Declaratory judgment was appropriate to hold that second spouse, who had not elected against will executed before her marriage to the decedent, was entitled to an intestate share of the decedent’s revocable trust which was also executed before marriage, and … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
I feel somewhat vindicated by a recent order of the Supreme Court, which confirms my opinion that In re Estate of Briskman, 808 A.2d 928, 2002 PA Super 287 (2002), was wrongly decided. In Briskman, the Superior Court found that … Continue reading
The executor of a deceased trustee’s estate has sufficient standing to survive preliminary objections to a petition requesting records of charitable trusts when the executor has alleged (a) that the deceased trustee may have been entitled to compensation from the … Continue reading
An order of an Orphans’ Court denying an injunction against a personal representative prohibiting a sale of real or personal property of the decedent is interlocutory and not a collateral order and so not subject to appeal. Estate of Virginia … Continue reading
The court erred in division of wrongful death action damages and survival action damages, because Department of Public Welfare’s (DPW) medicare claim was against the estate instead of a personal injury lien (which would be against the wrongful death action). … Continue reading
Petitioner (in will contest) claimed fraud and undue influence against decedent’s attorney, who contacted the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), after petitioner had solicited the attorney’s help to draft a new will for the decedent but would … Continue reading
One co-executor surcharged for legal fees paid to defend criminal harassment charge by beneficiary; another executor surcharged for payment of invoices for work supposedly done by the executor during decedent’s lifetime when there was a lack of credible evidence that … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court refused to enter a judgment on an arbitration award when the petitioner failed to identify the arbitrator, the date and place of the arbitration hearing, and the details of the notice or service used to establish jurisdiction … Continue reading
Orphans’ Court had no in personam (personal) jurisdiction over administrator of Virginia estate who resided in New Jersey, and the court could not order the distribution of assets of the Virginia estate to the personal representative of a Pennsylvania beneficiary. … Continue reading
Orphans’ Court has subject matter jurisdiction over claim by the personal representative of of the estate of a nonresident decedent to real estate in Pennsylvania, and dismissal of petition could not be sustained as a demurrer when petitioner had no … Continue reading