Your Asset Titles may prevent Last Wills from disposing of assets at your death
Pennsylvania abolished Common Law Marriage
Estate Planning is the process of planning one's final affairs during one's life
Fiduciary Law deals with those in charge of the terms of your Estate Planning documents
Fiduciary Traits (i.e., qualities, characteristics, and traits of your "Bosses") are vital
Powers of Attorney must comply with PA law (April, 2000) and should be HIPAA compliant
Doctors do not have to follow the directives in your Living Will
Be extremely cautious of Living Trusts (Revocable Trusts) in Pennsylvania
The HIPAA Privacy Rules set standards for the disclosure of an individual's private health information
The Patriot Act overhauled the account-opening process at financial institutions
Be cautious of the assertion that Probate should be "avoided" in Pa
Estate Administration begins with the very simple Probate process, but involves many other tasks
There are Probate alternatives to the traditional Estate Administration route
The Intestate Distribution (Inheritance) rules decide the disposition of your assets if you die without a Last Will
The Federal Estate Tax and the Pa Inheritance Tax have different names, thresholds, and rates
John B. Whalen, Jr., J.D., LL.M. is an
AV Peer Review Attorney and Counselor at Law and a member of the
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He has had his legal articles published on the Martindale.Com website and his law blogs published on the Lawyers.Com website.
John concentrates his legal practice solely in the areas of
Estate Law,
Estate Planning,
Estate Administration,
Executor Representation,
Probate, Ancillary Probate,
Last Wills, Decedents Estates,
Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives, Trust Law,
Living Wills,
Fiduciary Law,
Inheritance,
Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Estates, Trust Administration, Cemetery Law, Tax Law, Estates Taxation, and
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples.
John serves, and has served, individuals and attorneys in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Area (and throughout the country), including Chester County Pa, Delaware County Pa, Lancaster County Pa, Montgomery County Pa, and Philadelphia County Pa.
John has served clients in Ambler Pa, in Ardmore Pa, in Aston Pa, in Berwyn Pa, in Blue Bell Pa, in Bridgeport Pa, in Broomall Pa, in Bryn Mawr Pa, in Chadds Ford Pa, in Chesterbrook Pa, in Chester Heights Pa, in Chester Springs Pa, in Coatesville Pa, in Collegeville Pa, in Conshohocken Pa, in Devon Pa, in Downingtown Pa, in Drexel Hill Pa, in Eagleville Pa, in Easttown Pa, in Elkins Park Pa, in Exton Pa, in Frazer Pa, in Great Valley Pa, in Haverford Pa, in Havertown Pa, in Jeffersonville Pa, in Kennett Square Pa, in King of Prussia Pa, in Lansdale Pa, in Limerick Pa, in Linfield Pa, in Linwood Pa, in Lower Merion Pa, in Malvern Pa, in Media Pa, in Narberth Pa, in Newtown Square Pa, in Norristown Pa, in Oaks Pa, in Overbrook Pa, in Paoli Pa, in Parkesburg Pa, in Phoenixville Pa, in Plymouth Meeting Pa, in Pottstown Pa, in Radnor Pa, in Ridley Park Pa, in Rosemont Pa, in St. Davids Pa, in Springfield Pa, in Strafford Pa, in Swarthmore Pa, in Thorndale Pa, in Tredyffrin Pa, in Trooper Pa, in Upper Merion Pa, in Valley Forge Pa, in Villanova Pa, in Wayne Pa, in West Chester Pa, in Westtown Pa, in Whitemarsh Pa, in Willistown Pa, in Wynnewood Pa, and in Yeadon Pa.