The U.S. Supreme Court has held that a state cannot tax the undistributed income of a trust when the only connection between the state and the trust is that beneficiaries of the trust resides in the state but the beneficiaries … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
The son of the decedent was not removed as executor for wasting or mismanaging the estate because (a) the executor transferring the decedent’s worthless timeshare properties to himself relieved the estate of the maintenance fees; (b) the executor had been … Continue reading
Because the two executors were deadlocked over the discretionary distribution of the estate, and one of them had a conflict of interest over a claim against her daughter while the other was believed to be more likely to bring the … Continue reading
Probate of 2007 will was upheld based on testimony of lawyer who met with the decedent on several occasions and prepared the will, as well as the lack of any evidence of undue influence, while probate of a 2013 will … Continue reading
The execution of a post-nuptial agreement as part of the divorce proceedings was an effective waiver of the right of the surviving spouse to a joint-and-survivor pension annuity, and that waiver can be enforced against the surviving spouse despite failure … Continue reading
Pennsylvania’s filial support law (23 Pa.C.S. § 4603) applies to the New Jersey parents of an adult indigent son who was provided care in Pennsylvania. Melmark, Inc. v. Schutt, 78 MAP 2017 (Pa. 4/26/2019), rev’g 169 A.3d 638, 2017 PA … Continue reading
The administrator of an estate, who was not the sole beneficiary of the estate, cannot bring an action for medical malpractice “pro se” and without a lawyer. Deree J. Norman, Administrator v. Temple University Health System, 2019 PA Super 135 … Continue reading
When trust document specifically excluded son from discretionary distribution decisions for son’s trust, son may be appointed to serve as a trustee but may not be the sole trustee. It was proper for the corporate trustee who had been appointed … Continue reading
An agent abused her powers, and was ordered to return joint accounts to the estate, when she added the principal’s money to accounts that were in the joint names of her and the principal, knowing that the money would become … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court may order a judicial sale of property under 20 Pa.C.S. 3353 over the objections of the holder of a mortgage lien and the lien will attach to the proceeds of sale. In re: Estate of Anna Marie … Continue reading