You Cannot Disinherit Your Spouse in PA – Unless They Consent
The idea of our freedom to dispose of our estates as we wish is right up there with baseball and apple pie as an American ideal. With a few limited exceptions, you can leave your assets to anybody you choose...[Continue reading]
Mediation vs. Collaborative Law
What is the difference between mediation and collaborative law? The best place to start would be to simply define both terms generically. Mediation is commonly defined as “an intervention in a dispute in order to resolve it.” Collaboration is “the...[Continue reading]
Terms included in mid-nuptial agreements
Before I dive into what is included in a mid-nuptial agreement, it is probably best to define, “What is a mid-nuptial agreement?” It is a marital agreement between spouses who are already married. Although these types of agreements are not...[Continue reading]
How to Talk About a Prenuptial Agreement
If you are planning to spend the rest of your life with someone, you owe it to both parties to have conversations about what your future spouse thinks should happen with your assets and income if you end up divorced...[Continue reading]
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]
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]