The Internal Revenue Service has released a 12/18/2015 draft of a new Form 8971 for reporting basis information in accordance with new IRC section 6035 for assets held by a decedent and reported on a federal estate tax return (Form … Continue reading
Category Archives: News
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a notice providing guidance on the application of the decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 2584 (2015), to retirement plans qualified under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has entered an order adopting new Orphans’ Court rules, generally effective September 1, 2016. In re: Order Rescinding and Replacing Rules 1.1 through 13.3 and Rule 17, and Amendment Rules 14.1 through 16.12 of the Pennsylvania Orphans … Continue reading
In an appellate case of first impression, the Superior Court has upheld the validity of a surrogacy contract, finding that the contract did not violate public policy and that, under the contract, the woman who was the “intended parent” under … Continue reading
The Washington County Orphans’ Court has adopted a local rule for mediation procedures. Local Orphans’ Court Rule L-1.4—Washington County Orphans’ Court Mediation Program, No. 2015-1 (10/19/2015), 45 Pa.B. 6497 (11/7/2015). … Continue reading
The Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia, has admitted to probate a document written on a iPhone before the owner committed suicide, finding that the document exists, states the testamentary intentions of the deceased, and was intended to be the decedent’s … Continue reading
Westmoreland County has rescinded local Rule WO407(b)(1) and adopted a new Rule WO407(b)(1), recognizing the new $50,000 limit on small estate petitions. “Rescinding Orphans’ Court Rule WO407(b)(1),” No. 3 of 2015, 45 Pa.B. 6116 (Westmoreland Co. 10/10/2015) (effective 30 days … Continue reading
According to a report of the Joint Committee on Taxation, President Obama’s fiscal year 2016 budget includes the following measures affecting estates and trusts: Restore the estate, gift, and generation-skipping exclusions and rates in effect in 2009 (i.e., $3,500,000 estate … Continue reading
Can the beneficiaries of a trust agree to a modification of the trust in accordance with 20 Pa.C.S. § 7740.1 that allows them to remove and replace a corporate trustee without any showing that the trustee can be removed in … Continue reading
Five different Supreme Court procedural rules committees (Criminal, Juvenile, Civil, Domestic Relations, and Orphans’ Court) have joined together to submit a proposal to revise all state-wide rules to require that local rules be published on-line by each county or court … Continue reading