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Experience
Barbara joined Pierce Atwood in 1987 and became a partner in 1996. Her legal practice includes all aspects of estate and trust administration, estate planning, charitable gift planning, and fiduciary income taxation. Her clients include individuals, trust companies and other financial institutions, and tax-exempt organizations.
Barbara is experienced in crafting estate plans for estates of all sizes, including complex estate plans involving substantial real estate holdings, large retirement plan assets and special family considerations. She is well versed in numerous sophisticated estate planning techniques, such as personal residence GRIT’s, charitable trusts and irrevocable life insurance trusts, having used such techniques to meet her clients’ objectives. Barbara has administered estates of all sizes, including large estates consisting of closely-held stock or unusual, problematic assets. She has organized and advised public charities, private foundations, business and horticultural associations, and other tax-exempt entities. Barbara frequently represents individual and corporate trustees concerning their fiduciary responsibilities and protecting their interests in probate litigation.
Education
Barbara is a 1984 graduate of Bowdoin College (Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa), where she received Highest Honors for her thesis in British History. She holds a J.D. (1987) from Harvard Law School, where she was a finalist in the James Bar Ames Moot Court Competition.
Professional Activities
Barbara is a member of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, the American Bar Association (Real Property/Probate Sections), and the Maine State Bar Association. She also is a member of the MSBA Trusts and Estates Section and has chaired and participated in several educational seminars sponsored by the Section. In addition, she has served as director and president of the Maine Estate Planning Council.
Civic Activities
Barbara served as a board member (1992-1994) of the Maine Women’s Fund and chairperson of the Maine Women’s Fund Planned Giving Committee (1993-1996). Barbara currently serves as Chair of the Gift Acceptance and Investment Committee of the United Way Foundation of Greater Portland, and as a Director of that organization. She also serves as a Trustee of the Maine College of Art.
Publications
Barbara has published articles and numerous continuing education materials on estate and gift taxation, charitable giving strategies, long-term care planning, and complex fiduciary income tax issues.
Honors and Distinctions
Barbara is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2007 edition, for Trusts and Estates.
Bar Admissions
Barbara is admitted to practice in Maine and the U.S. District Court, District of Maine.
Practice Areas
Trusts & Estates
Related Practice Areas
Family Business | 