tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334353532024-02-18T21:54:29.553-05:00PA Elder, Estate & Fiduciary Law BlogA blog and resource by a practicing lawyer in Pennsylvania about Elder Law, Estate/Trust Planning & Administration, Fiduciaries, PA Orphans' Court Litigation, and Senior Mediation Services.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comBlogger685125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-60294891238550706222016-04-16T11:39:00.001-04:002016-04-16T11:39:37.561-04:00Expanding Access to Mediation in PA
<!--[if !mso]>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
<![endif]-->Following is a document for use in a presentation to the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators, at its 29th Annual Conference on Expanding Access to Mediation, held on April 15 (Fri) -16 (Sat), 2016 at the Hilton Hotel in Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-27732503976595810152016-04-15T22:00:00.000-04:002016-04-16T11:57:45.394-04:00PA Model Local Rule for Mediation
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-36979895644777999602014-11-23T23:42:00.000-05:002014-11-23T23:49:13.397-05:00PA Bar Assn approves Orphans' Court Mediation Project
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->On Friday, November 21, 2014, the Pennsylvania Bar Association formally approved, by unanimous vote, a Report and Recommendation presented by its Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee regarding a proposal for mediation in the Orphans' Court Divisions, of the Courts of Common Pleas, in the Commonwealth.
The "OC Mediation Project" proposesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-8102269102278181892014-08-27T12:09:00.001-04:002014-08-28T15:53:26.366-04:00Philadelphia Court Upholds Stephen Girard's Intentions
Stephen Girard, late in life
Painted by J.R. Lambdin
Judge O'Keefe, Administrative Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, sitting in the Orphans' Court Division, issued an opinion and order, dated August 21, 2014 (filed and released on August 25, 2014), regarding the administration of Girard College. The Court denied a petition filed in June, 2013, by the Board of Directors of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-10729427682835887062014-06-19T12:02:00.001-04:002014-07-08T15:44:47.714-04:00PA POA Reform legislation on Governor's Desk
On June 18, 2014, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted (193-0) the amended, compromise version of House Bill 1429, in Printer's No. 3708, regarding power of attorney reform. The adopted legislation was transmitted to the Governor for signing into law on June 24, 2014. [Update: The Governor signed the legislation into law on July 2, 2014, as Act No. 95 of 2014. See Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-39277326557364216512014-06-16T19:11:00.000-04:002014-06-23T14:18:30.582-04:00PA Power of Attorney Reform Legislation Moves
Legislative changes appear afoot regarding Pennsylvania's Power of Attorney laws.
On Monday, June 16, 2014, the Pennsylvania Senate adopted (50-0), after three required considerations, a revised version of House Bill 1429, into a new Printers No. 3708. The Senate's version differs from the version that the House had adopted (198-0) nearly a year ago, on June 19, 2013, in the form of HB Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-27487205853820665222014-05-20T19:00:00.000-04:002014-05-21T14:43:53.474-04:00A Memorial Birthday Message: Patti S. Bednarik
Patti S. Bednarik, Esq.
"Estate planning for pets" remains an important consideration for folks in a relationship with one or more beloved companion animals -- faithful pets -- whose well-being, even survival, depends upon a thoughtful owner. This is an awareness I've held for the past ten years or more, since being introduced to the concern by my dear late friend Patti S. Bednarik, Esq. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-34165525686702678782014-02-27T13:23:00.000-05:002014-03-10T13:44:12.668-04:00NPR Broadcasts "Managing Your Elderly Parents' Finances"
On Thursday morning (11:06 AM to Noon), February 27, 2014, The Diane Rehm Show, as broadcast from WAMU through the National Public Radio network, focused on the topic Managing Your Elderly Parents' Finances, with guest host Elise Labott.
The highly-qualified and well-spoken guests were:
Sally Hurme, Project Advisor, Education and Outreach, at AARP
Naomi Karp, Senior Policy Analyst, OfficeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-38186086784122232932014-01-16T17:39:00.000-05:002014-01-17T13:59:32.351-05:00Enact Mandatory Financial Elder Abuse Reporting in PA
On December 11, 2013, Professor Katherine C. Pearson, of Penn State Law (The Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, PA Campus), posted a four-page article entitled Law Financial Abuse and Exploitation in Pennsylvania: The Importance of Early Response and Clearer Lines for Recovery, available as a PDF download on the Social Science Resource Network.
On January 15, 2014, Professor Gerry Beyer Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-54546653295356471022013-09-06T15:30:00.000-04:002013-09-06T16:09:18.294-04:00PA Small Estate & Deposit Payment Thresholds Increased
The Pennsylvania Probate, Estates & Fiduciaries Code (Title 20 of PA Consolidated Statutes) was amended in minor, but helpful, ways by Act 35 of 2013, which became effective on August 31, 2013.
The changes in affected sections of Title 20 are noted in the adopted form of House Bill 513, Printer's No. 2169, of the 2013-2014 Legislative Session. HB 513's History indicates it was Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-47655144767537581272013-08-26T20:46:00.000-04:002013-08-29T13:42:38.908-04:00Joint State's Amazing Record and Report
On August 1, 2013, the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission posted a Report, dated August, 2013 (PDF, 4.7 MB), entitled The
Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code and Orphans' Court Matters:
Legislation Recommended by the Advisory Committee on Decedents' Estates
Laws, which encapsulates -- in 291 pages of history, descriptions, summaries, lists, and tables -- the amazing Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-11421915416853056642013-08-21T18:38:00.000-04:002013-08-21T18:41:00.475-04:00"Older & Wiser" Presentations Planned
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-52539938898027143082013-04-18T23:58:00.000-04:002013-04-18T23:58:12.961-04:00PA Supreme Court Appoints New Elder Law Task Force
On April 18, 2013, in a posted press release entitled Supreme Court’s Elder Law Task Force Will Tackle Growing Abuses to Older Pennsylvanians, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced creation of a new Elder Law Task Force. The initial meeting of the group was held on April 16 and 17, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center, in Harrisburg, PA.
The Press Release announced that "The Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-60532055367149029982013-04-07T11:08:00.000-04:002013-04-07T11:32:11.298-04:00Karoly Estates Will Forgery Case Ruling
The Morning Call (Allentown, PA) published a news report entitled Northampton County judge upholds Karoly wills (04/05/13), by Peter Hall, highlighting the most recent development in the Karoly Estates forgery of wills matter: "John Karoly Jr.'s sisters failed to prove he entered forgeries in brother's estate, judge rules."
A Northampton County judge has affirmed a decision that sisters of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-25080587374464795902013-04-04T16:57:00.000-04:002013-04-19T15:52:54.262-04:00PA Orphans' Court Rules Proposed for Sweeping Changes
On April 3, 2013, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System website posted a news article entitled Input Sought on Proposed Rewrite of 40-year-old Orphans' Court Rules, which announced: "A substantial overhaul of the current Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules, which have remained relatively intact for nearly four decades, is being proposed."
The article continued:
The Supreme Court’s Orphans’ Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-69878698340903453692013-03-04T12:12:00.000-05:002013-03-04T12:14:41.361-05:00PBA RPPT Section Newsletter, Winter 2013
The Winter, 2013 Newsletter (Issue No. 72) of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, was published on February 28, 2013, and will be mailed to members in printed form. It will be available to the public in PDF format for a limited two-week period through a link to the PBA's website.
A recent email from the PBA to members noted the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-24881400336410055112013-02-06T17:06:00.000-05:002013-02-06T17:43:17.101-05:00IRS PTIN System Online Again
The IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) system was restored online effective February 2, 2013. It had been "down" after January 18, 2013, due to litigation in federal court. See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting IRS PTIN Registration System is "Down" (01/28/13).
According to an online notice updated by the IRS on February 4, 2013,
upon request of the IRS, the legal stay Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-31071637729152096312013-02-04T16:48:00.001-05:002013-02-20T15:50:22.677-05:00New Postings of PA OC & R/W Forms Online
While seeking to access Pennsylvania Orphans' Court forms through this Blog's sidebar links to their source on the Internet, I discovered my links are no longer valid. What happened? Something changed.
On January 31, 2013, the website of the Uniform Judicial System of Pennsylvania was completely refreshed and reformatted. Not only is there a new homepage for the PA UJS, Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-53365690033049109062013-01-28T14:31:00.000-05:002013-02-06T17:41:20.542-05:00IRS PTIN Registration System is "Down"
The Internal Revenue Service's Tax Professionals system presently is "down" due to litigation. [Note: See "Update" at end of posting, below (02/06/13)]
According to the IRS Statement on Court Ruling Related to Return Preparers, updated as of January 25, 2013, a litigation stay is the reason:
As of Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, the United States District Court for the District of Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-12357978455760057632013-01-23T14:11:00.000-05:002013-01-23T14:12:54.907-05:00Another PA Inheritance Tax Exemption Engrafted?
On January 23, 2013, the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal reported in an article entitled Pa. House committee passes bill to end 'death tax', that the Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania House approved a bill Tuesday for further consideration by the full House that would eliminate Pennsylvania inheritance tax on family-owned businesses.
Cumberland County Republican Rep. Stephen Bloom Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-84801938444301606922012-09-28T13:46:00.001-04:002012-12-18T12:56:18.493-05:00Health Laws Impact LGBT Folks
Impact of Health Law on LGBT Individuals and Families is the title and subject of a 1½ hour continuing legal education program to be held on Friday, October 12, 2012, as sponsored by the Allegheny County Bar Association, through its Health Law Section, in partnership
with its LGBT Rights Committee, which was created in March, 2012. Highmark underwrites the program.<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-36897835808177710732012-09-10T18:47:00.000-04:002012-12-18T12:49:47.783-05:00Organ Donation: Questions & Myths Discussed
On Friday, August 31, 2012, WITF-FM (Harrisburg, PA) broadcast a Radio Smart Talk program 50 minutes long, entitled What questions do you have about organ donation?
The initial guest of host Scott Lamar was John Green, Director of Community Relations for the Gift of Life Donor Program, of Philadelphia, PA. He first focused on questions and myths regarding organ donation.
For Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-83616307464455764212012-08-28T10:06:00.000-04:002012-12-18T13:14:56.074-05:00AOPC.org is Dead; Long Live PAcourts.us! Very Tweet!
By September, 2012, the original Internet address of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System -- www.aopc.org (which reflected the initials of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts) -- will be deactivated.
Through the summer, that web address already had redirected users automatically to the updated PA Unified Judicial System (Court) website -- www.pacourts.us. But, beginningAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-29051931683959849102012-08-27T13:26:00.000-04:002012-12-18T12:20:24.559-05:00Appeal Procedures from PA Orphans' Court Rewritten
Appeals from orders issued by the various Orphans' Court Divisions, of the Courts of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, are governed, effective February 12, 2012, by revised procedural rules, which were further amended by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by order dated July 16, 2012.
A completely rewritten Rule 342 ("Appealable Orphans' Court Orders"), of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33435353.post-73741495241755221422012-07-06T14:34:00.001-04:002012-12-18T12:50:51.583-05:00New "Granny Snatching" Law in PA
On July 5, 2012, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1720 (Printer's No. 2589) -- commonly (and comically) referenced as the "Granny Snatching bill" -- into state law as Act 108 of 2012, to take effect in 60 days.
Act 108 amends Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and
Fiduciaries) of PA Consolidated Statutes, to provide for
uniform adult guardianship and protective proceedings Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08522925983571026908noreply@blogger.com