By Mark T. Coulter, Esquire Estate Planning Attorney Pennsylvania is perhaps the easiest state in the U.S. for people who want to create their own “legal” Last Will and Testament. All that the law requires here is that your Will be in writing, signed at the end, and reflect your intention to dispose of assets at your death. So anyone should be able to do that, right? A Recent Example There is a big difference, however, between a Will being “legal” and a Will being “good”.  A recent...

By Colin B. May, Esquire Estate Planning Attorney There are many public programs available in Pennsylvania to provide benefits to a loved one with special needs. While understanding the strict guidelines and rules of these programs can be a daunting task, many of these challenges can be overcome with proper accounting, tax, and estate guidance and planning. The area of estate planning provides a number of useful solutions for this purpose, and one particular tool is known as a “Supplemental...

By Colin B. May, Esquire Estate Planning Attorney After a loved one or close friend dies, the funeral is only the beginning of the involved process to come. This process is known as “probate” or estate administration and it is the court-based system whereby a person appointed “executor” or “administrator” acts as a manager of the estate: satisfying debts and taxes, informing those involved in the process, paying taxes, and ultimately passing property from the deceased person to the beneficiaries...