Being cut out of a loved one's will has many effects, both emotional and financial. You may feel wronged by the decision, especially if you were close to the person. You may also be concerned that the person's wishes are not being followed by other family members,...
Year: 2020
When should you update your estate plan?
Pennsylvania residents like you who already have an estate plan are one step ahead of the rest. But estate plan management does not stop at the creation of the plan. You must also update it often. An estate plan must reflect your life at its most current point. But...
How legal separation works in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a state that has no formal process for what is commonly called legal separation. If a couple wants to get a court order to end their marriage, then they have to be eligible for and obtain a divorce. Under Pennsylvania law, a couple can each agree to a...
Are professional guardians a good choice?
When assigning guardianship over an adult, the courts will always look to family members first. It wants to ensure what is best for the individual and the general thought is that family is the most likely to achieve that. However, AARP explains that when there is no...
Can you reduce the stress of divorce for your children?
Pennsylvania parents like you put a lot on the line during divorce. You must discuss asset division. You may have to pay alimony. On top of that, you have to deal with matters regarding your child. This includes support payments, visitation schedules and custody. Of...
The importance of witnesses in signing wills
It is not enough to compose and sign a will to make it a binding legal document. To protect against forgeries and fraud, Pennsylvania law also requires that a person who makes a will, known as a testator, should perform this act while in the presence of two witnesses...
What to know about advance health care directives
For the aging population, figuring out what to do if or when health declines becomes more of a priority. To have the most control in the event of incapacitation, or at the end of life, part of estate planning includes filling out an advance health care directive. This...
What happens if you try to hide assets?
Pennsylvania couples go through many difficulties during divorce. You do not know how your spouse may react in such a tense situation. Sometimes, you do not even know how you will react. A spouse may decide to lash out without thinking it through. An attempt at hiding...
Navigating the divorce process through collaboration
While the end result may be desirable, divorce is hard. You might be prepared to deal with the long road ahead of you towards a new single life; however, it doesn’t have to be lengthy, overly difficult and overwhelmingly emotional. Divorce will always be an emotional...
Opening the divorce discussion with children
It is an uncomfortable feeling for people to answer questions about their divorce, especially when they have strong opinions and emotions about their situation. Even more challenging is when parents must inform their children of their decision to separate. Talking...