2017 Avvo Superb
Dear John Whalen …
Recognitions show the outside world that you are someone …
… who can be relied on …
… who can deliver …
… who stands above the rest …
… Put Your Excellence On Display!
2017 Avvo Superb
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2019 Lawyers of Distinction
What makes Lawyers of Distinction unique amongst lawyer marketing companies is that they publicize member names year-round through press releases and online announcements in The New York Times, USA Today, Fox News, CNN, Huffington Post and on social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Membership rosters are advertised nationally in print through the New York Times, Bar Journals, The National Bar Journal, Trial Magazine and numerous other outlets.
John B. Whalen, Jr., JD., LL.M., is an AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent 5.0 and Avvo Rated 10.0 Superb (obtaining over 104 client reviews and peer endorsements) premier and prestigious Attorney and Counselor at Law. He is featured on Martindale.com, Nolo.com, Avvo.com, Lawyers.com, Justia.com, Lawyers of Distinction, and Linkedin.
Mr. Whalen has achieved the AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent award, the AV Peer Review Judicial Preeminent award, the Avvo Rated Superb 10.00 award, the Avvo Rated Top Lawyer award, the Clients’ Choice Award, and the Top One Percent (1%) award.
He serves all surrounding counties, on all 7 days, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and on evenings, weekends, and holidays. His main office is located at 1199 Heyward Road, Wayne, PA, 19087. He provides free initial consultations all seven days, provides home visits, a provides flat fee client structures. He can be reached by email at jw60297@me.com, and by telephone at 1-610-407-0220. He has amassed over 60 prestigious and premier professional awards and over 100 client reviews and endorsements. He concentrates his three decade career in the legal areas of Pa Beneficiary Law, Pa Estate Administration Law, Pa Estate Law, Pa Estate Litigation, Pa Estate Planning, Pa Estate Taxation, Pa Guardianships, and Pa Probate Law.
Media Pa Probate Law – 3 – Taxes
Media Pa Probate Law – 3 – Taxes
A major area of misinformation and misunderstandings in the estate law and estate planning areas are the taxes that are imposed upon one’s death in Pennsylvania.
Very simply, two death taxes can be imposed on the death of Pennsylvania residents – the:
- Federal Estate Tax
- Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax
However, and unlike the income tax, which is very descriptive in its title as it is imposed upon your income, the phrases Estate Tax and Inheritance Tax are misnomers in that may tend to belie the actual fact that these are taxes imposed by virtue of your death.
Media Pa Probate Law – 3 – Taxes – Federal Estate Tax
Historically, the Federal Estate Tax has begun at a wealth threshold. If you possess less than the wealth threshold at your death, the federal estate tax will not be applicable.
If it is applicable, the tax is imposed on a percentage scale according to the amount of your wealth (i.e., potentially 47% of the value of your assets above the wealth threshold).
The current wealth threshold of the Federal Estate Tax has been changing drastically throughout the last decade. It has increased, disappeared, and reappeared in 2011.
In 2005, the threshold was $1,500,000.00; in 2006, 2007, and 2008, the threshold was $2,000,000.00; in 2009, the threshold was $3,500,000.00; and in 2010, the Federal Estate Tax was scheduled to be, and in fact was, eliminated.
However, and although the Federal Estate Tax was scheduled to return with a wealth threshold of just $1,000,000.00, in 2011, it did not. The Internal Revenue Service changed that law and “announced the 2015 estate and gift tax limits […] and the federal estate tax exemption rises to $5.43 million per person, and the annual gift exclusion amount stays at $14,000.” “IRS Announces 2015 Estate And Gift Tax Limits”
The federal estate tax exemption—that’s the amount an individual can leave to heirs without having to pay federal estate tax—will be $5.43 million in 2015, up from $5.34 million for 2014. That’s another $90,000 that can be passed on tax-free. The top federal estate tax rate is 40%.
Media Pa Probate Law – 3 – Taxes – Federal Estate Tax
The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax has no wealth threshold and starts immediately.
It is imposed on a percentage based on the relationship of the beneficiary. Spouses and Charities are taxed at a 00.00% tax rate, lineal descendants are taxed at a 04.50% tax rate, brothers and sisters (but not brothers-in-law nor sisters-in-law) are taxed at a 12.00% tax rate, and everyone else is taxed at a 15.00% tax rate.
Media Pa Probate Law – 2 – Planning
Media Pa Probate Law – 2 – Planning
There are four primary documents that tend to form the foundation of most good Estate Plans.
Pa Power of Attorney
Pa Advance Directive for Health Care (“a Pa Living Will”)
Pa Last Will and Testament (Pa Last Will)
Pa Trust (at times)
Media Pa Probate Law – 2 – Note
Although each document has a different purpose, each document designates someone who is responsible for carrying out the wishes set forth in the document.
I refer to these people – those in charge – as “The Bosses.”
Alice
It is so rare to find an attorney who is willing to meet you at your place of convenience rather than always having to go to their office.
I am extremely impressed with how John is so personable and service oriented.
I would definitely refer him as the attorney to take care of your probate and will needs.
Media Pa Probate Law – 1 – Intro
Media Pa Probate Law – 1 – Intro
The best gift you can give your loved ones is to have your Pa Estate Planning complete.
Unfortunately, to a great extent, misinformation about critical legal terms such as inheritance tax, estate tax, probate, avoiding probate, simple will, living will, and living trust, tends to lead to misunderstandings of estate planning.
These misunderstandings, in turn, tend to lead to mistakes in estate planning.
These mistakes, again, in turn, tend to lead to unintended results after one’s death.
Media Pa Probate Law – 1 – Misunderstandings
In an effort to eliminate such misinformation, misunderstandings, and mistakes, this article will hopefully serve as a primer – in very simple terms – of the basic, core issues and legal terms of Estate Planning and its basic documents.
John B. Whalen, Jr., JD., LL.M., is an AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent 5.0 and Avvo Rated 10.0 Superb (obtaining over 95 client reviews and peer endorsements) premier and prestigious Attorney and Counselor at Law. He serves all surrounding counties, on all 7 days, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and on evenings, weekends, and holidays. He provides free initial consultations all seven days, provides home visits, a provides flat fee client structures. He can be reached by email at jw60297@me.com, and by telephone at 1-610-407-0220. He has amassed over 60 prestigious and premier professional awards and over 5000 client reviews and endorsements. He concentrates his three decade career in the legal areas of Pa Probate, Pa Estate Planning (including Pa Last Wills, Pa Powers of Attorney, Pa Living Wills), Pa Estate Administration, Pa Estate Taxation, Pa Estate Litigation, Pa Beneficiary Representation, and Pa Guardianships.
