Barton Law

06/02/2026

04/01/2026

For some, their children are counting down the days until they wake to Easter baskets overflowing with chocolate bunnies and jellybeans. For others, their children are eagerly anticipating their Passover Seder and the search for the hidden matzah (afikoman). Both holidays center on reflection, family and meaningful traditions being passed from one generation to the next. As we set aside time to celebrate and be with loved ones, it's a good time of year to reflect on our own legacy and the plans we have in place.

So what does this have to do with your favorite Easter candy? Most of us have that one treat in the basket that we guard carefully. In my family it's usually the Asher's coconut eggs or the last Reese's bunny, but I'd argue in most families it's not the Peeps or the jellybeans. Your estate planning documents deserve the same level of care. You don't want to treat these critical documents like jellybeans, available for anyone to grab whenever they feel like. Instead, documents such as your Will, Powers of Attorney and Living Will should be reserved only for the trusted people that have specific roles in your plan.

For those of you celebrating Passover in the upcoming weeks, think of this as treating your documents like the afikoman, hidden away, but meant to be found when the time is right.

You can certainly communicate your wishes to other family members and loved ones when it feels appropriate, but also want to be mindful about sharing the documents themselves. I advise my clients to keep their original documents somewhere safe, moisture-free and accessible, but also in a space that feels private. I often tell my clients - you don't want to be so discreet that no one can help you when they need to, but you also don't want to be so forthcoming that you open the door to misuse or premature conflict either. Only the most trusted people in your plan need to know where to locate them if and when they become necessary.

As a reminder, your documents should be stored in a way that protects them from potential water, moisture, and fire damage.

I wish you a joyful holiday season surrounded by loved ones and filled with lasting memories.

To schedule an appointment for an estate planning or probate matter, please call 267-625-8877 or book online at bartonestatelaw.com/appointment.

10/30/2025

Have you ever wondered what happens to unclaimed valuables left in safe deposit boxes?

The items are held by the State for at least 3 years and then auctioned off by the Treasury Department to make room in the vault for new items. Miliary decorations are never auctioned.

Make sure your important belongings stay with your loved ones by leaving your safe deposit box information with your estate planning documents.

Today is the second day of the current PA Unclaimed Property Auction. To check out some neat finds and for more information, visit https://patreasury.gov/newsroom/archive/2025/10-27-BUP.html.

10/20/2025

For parents of young children, I've found that one of the biggest motivators to execute estate planning documents is to nominate a guardian in their Wills for minor children. Parents naturally worry about who will care for their children if they cannot. This is extremely important to plan for, however, it's only one part of the plan. You should also consider:

1. Who should care for your children if you’re alive but unable to care for them (i.e. illness, incapacity, drug/alcohol treatment)?
2. Who should have authority to make medical decisions for them if you're unavailable (i.e. grandparents that babysit often or are babysitting while you're on vacation)?
3. Are there any family members you would not want to serve as guardian of your minor children under any circumstances?

Do you want to discuss this in more detail? Visit bartonestatelaw.com to schedule an appointment.

10/14/2025

Over the years, I've heard many clients say this. This misconception likely stems from tradition and a feeling of fairness, but there’s no rule requiring it. It's far more important to choose the child (or another trusted person) best equipped to handle the administration of your estate rather than focusing on birth order.

10/06/2025

As online banking continues to become the norm for most of us, it also means our accounts are easier to access than ever before. However, at a loved one's end-of-life, this easy access sometimes results in what I call "panic transfers", last minute transfers of gifts of money in anticipation of your loved one passing.

While often well-intended, these transfers can create unnecessary complications, family disputes, and unwanted tax consequences. Before moving any money, slow down, speak with an estate attorney, and make sure you have the legal authority to transfer funds. Just because you can "log-in", doesn't mean you should.

10/01/2025

If you've ever been an executor, your phone has probably looked like this at least once.

Administering an estate (or trust) takes time and the executor is responsible for carefully moving through the steps to ensure all requirements are met. Making distributions too early can expose the executor to personal liability. As a beneficiary it can feel like a long time, but it’s imperative to wait until the estate is in a comfortable position before distributing funds.

09/22/2025

In Pennsylvania, having all signatures notarized makes your Will self-proving. This means that, if your Will is otherwise valid, the Court can accept it without requiring the witnesses to testify about the validity of your signature. This helps to:

⌚ Speed up the probate process.
💲 Lower probate fees.
🛑 Reduce disputes over validity of your Will.
❌ Eliminate the need to locate witnesses after your death, and
🛣️ Provide an easier path for your Executor.

Dust off your Will and confirm it's self-proving.