Cardinal Estate Planning

08/06/2026

🎢 What a Great Night at Knoebels! 🎡

We had a wonderful evening last night with our Cardinal Estate Planning Maintenance Clients at Knoebels Amusement Park!

It was great to spend time together outside the office, enjoy some good food, take a few rides, and simply have fun with the families we’ve had the privilege of getting to know over the years.

Our Maintenance Program is about more than keeping your estate plan up to date—it’s also about staying connected with our clients. Events like our Knoebels Night are one of our favorite ways to say thank you for continuing to place your trust in Cardinal Estate Planning. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a great time. We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Here are a few pictures from the night! 📸🎠

Cardinal Estate Planning
Planning for tomorrow. Caring for families today.

www.cardinalestateplanning.com

08/05/2026

📜 Is Your Will Self-Proving?

You have a Will — but do you know if it is self-proving?

In Pennsylvania, a Will can include a self-proving affidavit signed by the person making the Will and the witnesses, with the signatures properly notarized.

Why does that matter?

A self-proving Will can make the probate process easier because the Register of Wills generally does not need additional proof from the witnesses to establish that the Will was properly executed.

If your Will was prepared many years ago — or you prepared it yourself — take a look at it.

✅ Is it properly signed?
✅ Were there witnesses?
✅ Does it contain a self-proving affidavit?
✅ Was it properly notarized?

Having a Will is important. Having a Will that is properly prepared and ready for probate is even better.

August is National Make-A-Will Month. It’s a great time to pull out your Will and make sure it is still doing the job you intended it to do.

www.cardinalestateplanning.com

08/03/2026

📜 August is National Make-A-Will Month

You already have a Will. Great!

But when was the last time you actually read it?

Life changes. Families change. Finances change. And sometimes the Will you created years ago no longer reflects what you want today.

This August, take a few minutes to pull out your Will and review it.

Ask yourself:

• Are the right people still named as beneficiaries?
• Is the person you chose as Executor still the right choice?
• Have there been births, deaths, marriages or divorces in your family?
• Have your assets or financial situation changed?
• Does your Will still reflect your wishes?

A Will isn’t something you create once and forget about.

National Make-A-Will Month is a great reminder to make sure your estate plan still works for the life you’re living today.

www.cardinalestateplanning.com

07/30/2026

THANK YOU EVERYONE!
We have a great team. We just added another team member to better serve our clients.

www.cardinalestateplanning.com

07/30/2026

🐾 Ask Ziggy: Can an Executor Leave Out a Beneficiary They Don't Like?

Dear Ziggy,

My human heard someone say that an executor doesn't have to tell a beneficiary about an estate if they don't like them. Is that true?

– Curious in Pennsylvania

🐶 Dear Curious,

Imagine if Nick gave me a bag of treats and said, "Ziggy, make sure every dog on this list gets one."

Now, what if I decided I didn't like one of the dogs and skipped them?

I'd be in the doghouse!

It's the same idea for an executor.

An executor has a legal duty to follow the law and the instructions in the will—not their personal feelings. If someone is entitled to receive notice under Pennsylvania law, the executor can't simply leave them out because of a disagreement or because they don't get along.

The executor acts as a fiduciary, which means they must act in the best interests of the estate and treat all beneficiaries fairly. Failing to notify someone who is legally entitled to notice can create delays, disputes, and even personal liability for the executor.

So, while an executor doesn't have to become best friends with every beneficiary, they do have to fulfill their legal responsibilities.

🐾 Ziggy's Tip: Being an executor isn't about picking favorites—it's about following the rules and honoring the wishes of the person who passed away.

Have an estate planning or probate question for Ziggy? He loves answering them... especially if treats are involved!
You can email Ziggy a question at [email protected]

Cardinal Estate Planning will also be holding a FREE PROBATE & PIZZA Educational Workshop on Wed. September 16th at 6:00 pm at our office. Call the office at 570-252-9043 to register!

07/24/2026

🐾 Ziggy and the Squirrel Trust
The Adventures of Nick & Ziggy
One afternoon, Nick and Ziggy were enjoying a walk through the park when Ziggy froze in his tracks. There, darting from tree to tree, was a busy squirrel. He picked up one acorn. Then another. Then another. But instead of dropping them all in one big pile, the squirrel carefully tucked them away in different hiding spots.
Ziggy tilted his head.
"Why doesn't he just leave them all together where he can find them?" he asked.
Nick smiled.
"Because he's planning ahead. He knows that one day he'll need those acorns, and he wants to make sure they're protected and easy to find."
Ziggy watched as the squirrel buried another acorn before racing off to collect more.
Nick continued,
"People should think the same way about the things they've worked hard to build. A trust is a little like the squirrel's plan. It helps protect your assets, keeps everything organized, and makes it much easier for the people you love to know where everything is and what to do with it."
Without a plan, your family may spend months sorting through paperwork, searching for accounts, and going through probate.
With a trust, you've already left the map.
The squirrel knew exactly where every acorn was buried.
Your family should know where your "acorns" are, too.
🌰 Don't leave your loved ones searching. Leave them a plan instead.
To learn more about trust protection and many other topics, sign up for one of Cardinal Estate Planning’s FREE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS.
https://cardinalestateplanning.com/Free+Workshop-16.htm

07/22/2026

Three Common Estate Planning Goals—and the Right Tools to Achieve Them! By Nicholas D. Lutz, Esq.

When people begin the estate planning process, they often have one of three primary goals. Fortunately, there is an estate planning tool designed to help accomplish each one.

1. Make Sure You Don't Leave a Mess Behind
Many clients simply want to ensure their wishes are carried out, the right people inherit their assets, and someone they trust is in charge of handling their affairs. A Last Will and Testament provides those instructions by naming an executor and directing how your assets should be distributed.

2. Make Things Easier for Your Family
Some clients want to simplify the administration of their estate and avoid probate whenever possible. In these situations, a Revocable Living Trust allows you to organize your affairs during your lifetime and helps your loved ones avoid the probate process after your death, making estate administration much easier.

3. Protect Your Assets
Others are concerned about protecting their assets from future long-term care costs, creditors, or lawsuits. An Irrevocable Trust can provide significant asset protection while also helping streamline the administration of your estate. Although these trusts have different rules than revocable trusts, they can be a powerful planning tool when properly designed.

Every estate plan should reflect your unique goals. Whether your priority is providing clear instructions, simplifying the process for your family, or protecting your assets, the right estate planning strategy can give you and your loved ones greater peace of mind.

Anyone can make documents; Cardinal makes a plan.

Read more blogs at: https://cardinalestateplanning.com/Read+Our+Blog-800.htm

07/21/2026

Odysseus had Athena to guide him.
Your family should have more than luck.

Whether it’s a will, trust, or powers of attorney, having a plan in place helps your loved ones navigate life’s unexpected twists.

Don’t leave your legacy to chance.
Today’s Free Workshop is full but you can sign up for the next Free Workshop being held at our offices in Berwick on Wednesday August 12th at 6:00 pm online or call the office at 570-252-9043.

https://cardinalestateplanning.com/Free+Workshop-16.htm

07/18/2026

📘 Free Probate Guide – Introduction to Probate

Have you recently lost a loved one or are you wondering what happens after someone passes away?

Probate can feel confusing, especially if you’ve never been through the process before. Our FREE “Introduction to Probate” Guide explains the basics in plain English, including:

✔️ What probate is
✔️ When probate is required
✔️ The responsibilities of an executor or administrator
✔️ Common mistakes to avoid
✔️ The first steps to take after a loved one’s passing

Whether you’re planning ahead or have recently been named an executor, this guide is a great place to start.

📥 Download your FREE copy today from our website:
https://cardinalestateplanning.com/ #

At Cardinal Estate Planning, we’re here to help guide you through every step of the probate and estate administration process with compassionate, experienced legal support.

07/14/2026