The purposes of the Elder Law Section are:

1. to promote greater awareness among the members of this Association and of the Maine Bar generally of the special legal needs of the elderly;
   
   
2. to initiate and assist in the presentation of programs of continuing education in areas of the law relating to the elderly;
   
   
3. to initiate and assist in the presentation of community programs of education in areas of the law relating to the elderly;
   
   
4. to improve the administration of justice in this state, with special emphasis on its impact upon the elderly citizens of this state.
   

MAINE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
ELDER LAW SECTION
Annual Report 2003

The Elder Law Section was very active in 2003 due to the energy and dedication of co-chairs Jane Skelton and Sally Wagley. The Elder Law Section grew from 160 members in 2002 to 175 members in 2003. The Section held four (4) section meetings with judges, attorneys and state employees as guest speakers. The Section sponsored and participated in four (4) Maine State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs. In addition to self-education and CLE programs, the Section has two (2) active sub-committees. The Maine Elder Law Month sub-committee will focus on establishing May as Elder Law Month, with a proclamation from Governor John E. Baldacci, and sponsoring elder law related programs throughout the state during that month. The Legislative sub-committee will focus on proposed and pending legislation, such as the effects the proposed Uniform Estate and Trust Code; address HIPAA conflict language; promoting a bill to create a MaineCare Estate Lien waiver for recipients of Long-Term Care Insurance; and considering a bill to add "domestic partner" in the intestacy and guardian priority status of the Probate Code.

The Section held its second "Unprogram." The program enabled Section members to meet informally in a small-group format to discuss issues facing them in their practices. Discussion topics included getting paid, what to include in an office elder law library, ethical issues, and the latest substantive changes in the areas of trusts and estate recovery. The Bar Association provided lunch and snacks. Evaluations from participants were entirely positive. The Section hopes to make this a twice-yearly event.

Several members attended a regional symposium in Boston for New England elder law attorneys, sponsored by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. The symposium addressed recent changes in Medicaid laws in other states. Jane Skelton and Tim Vogel gave an excellent presentation on what may be coming our way.

Respectfully submitted by:

John E. Nale, Co-ChairMartin C. Womer, Co-Chair

Click here to view the bylaws of the Elder Law Section.