Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

What % of Estate goes to wife?

What percentage of the estate goes to the wife, after 31 good years of marriage, and does the insurance money and stock [that was a joint account] count and get subtracted from what she is suppose to get, even though it wasn't added into the estate. Example; If estate is worth $600,000.00, and wife is entitled to one third or $200,000.00,or is it one half and $300,000.00, does the insurance and stock that is not added into estate[worth $87,000.00]only leave her to collect $113,000.00 or $213,000.00. The multi-million dollar business was signed over to his son a few years ago, so that don't count, but he wants it all and is lying about estate value. Please help, I only want what is rightfully mine. I have reason to beleive my step-son and his lawyer changed the will before I got to see it. It took 3 weeks to get it, my step-son got it the day after the funeral. The lawyer I have doesn't seem to know too much about estates, and he is just taking there word for everything, my daughter has been more helpful than him, but she's not a lawyer, and doesn't know what is legally right. Please answer I need someone to give me an answer, this is going back and forth for 9 months. Thank you--in Pa.


Asked on 11/11/04, 8:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Johns Mark Johns, Esquire

Re: What % of Estate goes to wife?

A widow is entitled to a so called "widow's share" if she decides to decline what is left in the will. A forensic accountant can properly value assets to that purpose. A expert document examiner can determine if alterations have been made to a document. I offer free consultations.

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Answered on 11/11/04, 8:56 pm


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