Michael Cherewka

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.

Dickinson School of Law

J.D.

1978 - 1981

Honors: cum laude Woolsack Society

Bucknell University

B.S. | Accounting

1973 - 1978

Honors: cum laude Delta Mu Delta Omicron Delta Kappa College Register

Owner

Law Office of Michael Cherewka

1989 - 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

Strictly Business

Quantum Press

2002

How To Close An Estate, Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania

August 12, 2016

Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Handling Real Estate Transactions From Start to Finish, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

April 18, 2017

National Business Institute

Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker License

Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs

2022

Distinguished Service Award

American Heart Association

1997

Pennsylvania State Bar

Member

Current

Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors

Member

2015 - Current

Elder Care Matters Alliance

Member

2014 - Current

Wealth Counsel

Member

1997 - Current

Pennsylvania

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 1985

• Free Consultation

Q. How to resolve name discrepancy for power of attorney in PA?

February 21, 2025

A: when drafting the POA you should have the attorney list every name variant above as A/K/A (also known as) and there should be a separate signature line for each A/K/A.

the first name and the most important one is the name on your uncle's driver license since he has to provide a copy of his ID to the Notary when signing the POA. List all the others and make sure at least one of them is the same as his name appears on the bank accounts

Q. My mother’s home was sold 7 months prior to her passing. Do we have to go through probate because it was <1 year?

February 7, 2025

A: Based on your summary there would be no probate ()assuming that mother had no other assets in her name).

The 1 year lookback you appear to be referring to is for PA Inheritance Tax purposes. If the house was sold to an unrelated 3rd party then the house is not included in tehe Estate assets for PA Inheritance Tax purposes. However, you mention right at the end that the funds from the sale of the house were deposited into a Joint savings account. There are separate rules for joint accounts and how they are taxed for the PA Inheritance Tax. And a caution on those rules is that since the funds were deposited into that joint account within one year of the date of death that may increase the amount of the account that is subject to the PA Inheritance Tax. ... Read More

Q. My father passed without making a will. How do we figure out who gets what. He has a retirement and stock and property

November 25, 2024

A: THe situation you are describing, dying without a Will, is known as Intestacy in Pennsylvania. Since your father did not have a Will, the surviving spouse is generally not entitled to all of the Estate assets. However, the three assets which you described, retirement accounts, stock accounts and property, can all either have beneficiary designations or be held in joint name with the surviving spouse, in which case those designations control the transfer of the assets and they are not included in the Estate. If you believe you and your siblings might be entitled to receive some of the assets you should consult with an experienced estate attorney to look into the matter for you.