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Joint Accounts Can Have Unexpected Pitfalls

Joint bank accounts are often established by individuals with the hope of creating an account with one or more of the following benefits: probate avoidance, reduced inheritance taxes or as a convenient way to allow family member to write checks and pay bills. Unfortunately there are numerous Medicaid/Elder Law Planning, estate planning and asset protection …

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The Death Tax Update

Both the Senate and the US House of Representatives are now working on bills that would reform the federal estate tax (also known as the death tax) before the end of this year. Both bills contain a $3.5 million dollar exemption per person. This would allow an individual Pennsylvania resident to shelter $3.5 million dollars …

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Taxes and Estate Planning – What Tax Systems Really Matter?

If you are a Pennsylvania resident, there are many different taxes and tax systems that have to be considered in creating any truly effective plan. In addition to the federal estate taxes, you should also consider the effect of gift taxes, state and federal income taxes, the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax, and in many cases, the …

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How long does probate take?

The length of the probate process in Pennsylvania (PA) or other states varies greatly from estate to estate. The determining factors include the assets involved in the estate, the experience of the Executor/Administrator and counsel and the ease in dealing with the beneficiaries. Contrary to common belief, the process is rarely impacted by the actual …

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PA Inheritance Tax

The inheritance tax is a tax on the assets owned or controlled by a decedent at the time of his or her death and applies to assets individually owned, jointly owned and with beneficiaries designated. The tax does not apply to life insurance on the decedent’s life. It also applies to assets the decedent gifted …

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Obama To Keep The Estate Tax and Action Is Expected Soon

If you are interested in the status of the federal estate tax and how it may affect your planning as a resident of Pennsylvania please read more of the brief article that I posted this morning summarizing the Wall Street Journal’s analysis of the President and Congressional views on the need to move quickly on …

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West Chester, PA
17 West Gay Street
P.O. BOX 515
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 692-1371
Phoenixville, PA
120 Gay Street
P.O. Box 289
Phoenixville, PA 19460
(610) 933-8069