Mary H. Schmidt

        Counsel
        Contact Info
        Mary H. Schmidt Mary H. Schmidt

        Mary has a wealth of experience in trusts and estates, domestic relations and probate litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Her sophisticated practice focuses on guiding clients through complex gift, estate and income tax planning, trust and estate planning, prenuptial and post nuptial agreement preparation, negotiation and litigation, and estate administration.

        Mary serves as an expert witness in the Massachusetts probate and superior courts. She has also been frequently appointed by the Probate & Family Court to serve as a fiduciary and guardian ad litem in various probate and family law matters. Mary served on the committee that drafted the new Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code. Prior to joining Verrill, Mary was a founding partner of Schmidt & Federico, P.C

        Mary has lectured extensively on domestic relations, tax and trust and estate subjects, including issues related to same sex couples. She has authored chapters for a number of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education publications, including: “Massachusetts Probate Manual,” “Massachusetts Divorce Law and Practice,” “A Practical Guide to Estate Planning in Massachusetts,” and “Drafting Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts.” In addition, she is a co-editor of the 2012-2022 Massachusetts Probate Law Sourcebooks.

        Services/Industries

        Education

        • Cornell University (B.A.)
        • University of Chicago School of Law (J.D.)
        • Boston University School of Law (LL.M.)

        Public Service

        • Director, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. (2011-present)
        • Named to the Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board of the Supreme Judicial Court (Former Chairperson) (1997–2003)
        • Member, Board of Directors, Boston Center for Adult Education (1996-2001)
        • Trustee, Social Law Library (1990-1996)
        • Director, Boston YWCA (1986-1996)

        Bar Admissions

        • Massachusetts

        Court and Other Admissions

        • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
        • United States Supreme Court

        Memberships

        • Member of the Boston, Massachusetts Bar Associations
        • Member of the Dukes County and American Bar Associations
        • Member (Former President), Mass. Family & Probate Inns of Court
        • Member (Former President), Boston Estate Planning Council
        • Fellow, Massachusetts Bar Foundation
        • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
        • Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel
        • Member and Former Moderator of the Boston Probate Forum

        Honors

        • Recognized in Chambers High Net Worth under Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth
        • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® under Elder Law, Family Law, Trust and Estates, and Litigation-Trusts and Estates in Boston, Massachusetts (2010-2027)
        • Listed to Boston Magazine’s Super Lawyers and one of the top 50 women lawyers in New England 
        • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Trust and Estate Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” (2013)
        • Woodward & White, in the specialty of trusts and estates lifetime member
        • Madison’s Who’s Who, Life Time Member
        • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Rating
        • National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, Accredited Estate Planner
        • Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Scholar-Mentor Award (2010)
        • Estate Planner of the Year, Boston Estate Planning Council (1995)
        • Selected by peers for inclusion Massachusetts Super Lawyers, under Estate and Probate

        Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.

        Published Work

        • Co-author, “Trends and Developments,” Child Relocation 2026 (USA-Massachusetts), Chambers and Partners
        Events
        When: January 26, 2026 at 4:00 - 6:00pm ET
        Location: Webcast
        When: May 13-14, 2025
        Location: Webcast

        Firm Highlights

        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...
        Blog

        Hurry Up and Wait

        This is the third in a series of Verrill blog posts on Maine’s packaging extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) law[1]. In July we reported...
        Media Mentions

        Robert Keach Discusses First Brands Chapter 11 Case in Law360

        Verrill attorney Robert Keach was recently quoted in a Law360 article examining the rejection of First Brands Group's Chapter 11 plan and the...
        Media Mentions

        Cybersecurity and AI Governance: Scott Anderson Featured in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        Verrill Managing Partner Scott Anderson was recently featured in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly discussing how law firms can build attorney buy-in for...
        Blog

        Section 530A Account Update: ERISA Status of Trump Accounts

        The Department of Labor has issued important guidance addressing whether employer programs that permit contributions to Section 530A accounts (and...
        Press Releases

        97 Verrill Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2027, Including Four Named Lawyers of the Year

        AUGUSTA, Maine, BANGOR, Maine, BOSTON, Mass., PORTLAND, Maine, and WESTPORT, Conn., (August 20, 2026) – Verrill is proud to announce that 97...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        SEC’s Proposed “Reg Crypto”: What Founders Need to Know

        Startup founders and emerging-growth companies have a number of options for raising capital under the federal securities laws, including Regulation D...