Blog & Resources

Bucks County Will Contests have taken place since the first wills were filed and they will be with us as long as there are families that don’t get along.  You can’t stop someone from challenging a will, but with the help of an experienced Will Contest Attorney, you can help make sure […]

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My father remarried and then recently died, how do I locate the Will? I’ve tried to get His wife to produce his will but she will not respond to my calls, he lived in in Bucks County.

Ask a Question” mailbag: I need life insurance as part of my estate plan to cover the cost of my son’s college tuition and pay off the mortgage. What policy best fits my needs?

First, focus on the reasons for why you are purchasing life insurance. Life insurance is an excellent Estate Planningtool, but only if you are clear as to its purpose.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses what to do if the executor refuses to file the Will:

“My sister refuses to file my mother’s Will. She moved into the house and won’t return my calls. What can I do? Should I hire an estate litigator?”

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: The attorney handling my uncle’s Bucks County estate mailed me a Receipt, Release, Refunding and Indemnification Agreement. There are no details about how much he spent or other expenses. If I sign this, do I waive my rights to ask any questions?

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: Is there a statute of limitations period to challenge a will in Bucks County?

Yes. You have one year from the filing of the will to appeal the filing of a will and to contest the validity through a will contest or will challenge. Filing sooner rather than later is usually the best, as the Executor might be selling or distributing assets, which may be difficult or impossible to recover. A call to the Register of Wills should provide you with the date the will was filed. Depending on your specific timeline, and whether the one year statute of limitations has already passed, your options may vary or be non-existent.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I am the executor of my father’s estate in Bucks County. My sister and I do not speak, so the process has been terrible. She refuses to sign the family settlement agreement I sent her, and instead has petitioned the Orphans’ Court to make me account. Do I need to respond?

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: After reading the information on your site, I believe my brother used undue influence to get my father to change his will. If I decide to challenge the will, where will the trial be held? How long will the process take?

Will contests are heard by the judges in the Bucks County Orphans’ Court. The Bucks County Orphans’ Court is located in Doylestown. In many cases, will contest challenges settle before a trial.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: The term “Anchor Baby” is in the news, referring to parents coming to the USA to have a baby that automatically qualifies for citizenship simply by being born on American soil. Given that this is completely legal, and given that these parents obviously care about their child’s future and don’t want the child to be left in the USA without support, how can these parents plan ahead for the child’s care?

Any person on earth is able to form a protective trust in the United States for their child. The trust has to have a connection to the United States, so it will require a trustee located in the United States.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I have served as the executor for my grandfather’s Bucks County estate for over a year and wish to close the estate, but my uncle claims that I have embezzled money from the estate. This is unfounded, but how can I close the estate while he makes these claims?

As the executor, you could make an “at risk” distribution of the estate assets. This means you distribute the money without getting a release. This is not advisable, as your uncle could then use his inheritance to hire a Bucks County Orphans’ Court Lawyer to force you to file a formal account. Because you would have distributed the estate funds, this cost would come out of your pocket.