Trusts & Estates Blog Posts

February 25, 2025

In many instances, spouses execute what is referred to as reciprocal wills. What this means is that each spouse designates the other as the entire beneficiary or the primary beneficiary of their estate under their wills. What happens, however, if a surviving spouse was not provided for under their deceased spouse’s will if they were ...

February 25, 2025

In Pennsylvania, contesting a will is a serious legal action that should not be taken lightly. It can be emotionally challenging, especially if you believe that the will does not reflect the true intentions of the deceased. However, the law in Pennsylvania provides specific grounds and procedures for individuals who wish to contest a will. ...

October 31, 2024

What is a Refunding Bond and Release? If you are beneficiary of an Estate, at some point you will be asked to sign a Refunding Bond and Release prior to receiving your bequest from an Estate. The logical question that will arise is what exactly you are being asked to sign. The purpose of this blog ...

April 4, 2024

If you are considering seeking a guardianship of an individual or have been named as an interested party to such an application, it’s crucial that you understand the types of guardianship that exist in the State of New Jersey. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions. In general, there are two main types ...

March 13, 2024

During a Will contest, a party challenging a Will may assert that the Will was the product undue influence being exerted over the decedent by the party who benefited by the disputed Will. The question arises: What is what is undue influence and how can it be demonstrated? This blog will discuss the general definition ...

November 17, 2023

The Internal Revenue Service recently published Rev. Proc. 2023-24, setting forth inflation adjusted items for 2024. For decedents dying in 2024, the basic exclusion amount for federal estate tax purposes has been increased to $13,610,000. While many individuals may feel comfortable that their estate will not be affected by a federal estate tax, the false ...

July 21, 2023

Estate litigation in Pennsylvania encompasses a range of legal issues arising from the distribution and administration of an individual’s assets upon their death. As the legal landscape evolves, certain topics emerge as popular areas of dispute within estate litigation. In this blog post, we will explore some of the current popular topics in estate litigation ...

July 19, 2022

The purpose of this article is to discuss the general process for being appointed the guardian of a loved one or other family member. The process can be simple or complicated depending upon a multitude of factors. This article will discuss the general process; whereas future articles will explore issues that can arise which may ...

June 29, 2022

This year has brought several interesting changes and important proposals that can affect many estate plans. We have held seminars covering two major issues: the IRS Proposed Regulations affecting qualified retirement plans and IRAs; and the Administration’s proposed changes to the Federal Estate and Gift Taxes.   If you did not attend these seminars, you may access and watch ...

March 2, 2022

In 2022, the annual exclusion for Federal Gift Taxes increased to $16,000 per person per year. Although there is near-universal acceptance of the importance of gifting, there are several issues you should consider before making any gifts. The manner in which gifts are made can have a major impact on your beneficiaries. This is particularly ...