If there is a conflict between a will and a beneficiary designation, the beneficiary designation is going to take precedence during the division of an estate. It is crucial to remember how this works. Many people forget to update their beneficiary designations when...
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Estate Planning
Establishing goals for estate planning in 2020
Happy New Year! Have you made your New Year’s resolutions for 2020? Every year people make New Year’s resolutions hoping to spark change and inspiration. Themes are generally recurrent and include things like eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking or...
How do you avoid probate?
The probate process in Pennsylvania or any other state in America is a very time consuming and expensive process that you may want to exclude your family from going through. According to the American Bar Association, families may eventually have to face the probate...
Where should you store your estate planning documents?
Nearly 60% of Americans are without an end-of-life plan, such as a will or a trust. However, you are one of the 40% that took the time to craft an estate plan with an attorney. Congratulations! Now, another essential step is deciding how to store your plan. Many...
Estate planning should take sibling dynamics into account
Families in Pennsylvania are just like families across the country. They are made up of imperfect people who have imperfect relationships with each other. One of the relationship dynamics in play in most families is sibling rivalry. Sibling rivalry should be taken...
Getting started with estate planning
Some Pennsylvania residents hear the term "estate planning" and presume (in error) that it is something only for the very wealthy. However, the fact is that all Pennsylvania residents who have anything of value, and loved ones they want taken care of, can benefit from...
Could my loved ones inherit my debt after I pass?
Making your end-of-life plans can be a sensitive matter. You may want to leave certain assets to your spouse or children. But what if you die with debt? Could your loved ones stand to inherit this as well? Could this negatively impact their financial future? In most...
How can estate planning help me?
There are many misconceptions about estate planning. It is valuable to address some of those misconceptions so that people can plan their estates with a clearer understanding about what is involved. Is estate planning only for people with high net worth? No. Many...
How do taxes affect what you leave for your loved ones?
Ensuring that your loved ones are cared for is one of the main reasons you have a will. You want them to be comfortable after you’re gone. Of course, you also want to know that your estate is divided and cared for properly. Knowing that your wealth and property...
Queen of Soul leaves no will. Complex probate to ensue.
Earlier this year, the world said good-bye one of the most ground-breaking musicians of our time. Aretha Franklin’s passing shed light on the iconic legacy of her life’s work—from extraordinary musical achievements to civil rights activism. One thing...