Western PA's Premier Estate Administration & Estate Planning Law Firm

Wills

We strive to make the process of estate planning and estate administration as simple and straightforward as possible. At American Wills and Estates we speak to our clients in plain English, and we are sensitive to the fact that many of our clients are still grieving the loss of a loved one. Our number one goal is to put our clients at ease and to reassure them with competency and compassion in their times of need.


Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes

JAMES GANDOLFINI died on 6/13/2013 in Rome as the result of a Heart Attack.

ESTATE MISTAKE:

Tony Soprano might have been a wise guy, but the actor who played him might not have been too smart for not putting his estate into a trust. He left only 20 percent of his estate to his wife, who had an unlimited deduction as his spouse. So 80 percent of his $70 million... Read More

Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes

PAUL W. WALKER, IV

AGE: 40

DIED: 11/30/2013; Valencia, CA; Car Crash

ESTATE MISTAKE:

The "Fast & Furious" actor used a pour-over will to funnel his $25 million estate into a trust for his 15-year-old daughter. This arrangement makes the estate a public affair. He also failed to update his plan for 12 years, so it might not have represented... Read More

3 Important Estate Planning Considerations for Our Aging Population

Here's a great little article highlighting 3 important estate planning considerations for our ever aging population.  Take a read.

Three crucial areas to discuss with your clients
Jul 5, 2016John M. Goralka | Trusts & Estates

In the United States, we’re all living longer—at least, I plan to do so if at all possible. Today, men live an average of 76... Read More

Protecting Digital Assets

PROTECTING DIGITAL ASSETS:

6 Important Steps to Take on Death or Incapacity

It used to be enough for a fiduciary and his attorney to simply search through a decedent’s or incapacitated person’s papers in his or her workplace and at home, watch the mailbox for a 90 day cycle, and review tax returns and account statements. Things are more complicated now and a... Read More

EVERYONE NEEDS BASIC ESTATE PLANNING

If you assume that you don’t have any assets, you could be making the mistake of skipping out on an estate plan entirely. An estate plan is one of the most important collections of documents that you will have and there are many reasons why.

Every person has an estate with very few exceptions.  Even a young child who has a custodial account in his or her name could... Read More

Estate Planning is Important at Any Age

There’s a tendency to think that Estate Planning in Pennsylvania is only for those at or near retirement age. This is based on the premise that estate planning is only for outlining what happens to your belongings after you pass away, but it’s just as important that you plan for your life as it is your death.

A sudden disability, illness, or accident can raise a lot... Read More

Basic Estate Planning Documents Explained

ESTATE PLANNING GRAPHIC BREAKDOWN

Most basic estate plans consist of a Last Will and Testament, a Durable Power of Attorney and a Living Will.  Here's a handy little graphic that we've put together that provides a simple breakdown and description of what each of these documents is and how they can work together to give your family the peace of mind that having and effective estate plan can provide.  At... Read More
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Pittsburgh Probate Estate Administration and Estate Planning Lawyers