The Oklahoma Supreme Court has held that a decedent’s unused federal estate tax exclusion amount (referred to in IRC section 2010 as the “deceased spousal unused exclusion amount,” or “DSUE”) is an asset of the decedent’s estate that the administrator … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
A termination of parental rights will be vacated for lack of due process when the trial judge allows the parent to leave the courtroom due to illness and then refuses to allow the parent to reenter the courtroom a few … Continue reading
Appointment of an independent plenary guardian of the person and estate of an incapacitated person, and not a family member, is appropriate to protect the incapacitated person’s special needs trust when multiple family members live in the house owned and … Continue reading
Parental rights of mother were terminated when mother failed to successfully complete any substance abuse, mental health, or parenting programs, has not maintained suitable housing for child, failed to maintain regular visitation with child, and failed to appear at the … Continue reading
When there is clear evidence that a substantial amount of money is missing, an agent will be required to file an account even though the agent lacks records to prepare a full account. Guardo v. Buzzuro, 7 Fid.Rep.3d 14 (O.C. … Continue reading
Parental rights of father terminated when he was not able to provide stable housing or ensure the safety of the child, evidence showing that he had not made progress towards remaining drug and alcohol free, improving parenting skills, locating appropriate housing, … Continue reading
Beneficiaries named in a trust amendment prepared by a lawyer do not have standing as third-party beneficiaries to sue the lawyer for breach of contract when the trust amendment was never executed due to an admitted “oversight” by the lawyer. … Continue reading
Intent of decedent to create joint bank account determined from the actions of the parties and not the way in which signature cards were filled in; agent who received and disbursed decedent’s funds in good faith during her lifetime held … Continue reading
Applying cy pres, a gift to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for the support of an animal shelter in a particular township will be distributed to a different nonprofit organization operating the only animal shelter … Continue reading
Child who was over the age of 18 at death, but who had been adjudicated to be incapacitated, was a “dependent child” within the meaning of 20 Pa.C.S. § 2016(b), and father who had no contact with child for a … Continue reading