A Will contest in the Montgomery County, PA Orphan’s Court, located in Norristown, PA, usually occurs when an individual such as a close family member is unhappy with the distribution of assets set forth in the decedent’s Last Will & Testament.  In other words, the family member usually receives nothing or very little.  Parties seeking to contest a Will or Executors of the estate faced with defending a Will contest claim in Montgomery County, PA should hire a probate lawyer who is familiar with the Orphan’s Court process and procedure in Norristown, PA.    

At The Martin Law Firm, located in Blue Bell, PA, we often get questions as to why a person should hire a lawyer to create a Last Will & Testament.  To explain, I’ll first provide a summary of why you need a Will, and then explain the advantages of utilizing the knowledge, skill, and expertise of an experienced Will lawyer to draft the cornerstone to your Pennsylvania estate plan. 

If living in Montgomery County, PA, having a Will in place is an important step in planning for the future.  However, it is just as important to remain updated on current changes in the tax laws which may impact the amount of taxes that your estate will pay to the state and federal government.  An experienced Montgomery County, PA Will lawyer will remain apprised of new changes to PA and Federal tax laws and can help you create an estate plan that can lower or eliminate the tax burden. 

While you may be familiar with the concept of having a Will, you may not understand why having a Will in Montgomery County, PA is truly necessary.  A Will is a document that lets you tell the world whom you want to get your assets at the time of your death. Die without one, and the Pennsylvania Intestacy Laws decide who gets what, without regard to your wishes or your descendant’s needs.  Aside from this basic reason for having a Will, a Will is needed in Montgomery County, PA for a number of reasons:

Despite the importance of planning for unanticipated events in the future, it’s common for families in Montgomery County, PA to put off estate planning, including the creation of a Last Will & Testament.  At The Martin Law Firm, our Montgomery County, PA Will lawyers realize that it can be easy for estate planning to slip down your list of priorities.  So, when is the right time to make a Will in Pennsylvania?  Below is a list of major life milestones that may make you want to consider contacting one of our Montgomery County, PA Will lawyers to get your estate planning process started.

A Last Will & Testament, commonly referred to simply as a “Will”, is a legal document that designates those who will inherit your property upon your death.  Many young parents in PA overlook the importance of a Will because they have not accumulated a large number of assets, and these parents believe a Will and the cost involved to create one is unnecessary at this time.  However, a Will is extremely important for young parents because a Will can allow parents to name guardians for their children and set up a plan for the child or children’s financial well-being. 

While it is possible to effectively complete your Pennsylvania estate planning without the guidance of an attorney, the slightest error in planning or updating your estate planning documents can have catastrophic consequences for you, your estate, and your loved ones.  Proper estate planning takes into consideration not only the value of your estate and number of family members, but federal estate taxes, PA inheritance taxes, retirement benefits, life insurance, as well as the possibility of unforeseen circumstances later in life.

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.

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.

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.