Business Details
34 Years
experience
Trusted Estate Planning Attorneys in Maine
Founded in 1992, Epstein & O'Donovan has established itself as Maine's first boutique law firm specializing exclusively in trusts and estates. Our practice focuses on estate planning, probate, and trust administration, serving clients across the state with a commitment to privacy and personalized service. We collaborate closely with clients to address complex matters including wills, trusts, prenuptial agreements, and tax planning. Our attorneys maintain long-term relationships with individuals, families, and businesses, ensuring continuity of service across generations. With offices in Portland, Western Maine, and Midcoast Maine, we provide accessible expertise to both urban and rural communities. Our team of experienced lawyers combines specialized knowledge with a collaborative approach, working alongside accountants, financial advisors, and other legal professionals to deliver comprehensive solutions.We prioritize client confidentiality and trust, believing that effective legal counsel emerges from ongoing relationships rather than isolated transactions. Our firm's singular focus on trusts and estates allows us to maintain deep expertise in this specialized field. We regularly represent clients in probate litigation, guardianship matters, and charitable organization advising, addressing the full spectrum of estate-related legal needs. This dedicated practice area enables us to offer nuanced guidance tailored to each client's unique circumstances.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Administration
Trust Administration
Prenuptial Agreements
Business Succession Planning
Probate Litigation
Charitable Giving
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We offer over 100 years of combined experience in trust and estate law
- Our attorneys maintain long-term relationships with clients across generations
- We provide specialized expertise through exclusive focus on trusts and estates
- Our team collaborates with financial professionals for comprehensive solutions
- We serve clients statewide with offices in three key Maine regions
Services
Estate Planning
We draft customized wills, trusts, and advance directives addressing personal objectives and tax considerations. Our attorneys assist with lifetime giving programs, family partnerships, and asset protection strategies. Clients receive guidance on retirement plan beneficiary designations and fiduciary appointments.
Probate Administration
Our firm guides personal representatives through estate administration processes, including asset inventory, debt settlement, tax filings, and property distribution. We provide counsel on probate court requirements, interjurisdictional matters, and fiduciary responsibilities for estates of varying complexity.
Trust Administration
We assist trustees with trust funding, asset management, and distribution requirements. Our services include preparing tax documentation, coordinating with financial institutions, and ensuring compliance with trust terms and state regulations for both revocable and irrevocable trusts.
Prenuptial Agreements
Our attorneys counsel couples on financial implications of marriage and draft prenuptial/postnuptial agreements. We facilitate full asset disclosure processes and create customized agreements addressing property division, spousal support, and estate planning considerations for both prospective and existing marriages.
Business Succession Planning
We develop transition plans for family-owned businesses, focusing on leadership continuity, tax efficiency, and employee retention. Our services include structuring buy-sell agreements, implementing valuation strategies, and coordinating ownership transfers that align with both business and family objectives.
People
Dennis J. ODonovan
Attorney
Experienced trusts and estates attorney with decades of practice in Maine. Specializes in complex estate planning and probate matters. Maintains long-term client relationships focused on comprehensive wealth preservation strategies.
Jennifer L. Kruszewski
Attorney
Skilled estate planning lawyer assisting individuals with wills, trusts, and tax-efficient gifting strategies. Provides personalized counsel on fiduciary responsibilities and trust administration requirements for Maine residents.
Miles C. Hunt
Attorney
Concentrates on probate litigation and trust administration challenges. Represents clients in contested guardianship matters and advises on business succession planning for family-owned enterprises across Maine.
Elizabeth Marcotte
Attorney
Focuses on charitable giving strategies and estate tax planning. Assists non-profit organizations with compliance matters while helping individual clients integrate philanthropy into their overall estate plans.
Bjorn
Attorney
Provides counsel on prenuptial agreements and intergenerational wealth transfer. Combines technical expertise with practical advice to address clients' unique family dynamics and financial objectives.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialize in?
We focus exclusively on trusts and estates law, including estate planning, probate administration, trust management, prenuptial agreements, business succession planning, and related litigation matters.
Do you serve clients outside Portland?
Yes, we maintain offices in Western Maine and Midcoast Maine, and regularly represent clients throughout the entire state with both in-person and remote consultations.
How do you handle complex estate tax issues?
Our attorneys have extensive experience with federal and state estate tax planning, including generation-skipping transfers and fiduciary income tax matters for both simple and complex estates.
Can you assist with existing estate plans?
Yes, we review and update existing wills and trusts to ensure they reflect current laws and client circumstances, providing continuity of service for evolving family and financial situations.
What makes your firm different from general practice law firms?
Our exclusive focus on trusts and estates law allows deeper specialization, with attorneys who collectively have over a century of experience in this specific legal field.
