This book lets people in Maine do legal documents now to control property, money, children, health care, funeral, and more if later they are absent, sick, or dead. Doing this is usually called Estate Planning. This short book may read rough but it can be read fast and lets people quickly see legal forms. Many Maine legal forms are provided in the book or for download at www.davenportpublishing.com, though most people use just a few of these.
WILL RELATED FORMS
Form 1. Will (Standard) - also called a "Last Will and Testament" this lets a person control things after their later death especially gifts of property and money, and this For m 1 is the most used Will in this book.
Form 2. Will (Guardian) - this is a Will with part added to name a trusted person to if needed care for a minor child under 18 (like if both parents die), and also if needed care for a child's property and money.
Form 3. Maine Statutory Will - the state legislature put this Will for m in state law for people to use, and it is inflexible but fairly reliable and simple, and people with less wealth or to save time sometimes use this.
Form 4. Handwritten Will - this Will skips the usual 2 witnesses which saves work, but all its words must be handwritten by the person doing the Will, and people with less wealth or to save time sometimes use this.
Form 5. Tangible Personal Property List - lets a person easily add gifts to occur after death, but it can only be used if a Will exists and can only cover "tangible personal property" like household items or vehicles.
Form 6. Self-Proving Affidavit - optional form done with a Will to later help show it was signed properly.
HEALTH CARE FORMS
Form 7. Power Of Attorney For Health Care - lets a person name someone to later control health care if needed like if the person is later incapacitated and also write health care instructions, and it also can cover "end-of-life" issues on what to do if later doctors think further care won't help (also called "Living Will" issues).
Form 8. Do Not Resuscitate - these are 2 forms that do serious act of immediately refusing health care, and these are short so paramedics and others can read them fast so they can be used outside a care facility.
GIVING POWER FORMS
Form 9. Durable Power Of Attorney - lets power over money, property, and more be shared during life with a trusted person who is named in the for m as "Agent" so they can do things to help.
Form 10. Power Of Attorney Over Minor Child - lets a parent share power over a minor child under 18 with someone so they help control things if needed like with health care, school, and discipline.
Form 11. Grant Of Custody And Control Of Remains After Death - lets a person be named to control funeral and related matters, usually done only if a person doesn't want closest family to do this.
Also provided is an Information Form to pass on helpful information to family and friends.