On June 21, 2021, the Supreme Court entered an order declaring an end to the statewide judicial emergency, and directing that the operation of the Unified Judicial System return to pre-pandemic states as of July 6, 2021. “General Statewide Judicial … Continue reading
Daniel Evans
On June 10, 2021, the Supreme Court entered an order amending Pa. O.C. Rule 1.1 to change the name of the rules from “Pennsylvania Orphans’ Court Rules” to “Pennsylvania Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure” (“Pa.R.O.C.P.”), effective October 1, 2021. According … Continue reading
A previous judge had found that the termination fee claimed by the corporate trustee was reasonable, and a hearing on the issue was not required, so the current court was bound by that earlier decree under the coordinate jurisdiction rule. … Continue reading
The corporate trustee will not be surcharged for failing to diversify the investments of a trust when (a) the trust document specifically authorized the retention of the investments used to fund the trust and (b) the trust document directed that … Continue reading
That the decedent was named as the father of the claimant on her birth certificate, together with testimony that the decedent “held out” the claimant as his daughter by allowing her to reside with him when she was a child, … Continue reading
A person who has been adjudicated incapacitated is presumed to lack testamentary capacity and the burden is on the proponent of the will to provide clear and convincing evidence of testamentary capacity, or at least a lucid interval. Testimony of … Continue reading
Under the Pa. Structured Settlement Protection Act, 40 P.S. §§ 4001-4009, courts are required to supervise all aspects of settlements in which a minor is a party in interest, and an assignment of annuities issued as part of a structured … Continue reading
York County has adopted new local Orphans’ Court rules. “Adoption of Local Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure; 6721-0305” (4/19/2021), 51 Pa.B. 2488 (5/8/2021). … Continue reading
An award from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund was not payable to the surviving spouse, despite the language of 20 Pa.C.S. § 2102(2), because it was not payable under the act specified in that section, the Air Transportation Safety and … Continue reading
The compensation of a lawyer who served as administrator of the estate, submitted a fee agreement to beneficiaries specifying compensation at an hourly rate, and kept hourly time records with specific descriptions of work was nevertheless reduced by more than … Continue reading