Thornton Wills & Probate Lawyer, Pennsylvania

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Includes: Estate Administration, Living Wills, Wills

Richard H. Morton Lawyer

Richard H. Morton

VERIFIED
Estate, Wills & Probate

Following service as a state and local prosecutor, Rick became engaged in private practice in Chester County in 1990. Rick assists clients in the pre... (more)

Joseph E. Palma

Wills & Probate, Elder Law, Corporate, Business Organization
Status:  In Good Standing           

J. Stoddard Hayes

Wills & Probate, Trusts, Estate Planning, Non-profit
Status:  In Good Standing           

Stephen J. Olsen

International Tax, Wills, Gift Taxation, Estate Planning, Insurance
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  17 Years

Janet M Colliton

Wills, Wills & Probate, Trusts, Elder Law
Status:  In Good Standing           Licensed:  48 Years

A. Duie Pyle

International Tax, Wills & Probate, Estate Planning, Business
Status:  In Good Standing           

Jennifer H.

Wills, Estate Planning
Status:  In Good Standing           

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Free Help: Use This Form or Call 800-943-8690

Member Representative

Call me for fastest results!
800-943-8690

Free Help: Use This Form or Call 800-943-8690

By submitting this lawyer request, I confirm I have read and agree to the Consent to Receive Messages from all messaging and voice technologies including Email, Text, Phone, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy. Information provided is not privileged or confidential.

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LEGAL TERMS

INVESTOR

A person who makes investments. An investor may act either for herself or on behalf of others. A stock broker or mutual fund manager, for instance, makes invest... (more...)
A person who makes investments. An investor may act either for herself or on behalf of others. A stock broker or mutual fund manager, for instance, makes investments for others who have entrusted her with their money.

AUGMENTED ESTATE

In general terms, an augmented estate consists of property owned by both a deceased person and his or her spouse. The concept of the augmented estate is used on... (more...)
In general terms, an augmented estate consists of property owned by both a deceased person and his or her spouse. The concept of the augmented estate is used only in some states. Its value is calculated only if a surviving spouse declines whatever he or she was left by will and instead claims a share of the deceased spouse's estate. (This is called taking against the will.) The amount of this 'statutory share' or 'elective share' depends on state law.

HOLOGRAPHIC WILL

A will that is completely handwritten, dated and signed by the person making it. Holographic wills are generally not witnessed. Although it's legal in many stat... (more...)
A will that is completely handwritten, dated and signed by the person making it. Holographic wills are generally not witnessed. Although it's legal in many states, making a holographic will is never advised except as a last resort.

GROSS ESTATE

For federal estate tax filing purposes, the total of all property owned at death, without regard to any debts or liens against the property or the costs of prob... (more...)
For federal estate tax filing purposes, the total of all property owned at death, without regard to any debts or liens against the property or the costs of probate. Taxes are due only on the value of the property the person actually owned (the net estate) plus the amount of any taxable gifts made during life. In a few states, the gross estate is used when computing attorney fees for probating estates; the lawyer gets a percentage of the gross estate.

SURROGATE COURT

See probate court.

PER STIRPES

Under a will, a method of determining who inherits property when a joint beneficiary has died before the willmaker, leaving living children of his or her own. F... (more...)
Under a will, a method of determining who inherits property when a joint beneficiary has died before the willmaker, leaving living children of his or her own. For example, Fred leaves his house jointly to his son Alan and his daughter Julie. But Alan dies before Fred, leaving two young children. If Fred's will states that heirs of a deceased beneficiary are to receive the property 'per stirpes,' Julie will receive one-half of the property, and Alan's two children will share his half in equal shares (through Alan by right of representation). If, on the other hand, Fred's will states that the property is to be divided per capita, Julie and the two grandchildren will each take a third.

FAILURE OF ISSUE

A situation in which a person dies without children who could have inherited her property.

ANCILLARY PROBATE

A probate proceeding conducted in a different state from the one the deceased person resided in at the time of death. Usually, ancillary probate proceedings are... (more...)
A probate proceeding conducted in a different state from the one the deceased person resided in at the time of death. Usually, ancillary probate proceedings are necessary if the deceased person owned real estate in another state.

LETTERS TESTAMENTARY

The document given to an executor by the probate court, authorizing the executor to settle the estate according to either a will or the state's intestate succes... (more...)
The document given to an executor by the probate court, authorizing the executor to settle the estate according to either a will or the state's intestate succession laws.

SAMPLE LEGAL CASES

In re Estate of Allen

... OPINION BY COLVILLE, J.: ¶ 1 This appeal by Eleanor J. Kim ("the Executrix") arises from the order directing her to reimburse the Estate of Thomas P. Allen ("the Estate") for taxes paid from the residue of the Estate on non-probate assets that became her property on the death ...

In re Estate of Shelly

... After Decedent's 1023 death, Thomas Steiger Jr., Esquire, submitted a cardboard panel of a cigarette carton for probate on August 25, 1999, and the Register of Wills issued letters of administration cta naming Michael J. Cook, who is not related to Norman, as administrator of ...

IN RE ESTATE OF CRUCIANI

... OPINION BY POPOVICH, J.: ¶ 1 Appellant Jeannine M. McCullough appeals the order holding that the signature on the last will and testament of Marjorie J. Cruciani, deceased, which document was submitted to probate by Appellant, was a forgery. We affirm. ...