Absent fraud or duress, a spousal election against a will (or an election to take under the will) becomes irrevocable at the end of the six month period allowed by 20 Pa.C.S. § 2210(b) and may not be revoked merely … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
A direction in a will that a beneficiary should have the right to receive the decedent’s residence as part of her one third share of the estate or purchase the house at fair market value did not give the beneficiary … Continue reading
An agent’s deposit of a refund check payable to the principal into a bank account in the joint names of the principal and agent was an act of self-dealing and a breach of fiduciary duty by the agent because she … Continue reading
A right of first refusal granted to daughter and her husband by her father’s will was exercisable by daughter alone after her divorce from her husband when an offer to purchase the property was received by the executors more than … Continue reading
The Superior Court has followed the plurality opinion in In re Estate of McAleer, 248 A.3d 416 (Pa. 2021), and held that the “fiduciary exception” to the attorney-client privilege and attorney work product doctrine is not contrary to the law … Continue reading
Decedent gave instructions to attorney for the preparation of a will, but she died in the hospital without signing the will because COVID-19 protocols prevented her attorney or others from delivering the will to her for her signature, and so … Continue reading
Value of rings determined by purchase prices from four years before, rather than an appraiser by a jeweler who did not actually examine the rings and misstated the size of the diamond in one of the rings. Compensation of the … Continue reading
A will which directed the executor (who was the decedent’s long-time companion and later spouse) to distribute the residue of his estate “according to my wishes” would result in a distribution by intestacy, and so a later will which left … Continue reading
Executor surcharged for expenses of maintaining the decedent’s residence after it remained unsold four years after the death of the decedent, but not for the expenses of maintaining a vacation home which was made available for use by beneficiaries. Tobias … Continue reading
The Pa. Supreme Court is allowing an appeal from a decision of the Superior Court on the following issue (as stated by the petitioner): Did the Superior Court err by not enforcing modifications to trusts under 20 Pa. C.S.A. §7740.1(a), … Continue reading