You’ve worked hard to build a life worth protecting.
We’ll help you create a personalized estate plan that secures your legacy and shields your family from unnecessary court battles, taxes, and uncertainty.
Life is unpredictable. A sudden illness or accident could leave your family scrambling to figure out what you would want, and without a clear plan, Pennsylvania’s laws decide for you.
At HighPoint Law Offices, we believe your legacy should be handled your way, not the government’s.
We work with you to create a custom strategy that protects your family, your values, and your assets.
A thoughtful estate plan includes more than just a will or trust.
It’s a toolkit designed to give you control, minimize taxes, and protect what matters most.
Designates who inherits your assets and who will care for your minor children. Without one, the state makes those decisions for you.
Helps your estate avoid probate, ensures privacy, and allows a smooth transfer of assets to your loved ones.
Name someone you trust to handle your finances, preventing the need for court-appointed guardianship.
Ensures your medical preferences are respected and gives your family access to critical health info in an emergency.
When Mark passed away unexpectedly, his wife, Ellen, thought everything would pass smoothly.
But without a trust in place, their family home got tied up in probate court, and Ellen had to wait 15 months and spend over $20,000 in legal fees to access the property they’d lived in for decades.
Ellen’s story is more common than you think. Without proactive planning, your family could face emotional stress, court delays, and financial strain, at the worst possible time.
That’s why we do what we do. We help families like yours avoid those painful outcomes by planning ahead. Let’s make sure your story has a better ending.
A proper Estate Plan has a lot of benefits and can help you:
A well-crafted estate plan makes administration easier.
A well-structured plan safeguards your home, savings, business, and inheritance from creditors, lawsuits, and taxes.
From naming guardians for your children to leaving a gift to your church or favorite nonprofit, estate planning puts your values into action.
Estate planning is the process of arranging how your assets, healthcare decisions, and guardianship (if relevant) will be handled during your lifetime or after death. A good plan sets up wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives healthcare directives and more.
Even if your estate is modest, estate planning matters because:
It names who will make decisions if you become incapacitated.
It sets guardians for minor children.
It ensures your assets go where you want them to go (not default state law).
It can help avoid confusion and delay for your loved ones.
At a minimum, a solid estate plan for Pennsylvania should include (but may not be limited to):
If you die “intestate” (without a valid will) in Pennsylvania, your assets will be distributed according to Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws rather than your personal wishes. This can result in unexpected heirs inheriting and court-appointed administrators managing your estate.
Yes, you can disinherit children in Pennsylvania. However, disinheriting a spouse is more complex even if omitted from your will, a spouse may claim an “elective share” (at least one-third of your estate) unless there is a valid prenup/postnup.
You should review (and potentially update) your estate plan:
Every 3-5 years as a rule of thumb
Or sooner if you undergo a major life change: marriage, divorce, birth/adoption of a child, death of a beneficiary, purchase/sale of major assets, move out of state, or significant change in health.
Accounts with named beneficiaries (life insurance, IRAs, 401(k)s, some bank accounts) pass directly to the beneficiary, bypassing the will and probate. If these designations are outdated or inconsistent with your will/trust, your overall plan may unravel.
Pennsylvania has an inheritance tax (paid by beneficiaries) rather than a state estate tax. Rates depend on the relationship of the beneficiary to the decedent. This tax should be considered in your estate planning to reduce unexpected burden on heirs.
Yes. If you move to another state, different laws may apply (wills, trusts, property classification, community property vs separate property). It’s wise to review your plan after relocation to ensure it remains valid / optimal.
You’ve spent a lifetime building something worth protecting. Estate planning is your chance to leave clear instructions, preserve your values, and give your loved ones the gift of peace of mind.
At HighPoint Law Offices, we’ll walk you through the process, explain your options in plain English, and craft a plan that fits your unique life and goals.
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