A Last Will and Testament is a written declaration of a person’s intentions for the distribution of his or her property upon death.  A Will is often the cornerstone to a Pennsylvania estate plan.  A properly executed Last Will and Testament serves as legal assurance that your personal wishes will be honored.

In Pennsylvania, decedents' estates are required to file a PA Inheritance Tax Return (Form REV-1500) as part of the probate and estate administration process.  A PA Inheritance Tax Return should be filed on behalf of any decedent who (1) resided in Pennsylvania at the time of his or her death, and/or (2) owned or had an interest in reportable property that is subject to inheritance tax.

The legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is undeniably great.  In recent years, however, his legacy has been slightly marred by bitter fighting and legal battles amongst his heirs.  Reverend King, it turns out, made the same mistake as many Americans – he put off his estate planning, and he ultimately died without a Will.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it has implemented a policy change to benefit individuals seeking relief under the “innocent-spouse” rule in Pennsylvania and across the U.S. The “innocent-spouse” rule permits taxpayers to seek relief from their spouse’s tax debts, even if they filed a joint return. In the past, an innocent spouse had a window of two years after the first collection notices sent by the IRS to claim protection from liability as an innocent spouse. Effective immediately, the IRS has eliminated the two-year deadline for taxpayers who seek innocent-spouse status under the “equitable relief” provision, often sought by taxpayers who were victims of domestic abuse.

One of the most useful tools for purposes of Pennsylvania estate planning is life insurance.  Life insurance is a valuable estate planning tool because it can provide immediate liquidity to an estate.  Many of my clients in Blue Bell, Lansdale, Norristown, Fort Washington, and the rest of Montgomery County, PA are surprised to learn this.  In fact, many of my clients are not even aware of the possibility of including life insurance as part of their estate.

Everyone should have a comprehensive estate plan in place.  A thorough Pennsylvania estate plan, often anchored by a Last Will and Testament, can accomplish many important purposes.  A will can provide assurance that your personal property will be distributed according to your wishes, name guardians for your minor children, shield your heirs from federal and state taxes, name a personal representative to administer your estate, and more.  

The decision to utilize the services of an experienced Pennsylvania estate planning attorney to help get your affairs in order is a wise one.  For many Montgomery County, PA residents, the first step in the estate planning process is to select an attorney to assist them.  I find that my estate planning practice receives many inquires regarding ways to save on legal fees.  We assist individuals and families in Fort Washington, Ambler, Blue Bell, Lansdale, and the rest of Montgomery County, PA.  Here are a few tips I suggest regarding how to save money on attorney fees:

In my experience as a Pennsylvania wills, trusts and estates attorney, I have realized that there are many popular misconceptions surrounding the legal process known as probate.  I founded The Martin Law Firm in Blue Bell, PA, to assist Montgomery County residents, including Lansdale, King of Prussia, Blue Bell, Norristown and Ambler, etc.  I hope that this article provides useful information for individuals involved with estate administration and probate.

People choose to meet with an estate planning attorney for a variety of reasons.  Among the most important is a desire to protect their families and friends.  The consequences of failing to set up a proper estate plan can be dire for your loved ones.  Unfortunately, this is a common problem I see among my clients left to handle the administration of a Pennsylvania estate.  The consequences stemming from a lack of proper estate planning are particularly stinging because often, the problems become evident only after it’s too late to make any corrections.

Since the 1970s, the United States has recognized April as National Autism Awareness Month in an effort to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism.  The statistics regarding autism are staggering.  Today, 1 in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism.  The prevalence of autism increased 57% from 2002 to 2006, and this rate continues to increase (citing www.autism-society.com).