In accounting filed for husband’s estate, Orphans’ Court had no jurisdiction over funds previously awarded to wife as compensation for wrongful death and loss of consortium but erroneously paid to husband’s estate, and so ordered the personal representatives to file … Continue reading
Daniel Evans
Counsel fees of $25,000 were properly imposed under 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7) and (8) on a party as sanctions for dilatory, obdurate, and vexatious conduct in continuing to pursue matters that were without merit and were previously decided. Mumma Estate, … Continue reading
Executor commissions and legal fees paid by insolvent estate to the son of the decedent will be reduced when the legal fees were in great measure incurred to defend the estate from a claim of surcharge against the decedent who … Continue reading
An agent under of a power of attorney did not have a duty to claim an elective share of the estate of a deceased spouse when the surviving spouse was entitled to a gift in trust equal to the elective … Continue reading
The transfer of more than $6 million to a joint account with the decedent’s wife six years before the decedent’s death was not invalid due to lack of testamentary capacity and was not the product of undue influence, notwithstanding that … Continue reading
Although federal estate tax repeal has been a talking point for the Republican party for years, and estate tax repeal was part of the tax bill that passed the House of Representatives November 16th, the amended version of H.R. 1 … Continue reading
Six more counties have adopted public access rules to comply with Section 7 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, which applies to the Clerks of the Orphans’ Courts. “Adoption of Local Rule of Judicial … Continue reading
Delaware County has amended the fee schedules of the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, increasing the Judicial Computer System (JCS) Fee from $35.50 to $40.25, the Register of Wills Automation Fee from $15.50 to $15.75, and … Continue reading
Five more counties have adopted public access rules to comply with Section 7 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, which applies to the Clerks of the Orphans’ Courts. “Adoption of Rule of Judicial Administration … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court did not abuse its discretion in denying a petition to disinter the remains of the petitioner’s mother for the purpose of conducting an autopsy to determine if the death was not natural when the petition was filed … Continue reading