Family members often see serving as the Executor as a position of honor. You may have also shared this view. However, once the work gets started, things can become complicated very quickly. The simplest mistake may not only cost you the ire of family members but also...
What are some mistakes executors make?
As an executor of a decedent’s estate, you have professional duties under the law that you must uphold to avoid legal issues. Forbes explains that many people do not understand the duties of an executor, which can lead to mistakes. You have personal liability for the...
What should I consider when choosing an executor for my estate?
The executor of your estate has an important job after your death. He or she will manage and disburse the estate under the guidance of the probate court. However, despite the court’s involvement, the executor has a lot of power. The court will generally leave...
Your estate may pay your debts after you pass away
Ideally, people enter retirement with most or all of their debts paid off. This allows older Pennsylvania residents to make the most of their smaller retirement income without worrying about what may happen to those debts after they die. However, this ideal scenario...
Why use an irrevocable trust?
Whether you are in the process of organizing your estate and making plans as to what will happen with your property once you pass, or you are dealing with the aftermath of a friend or family member's passing, you may be faced with some difficult issues. One of the...
Factors to consider when selecting an executor
When people in Pennsylvania begin to consider making or updating a will, they may focus initially on how they want their assets distributed after they die. Certainly, this is an important thing to address with a will. However, it is equally important to give clear...
Planning to avoid estate taxes
A major component of estate planning in Pittsburgh is ensuring that one's liabilities have a minimal impact on the anticipated amount of assets they will have to pass on to beneficiaries. One can typically plan to resolve a majority of their debts before their...
Late singer’s estate case off to tumultuous start
Many in Pittsburgh have likely heard of how costly a process probating an estate can be. That can be true, depending on the amount of time that is required to complete it. Court costs and attorneys fees can add up over time, and those expenses are typically paid from...
Intestate succession explained
A common question posed to us here at is what happens when a Pittsburgh resident dies without a will. When a loved one dies whose estate you may have an interest in, your first thought might be that without a will in place, it is left to...
What is probate?
Probate - what is it? Much has been said on the Pittsburgh Elder Law Blog about the importance of creating a valid Will. Probate is the process through which the decedent's Last Will and Testament is filed of record with the Register of Wills office and authenticated....
