What happens when someone passes away in Pennsylvania without a will? And what does the appointed estate administrator need to do as part of their responsibilities? In Pennsylvania, as in other states, the interplay between inheritance laws and the role of the administrator is a crucial aspect of the probate and...
Category: Estate Planning
Why It Is Important To Update Your Powers Of Attorney
Updating your Power of Attorney (POA) in Pennsylvania is an important legal step to ensure that your affairs will be handled according to your current wishes in case you cannot decide for yourself. Whether your life circumstances have changed due to marriage, divorce, a move, or simply the passage of time,...
How To Collect A Debt Owed To An Estate In Pennsylvania
It is not uncommon for estates to find themselves in the position of creditors, owed money by individuals, businesses, or other entities. Within the context of collecting a debt on an estate in Pennsylvania, discussing the procedural steps for creditors, the legal avenues available, the challenges that may arise in recovering the...
How To Handle Your Estate Planning When A Large Amount of Debt Is Involved
When you have a large debt, estate planning requires careful consideration to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes while addressing any outstanding liabilities. The process involves evaluating the size and nature of your debt, understanding how debts are settled from an estate, and taking steps to protect your...
Things to Consider for Post-Divorce Estate Planning
If you've just gone through a divorce, estate planning may be the last thing on your mind. You may have spent significant time handling your divorce case and may not want to jump into another legal matter. However, divorce is a significant life change. The outcome of your divorce will...
Do You Need an Estate Checking Account?
After becoming the personal representative of a family member’s or friend’s estate, one of the first steps of estate administration is establishing a separate checking account for the estate. Having an estate checking account lets personal representatives separate pre- and post-death finances.
Understanding Estate Checking Account
Are There Assets That Cannot Be Placed in a Trust?
When setting up a trust, you will decide what assets you want to place in the trust. However, you might wonder whether the law or other considerations prohibit you from placing specific types of assets in trust.
Understanding TrustsIn a trust, a party...
Explaining Gift Tax: Exemptions and Rates
If you’ve considered making a sizeable gift to a child, extended family member, or friend, you might not realize that you may have to pay federal taxes on that gift. However, federal gift tax laws include many exemptions and exclusions that allow most taxpayers to avoid paying gift taxes during their lifetimes....
What Is a Medical Power of Attorney?
Unfortunately, injury, illness, or advancing age may rob you of the ability to make healthcare decisions. Should the worst occur, you can avoid any confusion or chaos in your medical treatment by executing a medical power of attorney.
Understanding Medical Power of AttorneyA...
Why The Holidays Could Be A Good Time To Discuss Estate Planning
The holidays provide a rare chance for many families to be together in one place. This can be an ideal time to discuss estate planning, as it often involves decisions that affect the entire family. The holidays can also signify a gathering in a supportive environment, which also presents a unique...