When a power of attorney provided for “limited gifts” to persons “my attorney reasonably considers to be the natural objects of my bounty,” the agent should be surcharged for gifts that exceed the federal gift tax annual exclusion amount, but … Continue reading
Category Archives: Opinions
A Vanguard account payable to a named beneficiary at the death of the account owner is subject to the surviving spouse’s elective share under 20 Pa.C.S. § 2203. In re Estate of Rood, 5 Fid.Rep.3d 15, 107 Berks Co.L.J. 71 … Continue reading
Father’s parental rights were terminated, even though he was incarcerated, because the father “evidenced a settled purpose of reliquishing his parental claim to Child by failing to maintain any parent-child relationship.” Adoption of F.G.T., 5 Fid. Rep. 3d 19 (OC … Continue reading
The court cannot grant a guardian’s petition to admit an incapacitated person into an inpatient psychiatric facility, because 20 Pa. C.S. 5521(f)(1) specifically forbids it. Jane Doe, Incapacitated Person, 5 Fid. Rep. 3d 13 (OC Del. 2014) (Opinion by Kenney, … Continue reading
Direction in will that all estate, inheritance, and other death taxes be paid “out of and charged against my estate” was insufficient to overcome statutory direction that inheritance tax be paid from shares of estate subject to tax, so objection … Continue reading
Any “testamentary exception” to attorney-client privilege under Pennsylvania law does not apply to a subpoena to the decedent’s attorney in a defense to a challenge to life insurance beneficiary designations alleged to be the result of undue influence. Collautt v. … Continue reading
The defense of laches may bar a claim by the administrator of an estate for claims against the decedent’s agent under a power of attorney when the decedent herself failed to prosecute an action against the agent for nine years, … Continue reading
Lawyer, who was removed as administrator of an estate for failing to account, paid himself from the estate about $50,000 in commission, charging $400 per hour for his time; the Court surcharged the lawyer for all fees paid to himself, … Continue reading
An individual was involuntarily committed (section 302 of the Mental Health Procedure Act) for psychiatric treatment and later petitioned to have commitment expunged from her record as the commitment was illegal; the court disagreed, because the facts showed that she … Continue reading
An individual adjudicated incapacitated with a mechanical pump in her heart was refusing medical treatment, psychological treatment, and medication, and she has religious delusions; the Court held a review hearing and opined that the guardian of the person had full … Continue reading