Estate Planning Basics
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.” (Haruki Murakami) Most of us do not want to think about dying. However, it is an inevitable part of our existence. And preparing for the inevitable is an...[Continue reading]
Divorce Over 50 Years of Age
There is a trend occurring in our society where divorce as a whole is declining. However, people over the age of 50 are seeing an increase. Several years ago, there was a 1 in 10 chance of a person going...[Continue reading]
Getting Divorced Really Stinks
I have had clients, friends and family members remark that I can discuss divorce in a very matter-of-fact way and that since I practice family law on a daily basis, maybe the personal aspects of divorce don’t bother me. I...[Continue reading]
Three Types of Divorce in Pennsylvania
There are two or three types of divorce in Pennsylvania, depending on how you categorize them. The two main categories are fault-based divorce and no-fault divorce. There are two different “paths” for no-fault divorce. I cannot go into all the...[Continue reading]
How to Ready Your Finances When Facing Divorce
Making financial decisions is a major part of the divorce process. Among other things, that means determining distribution of assets and liabilities and determining how each spouse will pay his or her living expenses. It takes time and effort (sometimes...[Continue reading]
First Steps in Handling a Loved One’s Estate
Being responsible for handling a loved one’s estate after their death is an incredibly difficult task. It can be exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally. If you are in that position, it means your loved one believed that you were the...[Continue reading]
Powers of Attorney and Unmarried Couples
Unmarried couples have a special need for powers of attorney. I will explain that bold and incredibly controversial statement here. There are many types of powers of attorney. They all accomplish the same basic purpose – giving someone else the...[Continue reading]
Attorney’s Fees in Estate Administration
If an attorney is helping you administer an estate, you will need to pay him or her. Attorneys charge for helping to administer an estate in different ways. I’m sure there are many imaginative ways that attorneys can bill for...[Continue reading]
The Golden Rule and Divorce
We all know the Golden Rule – “Treat others as you want them to treat you.” The idea is to treat others with decency and respect because that is how we want to be treated, regardless of whether the other...[Continue reading]
Choosing an Executor
When we die, somebody will need to handle our estates. That means gathering and protecting our assets, dealing with our creditors and making sure our assets are distributed as specified in our Wills. That person (or persons) is called the...[Continue reading]