000 individual archived
abstracts of title, and long association with First American
Title Insurance, Chicago Title Insurance and more recently
Lawyers
Title Insurance really stand out. We are experienced
in drafting easements, boundary line agreements, rights of
way,
and in prosecuting actions to quiet title. Our record
shows that we solve problems.
IF YOU ARE A BUYER: All
of our attorneys have worked with the area realtors for a
number of years and are always happy
to review a contract or answer questions before you sign on the
dotted line. Additionally, our attorneys have searched
over 5,000 individual titles in the Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo
County area, which are in our archives and immediately available.
Our abstractor, Estelle Manning, has been researching titles
for
the firm for over thirty years. We are agents for First
American Title Insurance, Chicago Title Insurance and more recently
Lawyers
Title Insurance and as such have access to their title records
and expertise.
We are certified
and insured to conduct closings for all lending institutions,
both local and national. Locally
we serve Camden National Bank, Rockland Savings and Loan Association,
TD Banknorth, and The First. We have done
closings for such national banks as Wells Fargo,
Bank of America, GMAC and Cendant. We write for Chicago
Title Insurance, First American Title Insurance and Lawyers
Title Insurance. Additionally, we have provided title insurance
and title services to Bangor Savings Bank, Union Trust, Bar Harbor
Bank & Trust, and many more.
In addition to title certification, our
attorneys are often called upon to prepare bank documents,
mortgages, notes,
documents required to clear title, closing statements, IRS
forms and all other documents or forms required to insure a smooth
transition of title.
ZONING AND MUNICIPAL MATTERS: Our
attorneys have many years of experience working with municipal
boards to insure your home is your castle. We can assist you
in obtaining board approval for development of your property,
expansion of the improvements on your property, change of use,
or abatement
of your taxes.
SHELTERING REAL ESTATE: Our
attorneys are also proficient in the drafting of Qualified
Personal Residence Trusts,
limited liability companies, trusts, and other entities to shelter
your valuable real estate and insure it is there for your children
and grandchildren.
Corporate Law
Our attorneys have acted
as incorporators for numerous corporations, S-Corporations, and
non-profit corporations. However,
in today's market, "incorporating" can also include general and
limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and other
entities that did not exist ten years ago. Helping you
choose the best entity for your purpose is as important as properly
preparing and filing the documents. Wayne R. Crandall,
Stephen W. Hanscom, and Edward M. Collins are ready to take the
time to understand your needs and advise you of your options.
Once
you have your entity, you will need a clerk or registered agent
who is a resident of the State of
Maine. Our attorneys serve hundreds of local businesses
in that capacity, filing annual reports with the Secretary
of State, reviewing new statutes and notifying you of changes
that
could affect your business, being available for quick telephone
conversations or to attend annual meetings, and giving you
the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have an expert
in your
corner.
Having trouble collecting a debt? Our
attorneys are well versed in debt collection law, small claims
or civil actions, and will often assist in debt collection
on a contingency basis.
Civil Law
Collections: Our
attorneys are adept in handling your businesses' problem accounts
receivable collections as efficiently and expeditiously as the
Courts will allow. Whether the amount warrants a Small
Claims action, District Court action, or is a matter for the
Superior Court, our attorneys can handle everything from the
initial demand letter, to the filing and service of the Complaint,
and all that follows. Small items are usually charged at
our hourly rates plus costs. However, depending on the
number and type of collections matters involved, our attorneys
can also work on a contingency basis wherein you pay the costs,
but no fees unless we collect what is owed to you, often with
interest and costs included.
Personal Injury: Since
each personal injury situation offers many unique and complex
issues, the initial consultation on these matters is offered
free of charge.
Other
Civil Litigation:
We understand how embarrassing and upsetting bringing personal
matters into
the public forum can be, which is why our attorneys work hard
to settle civil matters out of court through mediation and
negotiation. However,
our attorneys have also argued before the Supreme Court of
the State of Maine when it has proven to be in our client's best
interest to do so. Having represented both the moving
parties and the defendants in numerous and various civil matters
over
the years, our attorneys are well prepared to see both sides
of the issue, which means you will receive the benefit of their
broad perspective and knowledge.
Family Law
Perhaps no area of law has changed
so much in the past five years as the area of family law. The
rules and procedures concerning divorce, parental rights and
responsibilities, paternity, child support, etc., has grown more
complicated as has the definition of "family" in today's world.
Stephen W. Hanscom is constantly upgrading his skills and knowledge
of
this difficult area of practice. See him for pre-marital
agreements, initiation or defense of divorce complaints, complaints
for determination of paternity and parental rights and responsibilities,
post-judgment motions to modify or enforce, or property settlements.
Estate Planning
A will, power of attorney,
and living will are three documents everyone should have to insure
that you and
your loved ones will be taken care of according to your wishes.
A
power of attorney grants to one or more trusted friends or
family members the ability to handle your
day to day financial responsibilities should you be unable
due to illness, accident, or simply because your job or vacation
plans take you away from home for long periods of time.
A living
will or Advance Health-Care Declaration memorializes your wishes
concerning heroic life sustaining measures
and medical procedures. Many people think they only need
a living will if they want someone to "pull the plug." A
living will does much more. It puts the people who are
attending you in touch with your primary care physician and
medical records. It indicates if you wish to participate
in organ donation programs. It can also indicate that
you wish to be given food and water no matter what condition
you are in. In
this time of evolving medical ethics, a living will can insure
that your wishes as to how you wish to end your life will be
noted.
Wills are
not just lists of who gets what when you die. They memorialize
your specific instructions
as to the guardian for your children and how your assets will
be used to care for them. Wills insure that cherished heirlooms
will go to those who will appreciate them most. They
can see that your spouse is able to maintain the life you have
always
shared together and help insure that your family will be able
to keep the results of your years of hard work and careful
planning and not lose capital or property to taxes.
All of our
attorneys have experience and
expertise in helping you develop the estate plan that is best
for your family and situation.
Probate
One of the hardest jobs is to be personal representative of a loved one's estate,
especially if
conflicts between family members arise, as they often do when
families are under stress. Having an experienced, disinterested
third party who is well versed in probate and tax law provides
peace of mind and lifts the burden of having to make those tough
decisions. Our attorneys have served as personal representatives
and as attorneys for estates throughout the State of Maine and
in ancillary proceedings for out of state residents with real
estate in the State of Maine, with a focus on Knox, Lincoln,
and Waldo County. We are here to help you from the initial
filing of the will to obtaining appraisals, preparing inventories
and accountings, filing tax returns and obtaining discharges
of inheritance tax liens on real property, to the final distribution
and closing of the estate. We are here to help you during this
difficult time. We are also here to assist you if a conflict
arises which requires the litigation of issues before the Probate
Court.
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