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The death of Elizabeth Taylor made a lot of news in March. Apart from the stories that recapped her film career, her eight marriages, and her substantial charity work, there were numerous reports that her family honored an unusual request she made prior to her death. Taylor requested that her funeral start fifteen minutes late. She also asked that someone at the funeral announce that “she even wanted to be late to her own funeral.”...

Special needs trusts are important estate planning tools for families with relatives who have disabilities. Also called a “supplemental needs trust,” a special needs trust allows someone to leave money to a trustee who holds property for the benefit of a disabled individual. This kind of trust can also be included in the Will of a person wishing to leave money to a disabled relative. Special needs trusts are important because they...

After a a person dies, dealing with his or her assets and finances is often the last thing on friends’ and family members’ minds. However, someone must handle those issues, and in Pennsylvania, either an executor (if there is a Will) or an administrator (if there is no Will) must be appointed by the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased person last lived to deal with their assets. If the deceased person left a Will, the...

Clients often ask me how they can leave specific items of jewelry, art, furniture, or other valuable personal belongings to family members and friends. Although these items can be given to specific individuals in your Will, you would probably need an attorney’s assistance to make changes to those bequests, since a Will and any changes to Wills (also known as codicils) should be witnessed and signed in front of a notary.  A...

Many people wonder if it is really necessary to make a Will. Married couples often assume that if they die intestate (without a Will), whatever assets they own will go to their spouse. This is true for most property that is jointly owned with a spouse and any property that passes by beneficiary designation (typically retirement accounts and life insurance) where the spouse is named as beneficiary. However, all other assets—usually...