The Supreme Court has allowed an appeal from the Superior Court decision in Trust under Will of Augustus T. Ashton, 203 EAL 2020 (12/2/2020). The order states the issue to be: Did the Superior Court err when it held that … Continue reading
Category Archives: News
Luzerne County has published a new fee schedule for the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, to be effective January 1, 2021. “Request to Increase Fees of that Section of the Division of Judicial Services and Records, … Continue reading
The Internal Revenue Service has released Rev. Proc. 2020-45 with inflation adjustments for 2021 and, consistent with earlier predictions, the changes in the most significant federal estate and trust planning numbers will be as follows: The base applicable exclusion amount … Continue reading
The latest (10/21/2020) draft of instructions to the Schedule K-1 for Form 1041 provides guidance for reporting excess 67(e) deductions by beneficiaries of terminating estates and trusts that is similar to the guidance that was previously reported from the IRS … Continue reading
Westmoreland County has rescinded local Orphans’ Court Rule WO5.17, relating to small estate petitions. “Orphans’ Court Rules; No. 3 of 2020” (9/29/2020), 50 Pa.B. 5843 (10/24/2020). … Continue reading
The Internal Revenue Service has announced federal rates for the month of November under §§ 1274 and 7520 of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”), one of which will be the lowest rate since the IRS began publishing federal interest rates … Continue reading
The Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts have published the “Guardianship Bench Book” intended to provide judges with a practical guide to making critical guardianship decisions. Although written as a guide … Continue reading
The Supreme Court’s Committee on Rules of Evidence has published a proposed Pa.R.E. Rule 413 that would allow evidence of immigration status to be used only if relevant to an element of an action or defense, or to a party’s … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has issued an order adopting a revised public access policy for Pennsylvania courts, including the Orphans’ Court. Included with the order is an explanatory report. These revised policy include two significant changes: The rules had previously made … Continue reading
Columbia and Montour Counties have adopted some new local rules, including a new Orphans’ Court rule, L.R. 2.9, for confirmation of accounts and proposed decrees of distribution. “Business of the Courts; Case No. 2020-MV-1” (26th Judicial Dist., 9/2/2020), 50 Pa.B. … Continue reading