Pennsylvania - South Central

I often find in my estate planning and elder law practice that every child or family member wants to be named as an executor in their loved one's documents.However, I often find that nobody actually knows what that means and has absolutely no idea how much work it entails. I think people believe it is a rite of passage or an honor to be named, which it can be, but it also comes with a lot of work and some significant responsibility.The person who is named as the executor in a Last Will and Testament is a fiduciary and is held to a higher standard than an ordinary individual or beneficiary. If the executor does not carry out his or her duties and obligations appropriately, if the appropriate taxes are not paid or if the beneficiarys interests are not protected like they were supposed to be the executor can be held personally liable in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Furthermore, it is imperative that the person who is being named as the executor is a very organized individual, who can handle balancing and managing a checkbook and also multi-tasking. The relationship of a person to another individual does not make them the right choice or the right candidate for the position.If you are named, my recommendation would be to start understanding now what that entails, and what you will be asked to do. If you are not comfortable serving, I would advise that you let the person know so that they can make alternate or contingent plans in their estate planning.If you find yourself named as an executor, I would highly recommend that you seek advice from an attorney who has lots of experience in this area. Oftentimes, people are lulled into thinking that acting as the executor and opening the estate is a very simple process and that an attorney is not needed.While I agree that the original meeting at the courthouse and getting the grant of Letters Testamentary are not difficult things, that is merely the first step, from that point forward there is a myriad of requirements of notices to not only beneficiaries and heirs but also creditors. There is a Pennsylvania inheritance tax return required to be filed as well as potentially a fiduciary income tax return. Being named is only the first step, and that is by far the easiest.Since an executor is a fiduciary and is held to a higher standard and can be held personally liable to creditors and to other beneficiaries, I highly recommend seeking the advice of counsel. Not any counsel, but counsel who is familiar with the inner workings of the estate administration process in Pennsylvania, including but not limited to, the priority statutes, understanding who gets paid first, second, third, etc., which can undoubtedly cause issues if the estate does not have a lot of money or happens to be an insolvent estate.While it can be an honor to be named as an executor, we urge you and encourage you to understand all the expectations that come with it and what you can do ahead of time to be prepared. If you find yourself named, plan to seek the counsel of a qualified individual to walk you through the process so that you do not have to worry about any potential liability or any potential pitfalls of which you may be unaware.If you would like to learn more about being an executor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please give our office a call at 717-208-4546 or come to one of our upcoming workshops to learn more.

Years ago, my best friends parents passed away in an airplane accident. I vividly remember going to their house with my mother to bring food in the days following the incident. When we arrived, we saw four to six massive dumpsters outside of the house that were being filled and emptied on a very regular basis. A few weeks after our visit, I called my mom to check in on her. She made a comment that has always stuck with meshe could not believe that after years of collecting all those wonderful items, they all ended up in a dumpster. It was very eye-opening for my mother to see what occurs after a death. In her mind, and Im sure in many other peoples minds, those items have significant value to the family, and they will be forever cherished. The truth is most children dont have the room to take those items and their perception of sentimental value is not the same as it was for previous generations. Almost immediately, my mother started cleaning out all of the things she had been collecting. She became very picky about what she would keep. I did not realize at the time what a huge project she had undertaken until years later when she died. It still did take my father a long time to go through everything that remained, but I have no doubt that he was thankful that he didnt need the four to six dumpsters he would have needed, had my mom not started her own decluttering project years earlier. We encourage you to talk to your loved ones about starting to declutter and sort their items now. You will be grateful after they are gone, and it will make your job as the executor of the estate much easier. Remember, however, that it may be very difficult for seniors to part with some of their things. Dont push to the point of causing any type of conflict. Enjoy the time with your family while you are cleaning and downsizing, and hopefully, it will provide peace of mind for family members down the road.Please call us at 717-844-9639 and well set you up with a free consultation or register you for a free workshop.  

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. 

Hearing aid technology is continuing to advance at rapid speeds.  These advances allow wearers to hear better in many situations where listening was previously difficult. Advancements have also been made in the compatibility of hearing aids and smart phones.  Many hearing aids can be linked with Apple and Android devices in order to give the wearer direct streaming between the aids and the phone.  Its important to remember though that the primary purpose of hearing aids is to assist you in hearing speech and other sounds in the environment that you are in.  The priority is not the streaming of audio from your phone.  While this capability is there, it is still far from perfected. There are many variables which can interfere with the connection between the aids and the phone.  One such interference is software updates.  Almost every time you take a software update on your cell phone, the pairing between the phone and the aids will be disconnected.  You will be required to re-pair the aids to the phone in this instance.  Other interferences can be caused by cell service interruptions, wi-fi interruptions, and even other Bluetooth devices that may be nearby.    In almost every situation, connectivity issues are caused by smart phones and not by hearing aids.  Hearing aids are always and will always be first and foremost medical devices and not just another cell phone accessory. This article was submitted by Ryan Oberholtzer, Hearing Instrument Specialist with Darrell M. Sipe Opticians and Hearing Aids.