Breaking the Mold

Mary-Anne Martell, Esq.

In retrospect, I wish I could say that my higher educational pursuits had been the result of a traditional track of graduating high school and going to college. It certainly would have been easier. At eighteen years of age, I was not wise enough or mature enough to recognize education’s lifelong importance. At the time, college seemed to be the last thing on my mind. I wanted to be married and was guilty of a socially inspired “white picketed fence” mentality that governed many of my earlier life decisions. I have learned over the years that there is a reason the cliché “Youth is wasted on the Young” exists.

Shannon's Upcoming Wedding

We are probably one of the most 'human' law firms around. Our founder has a past as a welder, factory worker, caterer and congressional intern! Not many lawyers can claim that much real world experience.

So we have decided to keep you up to date on the goings on here at Seacoast Law. The big event coming up is Shannon Esty's upcoming wedding! Wedding planning is full of drama and suspense, agony and ecstasy. Here is Shannon shopping for her wedding gown at Maine's own Hussey's General Store in Windsor Maine. Not many stores do it all like Hussey's, http://husseysgeneralstore.com!

Of course we are not telling whether she actually bought her dress here or not. Stay tuned...

Celebrating Dads

In my family, mom was always the one you ran to when you cut your finger, or when someone hurt your feelings.  Dad was always the one who checked grades, who we practiced sports with, and went to the beach with in the summer.  Dad was always the one I called when I needed some extra money.  Mom was the one I called when my heart was broken, or when I was feeling down.  These roles are not mom or dad specific, just how they ended up in my family.  Too often does one assume that the nurturing parent is always the mother, and the father is always the strong assertive type that manages the money and makes most of the major decisions.  My parents operated as a unit.  Every decision made by one was not made without checking with the other.

When Traveling, Plan Ahead

We Boomers are much more global than our parents ever were. The lure of adventure and disposable income has sometimes resulted in multiple overseas trips in a lifetime. While we have benefited from being part of this generation, the world can be a not so friendly place. Exciting as traveling may be, please be sure to plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected. To insure you safe and easier travel, take a moment to reflect on the following advice, courtesy of our law firm and the US State Department,

The New Age Women

I had always thought of myself as a new age woman.  After all, I simultaneously juggled education, career and motherhood, believing that donning a Wonder Woman outfit on many days would have certainly been appropriate. I had grown up with a stay-at-home mother whose life appeared to me as a series of constant routine of cleaning, laundry and nightly meals. As a child, I remember that I was determined not to be regulated to such a fate. I would have my own money, make my own decisions and embrace both my freedom and my power. However, after much thought, I have come to a rather startling conclusion that I never really had any monopoly on being a new age woman. While it may be coined as “new age”, in retrospect, there is nothing really “new” about it at all. 

Basic Estate Plan - Highly Recommended!

In 2007, I lost someone I loved very much to cancer. From the date of diagnosis in June of that year until his death in August, it was a mad scramble to put his financial and emotional “house” in order. It was a difficult time for me, struggling with anticipatory grief and challenged by constant caretaking as his health and spirit declined. I was forced to participate in end-of-life decisions that we had not put a lot of thought into due to our middle age and plans for the future. Although it needed to be done, it was not the time to add more challenges to an already stressful situation.

Foreclosure Update:

Here's a current look at our country's foreclosure trends: