Law Office of Joseph Mitchell
Questions? 215-557-7111
Free Guide for Pennsylvania Parents
Who Will Raise Your Kids If You Can't?
Without a written plan, a Pennsylvania judge — not you — decides who raises your children and who controls what they inherit. This free guide walks through the 6 mistakes parents make with guardianship and their kids’ inheritance, in plain English.
What's Inside
The 6 Mistakes That Leave the
Decision to a Court
Each chapter explains one mistake, why it happens, and what to do instead — no legal jargon, no scare tactics, just the rules as they actually work in Pennsylvania.
"We're young and healthy"
Why guardianship planning has no age minimum — and why waiting for the right moment means waiting forever.
No guardian named in writing
Without a nomination, a judge who has never met your children decides who raises them.
Leaving money directly to a minor
Why an inheritance without a trust means court supervision now and a lump sum at 18.
Outdated beneficiary forms
How a decades-old life insurance form can silently override your entire will.
No plan for the emergency gap
What happens in the hours before a guardian is legally appointed — and the document that covers it.
Blended family blind spots
Why stepchildren don’t automatically inherit in Pennsylvania — even after decades as family.
Bonus: Family Action Checklist
Seven concrete first steps, plus the exact questions to bring to any attorney consultation.
A judge
Who decides who raises your children if you die without a written guardian nomination — not your family.
Age 18
When a child named to inherit directly — with no trust — receives the full remaining balance, no strings attached.
0
Stepchildren automatically included under Pennsylvania intestacy law unless legally adopted or specifically named.
Who Wrote This Guide
Attorney Joe Mitchell
Harvard educated, street smart. Joe Mitchell helps Greater Philadelphia parents put guardianship, inheritance, and estate plans in writing — so decisions about their children stay in the family, not in a courtroom. From his office in Germantown, he guides families through wills, trusts for minors, and the Pennsylvania-specific rules that generic templates get wrong — in plain English, without the runaround.
- Harvard educated
- Licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania
- Estate planning, guardianship & trusts for minor children
- Serving Greater Philadelphia — 515 W Chelten Ave, Suite 909
Fifteen Minutes of Planning
Don't Leave It to a Judge
Who's Never Met Your Kids.
Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, the guide will show you exactly what to put in writing — and what happens if you don’t.
Law Office of Joseph Mitchell
515 W Chelten Ave, Suite 909 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144 | 215-557-7111 | joemitchellattorney@gmail.com
Attorney Advertising. This website and the guide offered on it are for general educational purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Reading these materials, submitting this form, or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Medicaid rules and dollar limits change regularly; verify current figures before acting. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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