Objections sustained to claims by executor for care of decedent as contrary to Dead Man’s Act and without sufficient evidence, to claims for funeral expenses without receipts or vouchers sustained, and to attorney’s fees because time some spent in preparation … Continue reading
Daniel Evans
Amendments to inter vivos trust document signed by agent (one of settlor’s daughters) were invalid even though the trust document allowed amendments by agents because the power of attorney did not authorize the agent to amend the trust. The attempted … Continue reading
Civil complaint that “touches on” validity of decedent’s will was dismissed with prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and not transferred to Orphans’ Court division. Kramer, III v. Mary T. Kramer Estate (No. 1), 9 Fid.Rep.3d 272 (Lycoming C.P. … Continue reading
Court approved sale of real estate under contract with conventional mortgage contingencies despite higher offer of beneficiary because the beneficiary’s offer included more contingencies and might not be completed before a scheduled tax sale of the property. Estate of Ruth … Continue reading
New final regulations have been filed with the Federal Register by the Internal Revenue Service providing guidance on the reporting of life insurance sales or proceeds under new IRC section 6050Y and the changes to the transfer for value rules … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has amended the Financial Regulations of Title 204 of the Pennsylvania Code to increase filing fees by $2.00, from $17.00 to $19.00, for (among other things) petitions for grant of letters and first filings in petitions concerning … Continue reading
Delays and what the court characterized as “poor judgment” by the trustee in responding to requests for information by the adoptive parents of the minor beneficiary of the trust were not a “serious breach of a fiduciary duty” warranting removal, … Continue reading
The children of the decedent, as intestate heirs, might not have standing to challenge the probate of a will when there is an earlier will that has not been challenged and which provides no benefit to the children. William E. … Continue reading
In June, the Pennsylvania legislature took a small bite out of the inheritance tax by enacting a 0% tax rate for the inheritances of minor children. (See “No Inheritance Tax on Transfers from Parents to Minors.”) The legislature may now...
A setoff will be allowed to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error Fund (“MCARE”) allowing it to reduce the amount of damages it owes to the estate by its share of punitive damages payable to … Continue reading