by Andrew Sykes | May 15, 2020 | Elder Law - General, Estate Planning, Practice Tips for Lawyers
Pennsylvania has temporarily authorized notary publics to notarize documents using a state-approved audio-visual connection, rather than in person. Pennsylvania Act 15 of 2020, signed into law April 20, 2020, authorized this change and became effective on that date....
by Andrew Sykes | Feb 1, 2020 | Estate Administration
What tax returns need to be filed after someone dies? In Pennsylvania, here are the main tax returns to consider: Personal Income Tax (1040) By April 15 of the year after death, file the deceased’s final income tax return (Form 1040). If the deceased was married, it...
by Andrew Sykes | Mar 11, 2019 | Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning
In the many powers of attorney I see in my line of work, one problem recurs over and over again. And it’s costing families tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands, of dollars in asset protection. The number one problem is inadequate gifting provisions. If...
by Andrew Sykes | Feb 25, 2019 | Trusts
When designing a trust to protect assets against nursing home spend-down, lawsuits, scam artists, undue influence from family or acquaintances, or other hazards, we use certain features over and over again. These features make the trust more user-friendly, allowing...
by Andrew Sykes | May 18, 2018 | Estate Planning
If you need some clarity on what exactly a “durable power of attorney” is, and why it’s important to have one, watch the short video below. Here I give you my thoughts on what can happen if you don’t have power of attorney, and why it makes...