Charlee Sweigart

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Kim Carter PatersonRussell, Krafft & Gruber, LLP is pleased to announce that Kim Carter Paterson has joined the firm’s expanding Trusts and Estates practice group. Kim previously served clients in Lancaster and surrounding communities for more than 20 years in private practice with Blakinger Thomas and will continue to provide personal service with the added convenience of Russell, Krafft & Gruber’s satellite offices in Willow Street and Ephrata.

Kim works closely with individuals and families to develop and implement estate plans that are tailored to their unique needs, including special needs trusts, long-term care planning, charitable giving and various tax planning options for complex estate plans. She also assists families with all aspects of estate and trust administration.  Kim represents clients in Orphans’ Court proceedings, such as guardianship actions for the appointment of guardians for incapacitated persons and minors, spousal elections and fiduciary accountings and adjudications. Her practice includes a particular emphasis on legal issues often encountered by the elderly.  Kim is also certified to appear before the United States Board of Veterans’ Affairs to represent veterans and their spouses in claims for veterans’ pension benefits.

Kim has been active in the Lancaster community throughout her legal career.  She is a current member of the Planned Giving Council for Hospice and Community Care and is a past member of the Boards of Excentia, Hospice of Lancaster County, No Longer Alone Ministries, S. June Smith Center and National Wild Turkey Federation, Southern End Strutters Chapter. Kim is a founding member and former secretary of the Manor Softball Board.

Kim is a member of the Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Associations and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts, the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Columbia-Wrightsville bridgeFriday, June 28 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge Burning. On this night the Confederate troops were positioned to cross the Susquehanna River to invade Harrisburg, and then Lancaster and Philadelphia.  Their plans were derailed when Union troops retreating from York joined members of the Pennsylvania militia and a company of African American militiamen from Camp William Penn on the York County side of the river.  An article from the Sunday News provides a detailed look back at the events that occurred 150 years ago. 

The Columbia-Wrightsville bridge is of particular interest to us as our Lancaster office is located only a few miles east of this beautiful historic Lancaster County landmark. You may have noticed The Lancaster Law Blog features a picture of the bridge in the mast head. 

The Flames Across the Susquehanna event is planned to commemorate this anniversary on Friday evening, June 28 at 6:30 pm.  You can view this event from the grounds of John Wright Restaurant on North Front Street, Wrightsville.  After the opening ceremony, the 25 brazier-topped piers that once supported the covered bridge will be set aflame.  Fireworks will follow at 10:00 pm.  You can read further details about the specific preparation for the event on WGAL.com. 

If you are interested in learning more about Lancaster County history please visit: www.lancasterhistory.org and www.padutchcountry.com. Also, one of our blog post from 2009 contains additional information on Columbia-Wrightsville bridge.

On the day following the horrible events in Boston on April 15, the Internal Revenue Service announced that it would provide a three month extension for taxpayers affected by the explosions to file and pay their federal taxes.

While the extension automatically applies to taxpayers who live in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, it also applies to victims, their families and first responders who live elsewhere. The extension also applies to taxpayers whose tax return preparers were adversely affected.

During the extension period, no filing or payment penalties will apply. However, interest will still apply to any payments made after the April 15 deadline. Interest will be charged at three percent, compounded daily.

Eligible taxpayers living outside of Suffolk County can claim the extension by calling the IRS at 1-866-562-5227 beginning on April 23. Eligible taxpayers who receive tax penalty notices can also call this number to have those penalties abated.

Within the next week, it is expected that the IRS will issue a notice clarifying the application of the extension and the determination of who will be eligible.
  

Today is Lancaster County’s first 24-hour online giving challenge. The Lancaster County Community Foundation has set aside $250,000 to match a portion of donations made to preregistered nonprofits on November 30, 2012.  There will also be an additional $50,000 in prizes offered throughout the day.  
 
You can make your donation at www.extragive.org today until 11:59 pm.  This is your chance to donate to those nonprofit organizations that benefit the community you live, work, and play in.

As we approach the end of National Estate Planning Awareness Week we hope you will reflect on the status of your estate plan. Proper estate planning can help secure your future by ensuring that your assets are distributed in the way you desire,  providing direction in the event of incapacitation, determining care for your children, and granting you peace of mind.

If you have yet to begin the process, make it a priority to contact an estate planning professional. If you already have begun planning, it is a good time to review your plan to make any needed changes. It is estimated that over 120 million Americans do not have up-to-date estate plans. Whether your estate planning documents are incomplete due to changes in your life or nonexistent, the lack of a current estate plan can cost your friends and family financial hardship and emotional distress. These problems can be easily minimized with the proper advanced planning,  so don’t let another day go by without making the proper preparations.  
 

 

On September 27, 2008, Congress declared the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Russell, Krafft & Gruber, LLP is encouraging you to use this week as a reminder and opportunity to start or continue the discussion regarding estate planning with your family, your attorney, and your other professional advisors.  

A basic estate plan begins with a will, power of attorney and living will.  The following are links to earlier articles on these subjects.

For additional information on other estate planning issues see all of our past articles relating to estate planning. To help get you started on thinking about your own estate planning needs we will continue to blog throughout the week about the important issues that surround estate planning.

If you have questions about estate planning, or would like to meet with an attorney about creating, changing, or just updating your estate plan please contact our office.  For more information about National Estate Planning Awareness Week visit www.estateplanninganswers.org. 

 

In honor of Labor Day, Russell, Krafft & Gruber, LLP will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2012 , as we celebrate the dedication and achievements of the American worker. The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City as planned by the Central Labor Union. In the 1800s the average worker made less than $20 per week. Average income is not the only thing that has changed significantly over the years; labor laws and workplace trends are constantly changing. If this Labor Day reminds you of employment concerns you have as an employee or an employer, you may want to check out the Employment Law section listed under topics of this blog.

Labor Day also marks the end of summer as children go back to school. If you are squeezing in one last trip over the holiday weekend, remember that automobile accidents often occur over long weekends due to the increase in the number of cars on the road and unsafe or impaired drivers. Be aware of your surroundings and take extra care on the roads this weekend. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!
 

On November 14, 2012, Matthew Grosh will be a course instructor for the Nonprofit Resource Network’s Fall training. The session, entitled “Are You Legal? Ensuring the Integrity of Your Community Benefit Organization,” will assist organizations in managing risk.

Attorney Grosh is a Preferred Consultant for Millersville University’s Nonprofit Resource Network.

See the Nonprofit Resource Network Fall 2012 Training brochure for more information.