Probate can be a complex and emotional process. When disputes arise among family members, tensions run high. Effectively handling these disputes is crucial to ensuring a smooth probate process. Open communication The first step in handling disputes is establishing...
Firm News
Why you need comprehensive estate planning
Did you know that you already have an estate plan in place, even if you don’t yet have a Will or Powers of Attorney? Your present estate plan, designed in part by your choices and in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, includes how things you own and the...
Medicaid Long-term Care Lookback Period and Penalties
Nursing home care for elderly or disabled patients (long-term care) costs $10,000 or more a month around here. No one wants to or hopes to go to a nursing home, but sometimes it’s necessary. Long-term care is usually for an indefinite, permanent placement, going...
Elder law and estate planning for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians
While some elder law and estate planning tricks and traps are absolutely the same for everyone, LGBTQ spouses and partners face some unique legal challenges. Those legal needs can be met with the right advance knowledge and preparation. Some of these issues are...
Now is the time to plan for future long-term care and create sound financial strategies
It's just as important as ever to protect against nursing home costs, by planning ahead or getting advice at the right time. In these crazy days of quarantine and pandemic, most of us are focused on just surviving and staying healthy day-to-day. Planning ahead...
When You Need a Lawyer and Don’t Even Know It
Recent studies reveal why people don’t use a lawyer even when faced with a situation where a lawyer might be helpful. The biggest reason people don’t have an attorney is: NOT because they believe it would make any difference; NOT because it’s too expensive or they can...
Governor Allows Law Offices Partial Reopening for Urgent Business Not Conducive to Telework
While most attorneys and law offices have been working remotely and have been subject to the Pennsylvania Order that nonessential places of business be closed, attorney organizations have been working closely with state government all along to allow urgent legal...
Coronavirus Litigation Looms
The nursing home industry, concerned about liability to patients and families for actions and failures during the crisis, has been pushing for legal immunity from lawsuits during what they see as an unprecedented medical emergency and disaster. More than 1/5th of all...
I have a solid estate plan in place. Why revise it?
Most Pennsylvanians agree that an estate plan is important, but not everyone has one in place. If you are a part of the proactive group who got this off your to-do list from early on, you may wonder, what is the point of changing it now? The truth is that you may not...
When Do I Need a Lawyer After Someone Has Died?
After a loved one has passed away, certain steps have to be taken for which a lawyer’s help is ordinarily needed. There are other practical actions and decisions that family members can usually undertake without the help of an attorney. Which steps require an...