Counsel to Howland, Hess, Guinan, Torpey, Cassidy and O’Connell, LLP
We are OPEN, continuing to represent clients and accepting new clients during these uncertain times. However, due to local directives, all meetings will be conducted via telephonic or video conferencing. We use a variety of platforms and will assist you in finding the best one for you. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns or requests for information.
Probate is a legal process that involves many tasks. In addition to proving that a person's last will and testament is valid and legally sound, probate also entails locating and paying creditors, and ensuring heirs receive assets according to the deceased's estate...
The executor of an estate is a position of great responsibility. Some executors take advantage of this position for their own gain, while others have good intentions but lack the necessary competence. According to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, it is possible to...
Most Americans are free to prepare comprehensive estate plans that address a variety of end-of-life matters. Interestingly, though, according to Gallup, only about 46% of Americans currently have written a will. This number is down from 51% about 15 years ago. For...
An estate’s personal representative introduces the deceased’s will to the county probate court after the testator dies. If you wish to challenge the will, you may file a claim with the court. The probate judge, however, could ask to see proof that supports the...
If you recently lost a spouse and he or she did not have an estate plan in place at the time of their death, it is pivotal to understand what happens next. When someone dies and they do not have a will, they died intestate, and you need to familiarize yourself with...
If you own a business you want to pass down through your family, you must focus on building a succession plan as soon as possible. If something happens to you, your family may not know what to do with your company. Without a succession plan, you cannot predict the...
Your dedication to the management of day-to-day operations is probably a major reason for the success of your company. But what will happen to the company when you are no longer here? As a business owner, you may find the time has come to create an effective...
Like most children, you have dreaded the day when your parents die. Now that the day has come, you depend on their executor to manage your parent's assets and distribute them according to their estate plan's instructions. The executor's fiduciary duty requires him or...
When creating their estate plans, people often name others to serve as their personal representatives or estate executors. Some choose family members, while others name friends, members of their religious communities or other trusted connections. In their capacity as...
If you are writing a will or creating a comprehensive estate plan, you eventually must settle on an executor. Your estate's executor is simply the person who deals with your assets and debts after your death. Your estate plan should provide explicit instructions for...
