The Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the American Bar Association has published Formal Opinion 511 (5/8/2024), which concludes that ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 (on confidentiality) prohibits a lawyer from posting questions or comments on … Continue reading
Category Archives: News
The Supreme Court has amended Pa.R.O.C.P. 5.50, “Settlement of Small Estates by Petition,” to accommodate situations in which the original will has been lodged with the Register or a copy of a will is being admitted to probate, and situations in … Continue reading
The 39th Judicial District, covering both Franklin and Fulton Counties, has adopted a new local O.C. Rule 14.8.1, establishing a form of guardian acknowledgement of duties and liabilities, and rescinding local rules 39-2.6 (time for filing accounts), 39-2.7 (time for … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee has proposed amendments to Pa. Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, and 14.9 in order to carry out changes to guardianship practice that were made by the Act of … Continue reading
Both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature have passed, and the governor has signed, S.B. 815, which became the Act of December 14, 2023, No. 64. The act conforms the Pennsylvania income tax on resident trusts with the grantor trust rules … Continue reading
Both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature have passed, and the governor has signed, S.B. 506, which became the Act of December 14, 2023, No. 61. The act amends guardianship procedures relating to the representation of the alleged incapacitated person, the … Continue reading
Montgomery County has adopted new fee schedules for both the Register of Wills and the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, effective January 1, 2024. “Fees of Register of Wills” (12/1/2023), 53 Pa.B. 7730 (12/16/2023); “Fees of Clerk of Orphans’ Court” … Continue reading
Cumberland County has rescinded all of its local rules and adopted new local rules, including new Orphans’ Court rules, effective January 1, 2024, or thirty days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin (which would be January 8, 2024). “Local Rules; … Continue reading
Berks County has amended Berks County Orphans’ Court Local Rules 1.9C (depository of the court), 2.7A (time for filing objections to accounts), 7.5A (motions practice), and 14.8B (acknowledgement by guardian of duties) and rescinded Rule 2.12 (small estate petitions). “Amendments … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee is considering changes to Forms RW-02 (Petition for Grant of Letters) and RW-07 (Notice of Estate Administration). The petition for grant of letters would be revised to clarify that whether the decedent was the … Continue reading