Blog Category | Will contests
5 reasons to update your will
Creating a will remains one of the most important financial decisions, yet only about one-third of Americans have taken this crucial step. By having a will, you’ve already made a wise choice to protect your legacy and loved ones. However, simply having a will isn’t enough. You need to keep...
Read MoreCommon misconceptions about wills
Writing a will is the most fundament part of your estate planning process. This document makes your intentions known such that your family receives support and peace of mind in the event of your passing. However, there are some common misconceptions surrounding wills that might lead you to believe that...
Read MoreWhen do I need to change my will?
Creating a will can help your loved ones carry out your final wishes after you pass away, but what happens when a major life event changes the circumstances you already laid out in writing? Farm Bureau Financial Services reports that wills play many roles, from outlining financial directives to the...
Read MoreThe 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 who...
Read MoreAdvance Health Care Directive and Living Will in Pennsylvania: Defining Death
Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills in Pennsylvania Defining Death: Uniform Determination of Death Act Can a person be simultaneously dead and alive? One would think that it’s simple enough to define death. If your heart stops and you do not breathe, you are dead, right? For most of...
Read MoreEstate Administration & Will Contests, Part 2: Undue Influence
Estate Administration: Something Smells Funny Will Contest – Part Two: Undue Influence In part one of this blog on will contests, I discussed the issues with the estate of copper heiress Huguette Clark. Check out that post here (link to Part 1). Just to recap, Ms. Clark died leaving a...
Read MoreEstate Administration: Will Contests
Estate Administration: What’s in a Will Contest Series Something Smells Funny Will Contests – Part One: Lack of Capacity In 2011, 104 year old copper heiress Hugette Clark died, leaving an estate worth approximately 300 million dollars. Ms. Clark’s circumstance was unique, not only because of her outrageous wealth, but...
Read MoreWhy do I need a will in Pennsylvania?
Why do I need a will ? In Pennsylvania, every person should have a will no matter how small or large your estate is. As we all know, there are two things in this life that are certain: death and taxes. Planning for your demise is something that you probably...
Read MoreThe Importance of Advance Health Care Directives vs. Living Wills
Why is an advance health care directive better than a living will in Pennsylvania? In June 2013, Nik Wallenda became the first man ever to walk across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope. In October of 2012, Felix Baumgartner jumped from a capsule on the edge of space, becoming the...
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