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West Chester Pa Practice Areas
John provides a full range of services for Pa Wills: drafting, review, amendment, revocation, execution and probate. He provides reliable guidance for testators and executors.
His experience in the probate court enables him to provide practical advice for testators from all walks of life. His work with the formation of wills gives us insight into how executors should interpret various aspects of a will.
Whether you are a testator formulating an estate plan or an executor implementing a decedent’s wishes, John B. Whalen, Jr. Esq. can simplify many complex aspects of the tasks before you.
John offers pertinent legal advice to obtain the results you need in a timely manner with the least stress possible. Once executed, your will remains your final statement of your intentions until you amend or revoke it.
He recommends reviewing your will every three to five years and updating it to reflect your current wishes.
West Chester Pa Beneficiary Lawyers
There are many factors that can affect the distribution of estate assets. In some cases, there may be a Pa Will – in other cases, there may not be a Will. In still other cases, there may be a dispute involving the administration of the estate. For example, a beneficiary may disagree with how the executor or personal representative is distributing assets.
West Chester Pa Estate Administration Lawyers
Pa Estate Administration is the process of settling a decedent’s affairs. When a loved one passes away, it can be an emotional time. In addition to grieving their passing, those that survive them must tie up all the legal and financial loose ends related to their life and estate. This includes addressing their Pa Last Will and following its instructions.
West Chester Pa Estate Lawyers
Pa Estate law comprises many areas of law. However, all of these areas of law focus on taking care of one’s person and property. Estate law is all of the laws that impact how a person makes decisions about their affairs. A Pa Estate is anything that makes up a person’s net worth. Very simply, an estate is what a person has in their own name alone.
West Chester Pa Estate Litigation Lawyers
Most estates are settled easily. Yet there are times when other factors complicate the issue, creating a situation that requires more careful consideration. For example, a family business, an estate that is in bankruptcy, or an estate with significant real estate may become complicated quite quickly. This is where estate litigation comes into play.
West Chester Pa Estate Planning Lawyers
An attorney who specializes in Pennsylvania Estate Planning can help you create a plan (including Pa Last Wills, Pa Powers of Attorney, and Pa Living Wills, etc.) to protect you if you become unable to manage your financial affairs.
Pennsylvania Estate Planning allows you to make decisions now so your wishes can be carried out when you die (or become incapacitated).
West Chester Pa Powers of Attorney Lawyers
When you execute a legal document called a power of attorney, you are authorizing another individual to make certain decisions on your behalf. The person who signs the document is called the “Principal” – the person who is authorized to make decisions is called as the “Agent.”
West Chester Pa Living Wills Lawyers
Living Wills are also referred to as an advance directive or a health care directive. They are legal documents that communicate your desire in the event that you are unable to speak for you. They do not go into effect unless you are incapacitated and unable to express yourself.
West Chester Pa Trusts Lawyers
Trusts are legal documents that allow you to control how your assets will be allocated or managed. You are considered the grantor and the person that manages and distributes assets in the trust is known as the trustee. Individuals who receive money or other assets are the beneficiaries.
Property placed in a trust, unlike wills, is not subject to probate. You can also create a revocable trust which can be canceled or revoked at any time while you are alive. Trusts can be set up for a child’s education or to reduce estate taxes.
West Chester Pa Last Wills Lawyers
A Will is an important document to execute in order to avoid disputes about how your assets will be divided when you die. The executor who administers the distribution of assets from your estate will allocate your possessions as you specified. You should periodically review your Will to make sure it is still relevant and accurate. Life changing events, such as the birth of a child or a marriage, may require amendments to the original document.
West Chester Pa Last Wills Contests Lawyers
A loved one’s legacy can ease the pain of loss by reminding heirs of a departed family member’s enduring love. However, when questions arise about the validity of a will or the management of an estate, uncertainty can prevent closure.
West Chester Pa Estate Litigation Lawyers
Most estates, especially when there is a proper will in place, are easily settled. Yet there are times when other factors complicate the issue, creating a situation that requires more careful consideration. As an example, a family business, an estate that is in bankruptcy or an estate that holds significant amounts of real estate may become complicated. This is where estate litigation comes into play.
West Chester Pa Estate Taxation Lawyers
When an individual acts in a fiduciary capacity (i.e., a Pa Executor of a Pa Last Will or a Pa Trustee of financial assets), they must keep accurate records.
Those records should show how money was spent, invested or distributed while under the fiduciary’s care and control.
Proper accounting can bring to light the mismanagement or bad investment of funds should an issue arise with an interested party.
West Chester Pa Guardianships Lawyers
The Pa Guardianship process can be filled with emotions. Realizing that a loved one is no longer capable of caring for his or her self can be difficult to accept. For the past twenty-five (25) years, Attorney Whalen has built a reputation for providing compassionate legal care for his clients, putting their needs and interests first while navigating emotionally trying circumstances.
West Chester Pa Probate Law Lawyers
The Pa Probate process, itself, is a very simple process. However, it is merely the beginning of the Pa Estate Administration process. Pennsylvania Estate Administration involves the settling a decedent’s affairs, and can (and does) involve many other steps.
West Chester Pa Probate Guide
The West Chester Pa Attorneys Guide is the core of this website. It consists of the best, most important articles, posts, and pages on this website. Their focus is to provide the best and most complete information on a particular topic – not to sell services.
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John B. Whalen, Jr., JD., LL.M., is an AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent 5.0 and Avvo Rated 10.0 Superb. He has obtained over 95 client reviews and peer endorsements premier and prestigious Attorney and Counselor at Law.
Mr. Whalen is featured on AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent 5.0, Avvo Rated 10.0 Superb, Avvo, Justia, Lawyers, Martindale, Nolo, Quora, and Thumbtack.
John is located at 118 Westdale Road, Upper Darby, Pa., 19082. He serves all surrounding counties, on all 7 days, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. His office is open on all evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Mr. Whalen provides free initial consults all seven days, provides home visits, and provides flat fee structures. He can be reached by email at [email protected], and by telephone at 1-610-999-2157.
John has amassed over 60 prestigious and premier professional awards and over 5000 client reviews and endorsements. Mr. Whalen has achieved the AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent award from Martindale. He has also received the AV Peer Judicial Preeminent award.
John has also received the Avvo Rated Superb 10.00 award; the Avvo Rated Top Lawyer award; the Clients’ Choice Award; and the Top One Percent (1%) award.
John is the recipient of the Legum Magister Post-Doctorate Degree (LL.M.) in Taxation (from the Villanova University School of Law). John is also the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award – which was awarded for Wills, Trusts, and Estates, and by the Widener University School of Law.
He is also the recipient of the ABA-BNA Law Award for Academic Excellence (from the Widener University School of Law).
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