Kristy M. Hapworth

Kristy M. Hapworth is a partner and Maine estate planning lawyer who advises high-net-worth individuals and business owners on estate planning, wealth transfer planning, asset protection, and estate and trust administration. With more than seven years of focused experience, she helps clients address complex tax considerations and build individualized plans that reflect their personal, family, and financial priorities. Her warm, thoughtful approach encourages open discussion and supports practical strategies designed to protect assets and preserve family legacies.

Hapworth earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Maine School of Law in 2016. She served as co-chair of the Moot Court Board and received the Ginoux Award for Appellate Advocacy. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology summa cum laude from the University of Maine in 2013, with minors in legal studies, political science, and the Constitution and American law. This academic background supports her careful analysis of complex planning and administration matters.

Hapworth’s practice includes developing comprehensive estate plans, structuring wealth transfers, advising on asset protection, and guiding fiduciaries and families through estate and trust administration. She also handles matters involving fiduciary services, real estate, and civil litigation. Her detail-oriented, solution-focused approach helps clients evaluate legal and tax issues while shaping plans suited to their specific circumstances. She has been admitted to practice in Maine and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine since 2016.

Kristy M. Hapworth has received Ones to Watch recognition from Best Lawyers for her work in trusts and estates and trusts and estates litigation. She serves on the board of directors of the John Waldo Ballou Inn of Court and is a member of the Maine Advisory Committee on Probate Rules. She also sits on the Maine Central Institute Board of Trustees and previously served six years on the Town of Burnham Select Board, reflecting sustained professional and community involvement.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Rudman Winchell
• Member, Maine State Bar Association
• Member, Penobscot County Bar Association

Licensed State

• Maine

Education

• University of Maine School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Maine Orono
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)