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Michael Cherewka

Michael Cherewka

Law Office of Michael Cherewka
  • Business Law, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law ...
  • Pennsylvania
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Biography

With my background in accounting as well as law, I can share my unique background and experience when working with individuals, families and small and mid-size businesses in the areas of estate planning, taxation, corporations and business planning, business acquisitions and sales, succession planning, business exit strategies and real estate.

Practice Areas
    Business Law
    Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions
    Estate Planning
    Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
    Real Estate Law
    Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Residential Real Estate
    Tax Law
    Business Taxes, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Planning
    Probate
    Probate Administration
    Elder Law
Fees
  • Free Consultation
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Pennsylvania
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Owner
Law Office of Michael Cherewka
- Current
Owner of law firm dedicated to Estate Planning, Trusts and Estates Administration, Business Planning for small to mid-tier businesses including choice of entity, acquisitions and sales, business exit strategies and succession planning
Education
Dickinson School of Law
J.D.
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Honors: cum laude Woolsack Society
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Bucknell University
B.S. | Accounting
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Honors: cum laude Delta Mu Delta Omicron Delta Kappa College Register
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Awards
Distinguished Service Award
American Heart Association
Professional Associations
Pennsylvania State Bar
Member
Current
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Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors
Member
- Current
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Elder Care Matters Alliance
Member
- Current
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Wealth Counsel
Member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Strictly Business
Quantum Press
Speaking Engagements
How To Close An Estate, Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
Handling Real Estate Transactions From Start to Finish, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania
National Business Institute
Certifications
Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker License
Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs
Websites & Blogs
Website
Cherewka Law
Legal Answers
118 Questions Answered
Q. The successor of my father's deceased lawyer isn’t helping me obtain a will from his files. Is this ethical?
A: It is unfortunate that this attorney has stopped communicating with you, especially if he has already confirmed that he is the successor to the prior attorney's practice and has his files. Since you have a copy of the Will, I would recommend that you hire your own attorney (assuming that you are a beneficiary and/or executor under your father's Will) to approach this "new" attorney to demand the original Will (if you are a named Executor) or a copy of the signed Will if for some reason he cannot locate the original. If you are not named Executor your attorney can demand a copy of the signed Will if you are named a beneficiary under the Will in the copy that you have.
Q. Dad passed, left accounts as payable on death to me, his sole heir. One bank is requiring a short form (don't have yet).
A: if all of the accounts are POD or TOD or have named beneficiaries, then there is no need for you to probate Will and get Short Certificate.

if your father forgot to designate a POD or TOD or Beneficiary on one of the accounts you may still be able to avoid probate if the amount in that account is $12,000 or less. bank should release that to you as long as you can show that the funeral was paid for, or that you will use that money to pay the funeral.

if you are talking about the discount for PA Inheritance Tax if make a payment within 90 days, if you don't need the cash in this particular account you can use other funds to make the payment and you need only estimate the amount in that account if the bank will not give you a date of death balance and you do not have copies of the bank statement for the month that your father passed away ... Read More
Q. The trustee of my fathers’ estate will not give me an accounting of the estate or release any funds. It has been 14
A: If the Trustee ( Execeutor?) is not sharing information with you, you may need to engage your own attorney for Beneficiary Representation to obtain the accounting and release of funds (if that is appropriate). Much may depend on whether your father had a Trust, and this is a Trust Admininstration, or if there is an Estate, and this is an Estate Administration/Probate. If you received a copy of a Will you may be able to determine if you are to receive Estate assets outright of if they are going to a Trust for your benefit. Also, if there is a Will you can either go online in some PA counties and check the Estate records in the County Register of Wills website, or is not available on line you can go to the County courthouse and get copies of the Estate records (copy of Will, copy of PA Inheritance Tax Return, Estate Inventory). If it is a Trust Administration you will need to hire your own attorney if the Trustee is not cooperating with you. ... Read More
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Contact & Map
624 North Front Street
Wormleysburg, PA 17043
Telephone: (717) 232-4701
Telephone: (717) 232-4701