Yes. Thanksgiving can be an appropriate time to discuss your estate plan with family members if everyone is comfortable and you choose a private setting. Start with practical details, such as who will handle your affairs, where important documents are stored, and how to communicate your healthcare wishes. You can reserve sensitive financial matters for […]
Category Archives: Estate
Yes. In some Pennsylvania estates, an executor can sell a house without obtaining every heir’s or beneficiary’s approval. The answer depends on the will, the deed, whether the property was specifically devised to a named person, and whether the executor needs an Orphans’ Court order. People often use “heir” and “beneficiary” interchangeably, but the legal […]
When a Pennsylvania property owner dies, the mortgage usually remains attached to the property. If you want to keep the home, required mortgage payments generally need to continue. Who handles the loan depends on the deed, the loan documents, whether there is a surviving co-borrower, and how ownership passes after death. If you are handling […]
Fall is a practical time for Pennsylvania families to review an estate plan because the season often brings a shift from summer schedules to year-end financial, family, and business decisions. If you live in Media, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, or a nearby community, a fall estate plan review can help you confirm that your will, trusts, […]
For many Delaware County families, the question is not whether you need a trust or a will. The better question is which estate planning documents should work together for your family, property, and goals. A will remains a core Pennsylvania estate planning document. It can direct property that passes through your probate estate, name an […]
August is a practical time to begin small business succession planning because you still have several months to make decisions before year-end tax, budgeting, insurance, and governance work demands more attention. If you own a closely held business in Media, Pennsylvania, succession planning involves more than choosing who takes over. You may need to coordinate […]
When a family member will not leave inherited property, your next step depends on who owns the property, whether the estate is still being administered, and whether the occupant has a legal right to remain. You may need an occupancy agreement, a buyout, a planned sale, an Orphans’ Court petition, an ejectment action, or a […]
Back-to-school planning should cover more than tuition, housing, transportation, and class schedules. When your student turns 18 or begins attending a postsecondary institution, your legal role changes. You may still pay tuition, provide health insurance, own the vehicle your student uses, or claim your student as a dependent, but those facts do not automatically give […]
Yes. A Pennsylvania estate can face a lawsuit or creditor claim after someone dies. Pennsylvania law generally preserves legal claims that existed before death, including many contract, debt, property, business, and personal injury claims. The procedure changes because the deceased person can no longer participate in court. A claimant usually pursues the matter through the […]