Pennsylvania - South Central

There are three main types of legal ownership of property. The first, Tenancy by the Entireties is reserved for married couples. If the property is deeded in both husbands and wifes names, it is presumed that upon the death of a spouse, the surviving spouse retains ownership. The law assumes that married couples share the property; however, clarifying language such as husband and wife tenancy by the entireties is good practice.The second type, Tenants in Common is reserved for folks who wish to transfer their individual property interests under their will. In other words, each property owner is treated under the law as having interest in their name alone, such that upon death, their specific interest transfers under their will and in turn, goes through probate. A married couple can own property with another individual (person outside the marriage) in this type of deed.The third type of ownership is Rights of Survivorship. It is reserved for persons who want to be able to transfer the property to the other owner upon their death. For example, if siblings own a joint property and the brother wants his share to go to his sister upon his death (and vice-versa), the deed will specify, David Dole and Debbie Dole, siblings with rights of survivorship. Such verbiage signifies that the two parties are siblings, but also that each wants to transfer to the other upon their deaths. In a slightly different scenario, wherein siblings want to each own 50% interest and be able to transfer it to their own children (or elsewhere), the deed would specify, David Dole and Debbie Dole, siblings, as tenants in common. In this scenario, David gets to transfer his 50% to whomever he wishes, and Debbie gets to transfer her 50% to whomever she wishes. A caution herebe sure to secure legal counsel about the potential for future family disputes before choosing this option: What if, down the road, one party wants to sell and the other wants to keep the property? Candid dialogue with an attorney is key to identifying the best arrangements for your unique situation and mitigating the risk of future family turmoil.In summary, clear, specific language is paramount in crafting deeds. The goal is to ensure that if we were to fast-forward 30+ years and imagine a title surveyor reviewing the deed, we would be certain that the surveyor would fully understand the original intent of the document and know without a doubt exactly what transpired many years before.Please give us a call so you can attend our free workshop by registering here or call schedule 717-844-9639 and well set you up with a free consultation.

This is the question that we get regularly in our law firm and before having our Life Care Planning program and Client Care Advocate, Meg Motter, a licensed clinical social worker on board, my answer was always that it is not something that you can plan for. I believed it to be a decision that was out of your hands. As I have embraced the Life Care Planning model of assisting clients and their families, Ive come to realize that those answers and beliefs were probably incorrect. Im learning through watching Megs work unfold that much can be done well in advance of crisis times to proactively plan for aging in place and avoid entering a skilled nursing facility for long-term care.Now, my answer would be to at least attend one of our monthly Life Care Planning Workshops, take advantage of the free one-on-one Life Care Planning vision meetings with Christine Oyler, and consider retaining the law firm for Megs services to assist you and your family in developing your very own Life Care Plan. There are ways to pay for in-home care and set up other situations that would certainly provide a much better chance of staying out of the nursing facility. Working closely with your Client Care Advocate through your one-year contract with Meg to determine your goals and wishes, research and secure services to assist you in remaining in the least restrictive setting of your choosing, and put those services in place is the answer. Planning is a necessity to avoid the nursing facility and starting early ensures the greatest success. Sure, we can help in the crisis, but starting your Life Care Planning journey before the crisis hits is all the better.If youd like to learn more about Life Care Planning and meet our Client Care Advocate, Meg Motter, LCSW, CDP consider attending one of our monthly Life Care Planning Workshops. Please reach out to the office at 717-208-4546 for more information.  

Sometimes we accumulate more than we need or have space for. This can lead to clutter and overwhelm our homes. Before we know it, our home can become cluttered and overwhelming. The mess not only affects the appearance of our living space but also our mental health. Junk removal services offer an effective solution to rid your home of unwanted clutter and improve your overall well-being. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of junk removal services, their benefits, and how to choose a reliable company.  The Dangers of Collecting and Why It's Important to Declutter  Over time, we can accumulate more things than we need and create an overwhelming environment. Not only does this clutter affect our mental health, but it can also pose safety hazards in our homes. People can trip over excess items or increase the risk of fire hazards. It's essential to declutter and remove unnecessary items to create a safe, welcoming living space. Read our blog post The Dangers of Collecting for more information.  Get Rid of Clutter Quickly and Safely  Professional junk removal services provide a convenient and safe solution to remove clutter from your home quickly. Junk removal professionals have the experience and equipment necessary to complete the job thoroughly and efficiently. Their training reduces the risk of injury and damage to the home when handling hazardous materials or bulky items. It also ensures the proper disposal of the items.     Tips on How to Find a Reliable Junk Removal Company  When looking for a reliable junk removal company, there are some critical factors to consider. First, hire a professional junk hauling company that is licensed and insured to protect yourself from liability in case of accidents. Be sure to check their reviews online to gauge their reputation and level of customer service. A good junk removal company provides clear pricing estimates, flexible scheduling, and a commitment to environmental responsibility.  To learn more about junk removal, read our blog here!WayForth offers comprehensive moving solutions. These include downsizing, packing, moving, and settling into a new home. We can help you or a family member with these services. Contact our moving professionals today at 1.844.WAYFORTH. 

I recently met with a client whose husband was placed in the nursing facility about four years ago due to dementia. She did everything she could to keep him at home, but ultimately the behaviors (unfortunately in his case, including violence and aggression) became too much, and she was no longer able to care for him at home. Overall, she has been very pleased with the care that he has been receiving and had no complaints. I asked why she was coming into my office and what she was hoping that I could help her with, and her response was, All I have left is a couple thousand dollars and a cabin that means the world to the family. I was able to give her great newswe were able to preserve the couple thousand dollars and the cabin, and she did not lose anything. She was ecstatic and could not thank us enough for our advice and assistance.As she was getting ready to leave my office, I could tell that she was thinking about something and that something was bothering her.Before I opened the door to the lobby, I asked her, Is there anything else that you would like to discuss? Do you have more questions? She said, Yes, I have oneIf I had come to you four years ago, would there have been anything else that you could have done to help me? My response was, Yes. I would have been able to protect 100% of the assets. Her demeanor immediately changed and she looked me in the eye and asked, Why didnt the nursing facility tell me?My response was, Maam, the nursing facility is not your lawyerthey do not have a duty to you. Their job is to provide the best possible care that they can for your husband and get paid for their services. They did absolutely nothing wrong.I totally understood her frustration, but at the same time the nursing facility is in the business of caring for people, not the business of advising families on the nuances of asset protection laws. Facility employees provided advice and help with the Medicaid application process(instructing her to spend down the couples assets for monthly care costs), believing that what they were telling her was correct. They likely believed that their advice was the best, not only for them, but also for her.Unfortunately, most billing departments in nursing facilities dont fully understand asset protection laws and how they can work. It is imperative that families seek professional help from an elder law attorney as soon as a loved one enters a nursing facility, so that you and yours are not left wondering, Why didnt someone tell me?