If something happens to both you and your spouse, someone else will need to raise your children. While you know that your children need a guardian, you may have trouble deciding who this person should be. The Pennsylvania Legislature says that you can name someone to...
Bucks County Probate And Estate Law Blog
Businesses may suffer without succession preparations or plan
Without a succession plan, Pennsylvania business owners experiencing an emergency may end up selling their enterprise much sooner than expected. An online Ipsos survey of business owners discovered about 66% of them accelerated an exit or retired early during 2020. As...
What is undue influence?
As a person ages, they generally grow more vulnerable as well. Mental faculties begin to weaken alongside physical stature, resulting in a person who looks like the prime target for manipulators. This is often what happens in cases that involve undue influence. It is...
Are you legally responsible for a deceased parent’s debts?
Losing a parent is hard enough, but you may feel even more stressed if you also have to figure out how to tie up the financial loose ends he or she might have left behind. If your mother or father left debt behind and did not have enough assets to cover it, you may...
Know when you can challenge a will
After a loved one dies, the executor has to distribute the assets according to the instructions in the will. Once you learn the content of the will, you may sometimes question the validity of the document. If you want to contest the will, there are several guidelines...
Taxes and estate administration
As the old saying goes, there is nothing guaranteed in life, except death and taxes. So, it should come as no surprise that death does not avoid taxes, even here in Pennsylvania. Indeed, one’s estate is considered a taxpayer for personal income tax purposes. What is...
The personal representative’s duty to gather estate assets
A will allows people to state who will receive their property when they pass away. It gives people the flexibility to choose their heirs, give property to charities and other options. Having a will states people’s intentions for their property, but others are the ones...
Managing creditor claims against an estate
Some Pennsylvania residents pass away while still owing money to other parties. One of the responsibilities of the person who is named the personal representative of the decedent’s estate is to make sure the debts of the estate are paid. In many cases, the decedent’s...
Is an administrator or trustee breaching the fiduciary duty?
Losing a loved one is stressful enough. But an already emotionally complex situation can become even more difficult when you’re hundreds of miles away and dealing with the probate process. Whether you’ve been named as an executor or trustee, or you’re a beneficiary,...
Choosing between having a trust or a will
People in Pennsylvania may acquire various property throughout their lives. It can come in many different forms. People may own homes and other real estate property, bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, collectables, household goods and many other types of...