Verrill’s Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Group draws on the experience of its attorneys to provide clients with trustworthy advice regarding the transfer of wealth. We get to know you, your family, and your goals as we produce plans that carry out your intentions. Through our extensive knowledge of estate planning techniques, our attention to the estate administration process, and our care as fiduciaries of the trusts we oversee, we help our clients achieve fulfilling outcomes.

        Sound, Efficient Wealth Transfer Techniques

        The group deploys advanced estate planning strategies to facilitate the effective, efficient transfer of wealth within families. We also frequently work with our clients to achieve their charitable-giving goals by planning charitable gifts, organizing charitable entities, and managing charitable trusts and foundations that they establish.

        Personal Relationships

        Trust is the foundation of our practice. We earn our clients’ trust by learning about their families, recognizing their needs, and exercising our keen discretion. The trust we build serves as the cornerstone not only of our estate planning and fiduciary work but also of our “family office” services for clients who engage our team for personal affairs management, including bill payment, insurance relationships, and financial recordkeeping.

        Tenacious Advocacy

        Our practice in the probate courts of Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut includes establishments of probate estates, advocacy in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and litigation in estate and trust disputes.

        Prudent and Empathetic Fiduciaries

        We offer full-service, personalized trust management to our clients and their families. Our attorneys and trust management team communicate directly with clients to develop an in-depth understanding of each beneficiary’s circumstances. Informed by the situations of those we serve, our fiduciaries exercise sound judgment to diligently and discreetly manage the trusts under our care.

        We work with individuals and families on matters including:

        • Asset protection planning
        • Charitable gift planning, including planned giving and private foundations
        • Durable powers of attorney, health care proxies, and directives
        • Estate administration
        • Estate and income tax and financial planning
        • Estate planning
        • Family office management
        • Guardianship and conservatorship of children and adults
        • Intergenerational gifting
        • LGBTQIA+ legal issues
        • Multigenerational ownership and succession of family compounds and vacation properties
        • Non-married and cohabitant agreements
        • Planning for multigenerational ownership of real estate and succession
        • Post-marital agreements
        • Pre-marriage planning and agreements
        • Probate and trust litigation
        • Succession planning for closely held businesses
        • Trust management/fiduciary services
        Fiduciary Services Portal

        Registered clients wishing to view trust assets and recent transactions, enter here.

        People
        
 Paloma Bagby

        Paloma Bagby

        Associate
        (857) 383 2682
        
 Norman R. Belanger
        (207) 253 4410
        
 Elizabeth Bjorn
        (207) 253 4830
        
 Katharine B. M. Brite
        (617) 951 1147
        
 Brendan H. Buschman
        (203) 222 3142
        
 Gracie Castle

        Gracie Castle

        Associate
        6173573787
        
 Missy J. Christakis

        Missy J. Christakis

        Trust Officer
        (207) 253 4870
        
 Anya F. Endsley
        (207) 253 4812
        
 Regina M. Flaherty
        (203) 222 3109
        
 Heather Flanders

        Heather Flanders

        Trusts and Estates Professional
        (207) 253 4832
        
 Jackie Fleming

        Jackie Fleming

        Trusts and Estates Professional
        (207) 253 4814
        
 Bill Friedler
        (617) 292 2850
        
 Katherine E. Galloway
        (617) 292 2855
        
 Betts Gorsky
        (207) 253 4510
        
 James Hallinan
        (203) 222 3145
        
 Ellen M. Harrington
        (617) 951 1116
        
 Dena W. Hirsch
        (617) 951 1175
        
 Karen Holyoke
        (207) 253 4804
        
 Kurt E. Klebe
        (207) 253 4806
        
 Matthew J. Leonard
        (617) 951 1183
        
 Tom Letourneau
        (207) 253 4922
        
 Mary McQuillen
        (207) 253 4816
        
 Jane Monahan

        Jane Monahan

        Trusts and Estates Professional
        (857) 383 2675
        
 Michael F. O’Connell
        (617) 951 1151
        
 Harry E. Peden III
        (203) 222 3133
        
 Christopher Petronio
        (857) 383 2676
        
 Mary T. Phipps
        (207) 253 4580
        
 Nathaniel S. Putnam
        (207) 253 4802
        
 Jacqueline W. Rider
        (207) 253 4612
        
 Mary H. Schmidt
        (617) 292 2876
        
 Sharon M. Schweitzer
        (203) 222 3118
        
 Alexandra N. Stanley
        (207) 253 4808
        
 Valerie Swett
        (617) 951 1101
        
 Laurie O. Thwaites

        Laurie O. Thwaites

        Senior Trusts and Estates Administrator
        (617) 951 1150
        
 Kevin A. Walsh
        (203) 222 3135
        Events
        When: May 6, 2026 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
        Location: Westbrook, ME
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: January 26, 2026 at 4:00 - 6:00pm ET
        Location: Webcast
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: November 5-6, 2025
        Location: Webcast
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: October 29, 2025 at 12:00pm
        Location: Verrill Portland
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: September 17, 2025 at 9:00am – 4:30pm (EDT)
        Location: Webcast
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: May 13-14, 2025
        Location: Webcast
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: April 10, 2025 at 12:00pm – 6:00pm
        Location: Virtual
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: March 27, 2025 at 8:40am – 9:30am
        Location: Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider
        When: May 3, 2024 at 4:00pm – 5:00pm
        Location: Hilton Boston Park Plaza Hotel
        People: Jacqueline W. Rider

        Firm Highlights

        Blog

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        Media Mentions

        Lauren Galvin Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly on Arbitration and Anti-SLAPP Protections

        Verrill Partner Lauren Galvin was recently featured in a Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly article highlighting a notable Superior Court decision...
        Blog

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        Blog

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        Blog

        DOL’s Proposed Regulation on Selecting Alternative Investments: Broad Implications for 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Fiduciaries

        On March 30, 2026, the Department of Labor issued a proposed regulation purporting to implement an executive order to expand access to “alternative...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Attorney Gracie Castle

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to welcome Gracie Castle to the firm’s Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Group as an Associate,...
        Published Works

        Francesco De Vito Authors Article in the Journal of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

        Verrill Partner Frank De Vito authored an article featured in the Spring 2026 issue of The Abstract, the journal of the American College of Mortgage...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Recent FinCEN Advisory Highlights Rising Health Care Fraud Risk for Financial Institutions

        As the federal government intensifies its “whole of government” approach to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, particularly in Federal Health Care...
        Press Releases

        Two Verrill Attorneys Featured in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers List

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill attorneys Roger A. Clement, Jr. and Robert J. Keach have been featured in the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global...
        Published Works

        Verrill Attorney Mark Googins Co-Authors Maine Commercial Lending Handbook

        Verrill attorney Mark Googins has co-authored the Maine Commercial Lending Handbook (Second Edition), published March 2026.  A trusted, practical...