It would be so easy to think of estate planning as a responsibility for someone older or wealthier or some other category outside of yours. The truth is, though, planning for the future is important for everyone, regardless of age or economic status. Pennsylvania families who want to take care of...

You may be planning to form a business partnership and are considering asking your friend to be your partner. There are sound reasons to approach a friend to be a part of your business, including familarity with that person and personal trust. However, while such a partnership can work out, joini...

Splitting up a marriage comes with the overwhelming and contentious task of also splitting all your assets. Everything from financial accounts to collectible items must be on the table. Professional valuators help with determining the worth of all your property to help determine a fair division. ...

When you plan your estate and have everything in order, you probably think that once you die, there are no worries. Unfortunately, that is not true. While you may have no worries, your loved ones could be hit with an inheritance tax. It is important to understand what this is and how it works, so...

Whether you have an established business or are starting a new one in Pennsylvania, you should always have your eye towards the future. Things come up often that could drastically change your business. It is better to be prepared than be caught off guard. One situation you want to be ready for is...

If you have been ordered by a Pennsylvania court to pay child support, you may wonder how long you will have to pay. It can sometimes be difficult to make your payments and put a financial strain on you, so it is understandable that you want to plan for when your support order ends. When a court ...

If your loved one named you an executor over his or her estate, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the responsibilities the role might entail. In addition to dealing with the emotional aftermath of your loved one's death, you must also now navigate the estate administration process, which, in ...

Having a will is a good idea to prevent issues after your death. It can enable you to ensure your assets are distributed the way you want them to be and to provide for your minor children. However, if your will is not properly written and created following Pennsylvania law, then it could be deeme...

Aspiring Pennsylvanian entrepreneurs may be a little overwhelmed when first tackling all of the rules and regulations associated with starting a business. One thing they may have heard is that sole proprietorships are the easiest of all business structures to manage, but just how true is that? Fi...

Your pets are a part of the family. When you get a divorce in Pennsylvania, it may become a struggle to figure out where the pets go. Do you get them or your spouse? Who has the right to a pet? Are pets handled by the courts in the same way as children? When it comes to Pennsylvania law, CBS expl...

Picking out a name for a Pennsylvania business seems like a no-hassle proposition, especially compared to the legal hoops a business owner has to jump through in filing the correct paperwork, drawing up articles of incorporation, and preparing the right bank accounts. However, you might find a hi...

One of the important aspects of forming a business in Pennsylvania is deciding on the business form you will use. You have options, but the most common for a person forming a business by themselves is a sole proprietorship, as explained by Entrepreneur. This business form is the easiest to create...

One thing many Berks County couples do not give much thought to unless they separate involves combining their personal assets. Divorce is often challenging enough when establishing spousal and child support, custody and parenting time. When concerns arise regarding the division of assets, re-divi...

You may have a situation where you or a loved one needs to create a power of attorney in Pennsylvania. In this situation, it is a good idea to understand exactly what this legal document is and what it can do. According to the National Caregivers Library, a power of attorney grants a person the r...

Like many other states, Pennsylvania is quickly seeing its family courts lean more towards enforcing co-parenting over giving one parent sole custody of the children in a custody case. The idea of co-parenting, according to Money Crashers, is when both parents work together to parent their childr...

Some Pennsylvania entrepreneurs decide that for their new startup company, forming a limited liability company (LLC) is the way to go. According to an article in Forbes magazine, an LLC is a popular choice because of the limited liability it offers to its owners, as well as a lack of double taxat...

You may think that once you die, all your earthly worries are over. However, the IRS cannot let you pass on without one more tax return. More specifically, the heirs in Pennsylvania are responsible for ensuring the final taxes of a deceased person are filed. While the person who has died will not...

Estate plans include more than just wills and powers of attorney. While these are important, they may not be enough depending on your assets. When you have a small business, you need more than a will passing it along to your successor. Instead, you need to make a succession plan. A succession pla...

One of the first decisions you must make when starting a business in Pennsylvania is what your business structure will be. One of the most common options is a general partnership. This is a business with two or more owners who usually share equally in ownership rights. It is important to understa...

According to the Pew Research Center, dads are spending more time with their kids than they used to. Moms still handle more of the child care, but dads are catching up. Unfortunately, 63 percent of U.S. dads say they spend too little time with their children. The same isn't true for moms. Only ab...

A common concern for many parents in Pennsylvania is that their children successfully inherit their assets. To this end, some residents of the Keystone State may decide to set up a joint tenancy account. While it is true that joint tenacy can pass a parent's assets to children, an article from Fo...

Serving as executor of an estate can be a weighty responsibility. Even smart, experienced people can make mistakes. Knowing some of the more common pitfalls in advance can help you avoid them as you navigate the process of administering the estate and dealing with probate. A Pennsylvania executor...