Testamentary gifts to step-grandchildren that were conditioned upon their grandmother (the decedent’s wife) not electing against his will and not recovering assets “in our divorce after my death” did not disinherit the step-grandchildren when a final decree of divorce (and … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
The executor of a deceased trustee had standing to object to the account filed by the surviving trustee when other beneficiaries joined in the objections and the objection to standing was waived by not raising it until after two and … Continue reading
Preliminary objections to a petition for the removal of a corporate trustee were sustained, and the petition dismissed, when the corporate trustee refused to make distributions which it “shall deem advisable” for health, maintenance, support, and education without first receiving … Continue reading
Will with electronic signature, affixed by the decedent using DocVerify system during a videoconference with two witnesses and a notary public, is not a valid will, which requires an “actual ink to paper” signature. Kittler Estate, 1 Fid.Rep.4th 53 (Lancaster … Continue reading
Challenges to the validity of a revocable trust must be made by a petition to the Orphans’ Court, and not by an appeal from the probate of the will of which the trust is a beneficiary, and so the appeal … Continue reading
Before marrying his wife, the decedent executed a deed conveying a life estate to the woman who would later become his wife if she survived him, with the remainder passing at her death to “the parties entitled thereto in the … Continue reading
A late spousal election under 20 Pa.C.S. § 2210 by the guardian of an incapacitated spouse will be allowed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck between the date of death and the six month filing deadline, the estate was not harmed … Continue reading
The decision of the Register of Wills to deny letters of administration to the father of the minor decedent, and grant letters to the mother instead, was affirmed because the father had filed a petition for letters in Beaver County … Continue reading
A limited guardian of the person and limited guardian of the estate was appointed due to problems with alcoholism and nutrition, leading to repeated hospital admissions for dehydration and malnutrition, the court finding partial incapacity based on expert testimony that … Continue reading
An adopted child was a member of a current beneficiary’s “immediate family” and therefore eligible to receive discretionary principal distributions even though distributions of principal upon the death of the beneficiary are limited to members of the settlor’s “blood line” … Continue reading