WESTBROOK, ME – On Saturday June 25th, attorney Mary-Anne Martell of Seacoast Law & Title will speak on “The Secrets of Estate Planning and Domestic Partnership for Lesbian and Gay Couples” at Head, Health, Heart, Secrets, which will be held at The Elms Bed and Breakfast in Westbrook, ME.

Because the State of Maine continues to deny same-sex couples the legal rights afforded to heterosexual couples, LGBT couples must take extra care in life and financial planning in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from the potentially devastating effects of social bias and a discriminatory legal system. Martell will provide an overview of the legal tools that can be used to protect LGBT couples and their loved ones.

Martell holds a B.A. in Philosophy and a J.D. from the Maine School of Law. She is the Principal and Senior Legal Counsel of Seacoast Law & Title in Westbrook, ME. Martell is admitted to the Maine State Bar, the United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She is a member of the Maine State Bar Association and the Cumberland County Bar Association. She is currently President of the Maine Professional Business Women and the National Association of Professional Women’s Greater Portland Chapter.

Besides Martell, Kimberly Volk, Dr. Christine Maguire, and Mary Gorham Malia will speak at the seminar. Other topics include: “The Three Secrets to Managing Stress and Avoiding Illness” and “The Secret To Finding and Meeting Your Partner’s Deepest Needs.”

Head, Health, Heart, Secrets will run from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday June 25th, and seating is limited. Cost is $30/couple; lunch is included. Call 207-450-1611 or email headhealthheart@gmail.com to register.

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Seacoast Law and Title is a three-attorney boutique law firm with an in-house title company. Seacoast attorneys pride themselves on their strong ties to their clients and community. While each attorney brings a unique background and perspective to Seacoast Law & Title, they work together to protect their clients’ best interest and success.

Seacoast Law and Title specializes in: Business Law & Corporate Formation, Bankruptcy & Debt Relief, Family Law & Divorce, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law & Landlord Services, Foreclosure Alternatives & Options, Short Sales & Loss Mitigation and Equine Law & Stable Development. The firm is located at 240 Main Street, Westbrook, ME. FMI: (207) 591-7880 or www.seacoastlawme.com.

After graduating George Washington University, Esty attended the University of Maine School of Law where she participated in the Advanced Trial Advocacy Team and the National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. Esty co-chaired the law school’s Litigation Group and worked as a student attorney at the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic where she specialized in family law.

At Seacoast Law and Title, Esty’s practice will include real estate, estate planning, bankruptcy and family law.

Seacoast Law and Title is a three-attorney boutique law firm with an in-house title company. Seacoast attorneys pride themselves on their strong ties to their clients and community. While each attorney brings a unique background and perspective to Seacoast Law & Title, they work together to protect their clients’ best interest and success.

Seacoast Law and Title specializes in: Business Law & Corporate Formation, Bankruptcy & Debt Relief, Family Law & Divorce, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law & Landlord Services, Foreclosure Alternatives & Options, Short Sales & Loss Mitigation and Equine Law & Stable Development. The firm is located at 240 Main Street, Westbrook, ME. FMI: (207) 591-7880 or www.seacoastlawme.com.

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Sarah Ruef-Lindquist,

Gift planning advisorSr. Gift Planning Advisor and Founder of Planning for Good planned giving consulting services, is pleased to announce a day of her busy Spring 2011 presentation schedule in locations across northern New England.

On March 28, 2011, in Augusta and again on April 25, 2011, in Portland, she will present a program entitled “Increasing the Horse Power of Planned Giving: Engaging Professional Advisors. As a consultant and as an attorney practicing in the area of estate planning, and having served as a trust officer and philanthropic advisor, Ms. RuefLindquist is attuned to the role that advisors play in the gift-planning process. Their knowledge and understanding of an institutions planned giving program can affect their advice to their clients. This three-hour workshop presentation will consider not only who among the professional advisor to strategically engage, but how to engage them effectively to support an organization’s planned giving efforts, and will be attended by non profit executives and board members from across the state.   To register, visit www.planningforgood.net or call (207) 975-5165.

Planning for Good works with non-profit organizations and donors to build endowments for the long-term sustainability of the non-profits working in our communities. Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, Attorney and Certified Trust and Financial Advisor, is a frequent writer and speaker on the topic of charitable giving and estate planning. For more information about the work of Planning for Good, visit www.planningforgood.net.

of the Camden Public Library’s Seniors’ Series.

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist

Ruef-Lindquist is a frequent writer and speaker on the topics of trust and estate planning, charitable gift planning, and planned giving. The topics she will cover include probate, anticipating incapacity, wealth transfer, trusts, current transfer and tax climate. The event is open to all. Seniors in need of assistance with transportation can call the library at 236-3440.

Ruef-Lindquist practiced law for 11 years prior to becoming vice president for Southern Maine at the Maine Community Foundation and then vice president and senior administrative trust officer at Union Trust Co. In her roles within wealth management she worked extensively with nonprofit organizations and donors in the creation, management and administration of endowment funds, charitable trusts, private foundations, pooled income funds and gift annuities. She has facilitated eight-figure gifts.

Ruef-Lindquist has extensive experience in educating board members and staff in the area of planned giving, and developing the policies and procedures necessary for the solicitation of planned gifts, as well as the policies for their investment and endowment spending. She founded Planning for Good in 2008 to help individuals and organizations create sustainability through planned gifts. She currently serves as president of the Maine Bar Foundation and on the board of the Maine Philanthropy Center.

Sarah’s web-site is:  www.planningforgood.net

Planned gifts – typically absorbed into endowment funds – generally involve more complicated gift arrangements than current gifts of cash or marketable securities. They also typically begin at the 6 figure level, involve gift, estate and/or income tax benefits to their donors, and can increase significantly the financial resources of nonprofit organizations for their long-term operation.

In this course, we will review and explore:

* organizational prerequisites, including board and staff roles
* underlying policies and procedures
* the industry of planned giving
* wealth transfer and tax implications that incentivize planned gifts
* mechanics of planned gifts
* resources to support planned giving programs (e.g. allied professionals, web-based services)
* the concept of appropriate donor recognition and stewardship

We will also discuss how to identify potential planned giving opportunities.

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, J.D. is a graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership and a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (“CTFA”). She has practiced law, was Vice President for Southern Maine at the Maine Community Foundation and Sr. Administrative Trust officer at Union Trust Company. She is a frequent writer and speaker on the topics of trust and estate planning, charitable gift planning and planned giving.

Wednesday, April 14, and Thursday, April 15, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
call USM Cont Ed. 1-800-787-0468  or go to USM Cont Ed web site here
$285 (12 contact hours/ 1.2 CEUs)
Abromson Center, 88 Bedford Street, USM Portland campus

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist can be reached at her web-site, Planning for Good here

presents 5 Planned Giving Workshops

The first and very timely for many  Executive Directors,

this January 19 in Portland Maine

and January 26 in Augusta Maine
“Strategies for Planned Giving for the “small” Development Office”

attendees will learn:

• Maximizing potential with minimal capacity
• Engaging board and senior management for support and success
• Sustaining the effort for the long-term

Fees detailed at www.planningforgood.net

advance registration required,  no charge for Planning For Good clients

Complete details available at www.planningforgood.net

email @srueflindquist@gmail.com or call 975-5165