We Provide Estate and Trust Administration in Carlisle, PA
At Keystone Elder Law P.C., our Carlisle estate & trust administration lawyer is a skilled, diligent, and solutions-focused advocate for clients. We are knowledgeable and experienced. If you have any questions about estate administration or trust administration, we can help. Contact our Carlisle, PA estate planning attorney today for your confidential initial consultation.
Estate Administration Services in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Estate administration is complicated. We assist personal representatives with every stage of the Pennsylvania estate administration process. Our services include preparing petitions for probate, securing the grant of letters, providing required notices, and managing the estate inventory. Among other things, our Carlisle, PA estate administration attorneys are prepared to evaluate creditor claims, follow priority rules for payment, and coordinate all Pennsylvania inheritance tax filings. We can also help to prepare final accountings for Orphans’ Court review or for family settlement agreements. If you have questions about estate administration, our firm can help.
Trust Administration Services in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
With trust administration, the details matter. Our Carlisle, PA trust administration attorneys help trustees carry out their duties under Pennsylvania trust law, including the Pennsylvania Uniform Trust Act. Along with other things, we are prepared to review trust documents, identify beneficiaries, and establish a clear plan for administration. Our attorneys also help clients with asset marshaling, investment management oversight, accounting obligations, and tax reporting. If you have any questions about trust administration, our Carlisle, PA lawyers can help.
We are Leaders in Estate & Trust Administration in Pennsylvania
Keystone Elder Law P.C. is a boutique law firm that provides a full range of estate administration services and trust administration services in Carlisle, Cumberland County, and throughout the entire surrounding region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are proactive. Among other things, our Carlisle attorneys are prepared to:
- Hear your story and answer your questions;
- Help you gather and organize documents/records; and
- Take whatever action is needed to protect your best interests.
Estate and Trust Administration in Carlisle, PA: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does estate administration take in Pennsylvania?
It depends. With that being said, most estates take at least one year because creditors have a claim period and inheritance tax returns require formal processing. The more complex the estate, the longer it can take. Of course, disputes can also add to the length of the process.
Do all estates in Pennsylvania require probate?
No. Small estates and assets with valid beneficiary designations may avoid probate. If you have questions about small estate administration, we are here to help.
What are a trustee’s main duties under Pennsylvania law?
A trustee must act with loyalty, prudence, and impartiality under the Pennsylvania Uniform Trust Act. The trustee must manage assets responsibly and follow the terms of the trust.
Contact Our Carlisle Estate & Trust Administration Attorney
At Keystone Elder Law P.C., our Carlisle estate & trust administration lawyers have the experience that you can trust. Call us at 717-697-3223 or contact us online to arrange a completely confidential, no obligation initial consultation. We provide estate administration and trust administration services in Carlisle and throughout all of Cumberland County.
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REGISTER HERE for LONG-TERM CARE PLANNINGPower of Attorney
A Power of Attorney can be used to give another person the right to sell a car, home, or other property in the place of the maker of the Power of Attorney. A Power of Attorney might be used to allow another person to sign a contract for the maker of the Power of Attorney (the person who makes a power of attorney is called the “principal”). It can be used to give another person the authority to make health care decisions, do financial transactions, or sign legal documents that the principal cannot do for one reason or another. With few exceptions, Powers of Attorney can give others the right to do any legal acts that the makers of the Powers of Attorney could do them themselves. A General Power of Attorney gives the “power of attorney Agent” or simply “Agent” (the legal name of the person who is authorized to act for the principal) very broad powers to do almost every legal act that the principal can do. When Elder Law Attorneys draft general Powers of Attorney, they still list the types of things the Agent can do but these powers are very broad. People often do general Powers of Attorney to plan ahead for the day when they may not be able to take care of things themselves. By doing the General Power of Attorney, they designate someone who can do these things for them.
Normal Powers of Attorney terminate if and when the principal becomes incompetent. Yet many people do Powers of Attorney for the sole purpose of designating someone else to act for them if they cannot act for themselves. It is precisely when persons can no longer do for themselves that a Power of Attorney is most valuable. To remedy this inconsistency, the law created a Durable Power of Attorney that remains effective even if a person becomes incompetent. The only thing that distinguishes a Durable Power of Attorney from a regular Power of Attorney is special wording that states that the power survives the principal’s incapacity. Even a Durable Power of Attorney, however, may be terminated under certain circumstances if court proceedings are filed. Most Powers of Attorney done today are durable.
Yes. At the time the Power of Attorney is signed, the principal must be capable of understanding the document. Although a Power of Attorney is still valid if and when a person becomes incompetent, the principal must understand what he or she is signing at the moment of execution. That means a person can be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease or be otherwise incompetent sometimes but as long as they have a lucid moment and are competent at the moment they sign the Power of Attorney, it is valid even if they do not remember signing it at a later date. At the time it is signed, the principal must know what the Power of Attorney does, whom they are giving the Power of Attorney to, and what property may be affected by the Power of Attorney.
Any competent person eighteen years of age and older can serve as an agent. Certain financial institutions can also serve. There is no course of education that agent must complete or any test that Agent must pass. Because a Power of Attorney is such a potentially powerful document, agents should be chosen for reliability and trustworthiness. In the wrong hands, a Power of Attorney can be a license to steal. It can be a big responsibility to serve as an agent.
For Medicaid
Medicare is health insurance and covers medical services such as physician appointments, therapy, blood tests, x rays, medical procedures and hospitalization. Medicare will sometime pay for rehabilitation in a long-term care facility for a period of 20 to 100 days, but not longer. In long-term care, Medicaid covers the cost of ongoing support services for daily functioning, such as room and board in a nursing home.
Medicaid is a federal program that is overseen by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance and is administered by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid funds are not available to pay for assisted living or personal care.
For Medicaid to pay for care in a nursing home, an individual recipient must be determined to need a nursing home level of care by a physician and the local Office of Aging. An individual whose income is not greater than three times the poverty level may keep up to $8,000 of total resources, but may otherwise keep only $2,400. The cash value of life insurance counts as a resource, but one car and a residential home does not count as a resource.
What an amazing team you have!!! Taking charge and getting things done, but also being so understanding and compassionate
Empowering Clients with Holistic Planning at
Keystone Elder Law
At Keystone Elder Law, we believe that the physical, social, legal, and financial considerations of our clients all intertwine. We utilize an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate each area, which allows for the creation of a plan that addresses the concerns of the individual as a whole as well as the family. To this end, our model of practice includes a Care Coordinator (usually a nurse or social worker), whose expertise complements our team of attorneys.
When the road of life is smooth, decisions about legal and financial matters are easy to push aside for “a rainy day.” Planning ahead, however, will allow for more options as you view the map of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Don’t let a crisis limit your choices or derail your plans.
(717) 697-3223