Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller P.C.

Being named executor of someone’s estate is an honor but it can also feel overwhelming. Even when there are no apparent disputes, the probate process can be confusing and filled with technical requirements. That’s where we come in.

At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we make estate administration straightforward. With more than 50 years of combined experience serving Allegheny, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, we’ll explain your options clearly and help you avoid common pitfalls. No matter how simple or complex the situation, we’ll guide you through each step so the decedent’s wishes are honored.

We represent executors, estate administrators, and trustees from initial appointment to conclusion of the estate across Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Mercer, Indiana, Westmoreland, Armstrong, Beaver, and Washington counties.

Important: Life insurance proceeds, jointly held assets, property in trusts, and investments with contingent beneficiaries don’t go through probate. We review the entirety of the deceased person’s holdings to advise on the appropriate approach.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur with a bold new vision or an established business owner navigating complex transactions, having a trustworthy business lawyer in your corner can make all the difference. At Abernethy, Hagerman, & Miller P.C. we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We take the time to understand your unique goals and customize our business law services to match your specific needs because we know that even similar businesses face distinct challenges.

Starting a new business is exciting and we want to help make it successful. We’ve worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, family business owners, professionals, and investors to transform their brainstorms into thriving operations. Helping create successful businesses strengthens our local economy, creates jobs, and helps families build legacies that last for generations.

Our experience in business matters can save you significant time and money. Let us help you make well-informed decisions that protect your bottom line and set you up for long-term success.

Growing older in America brings unique legal challenges, from healthcare decisions to long-term care planning. At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we’re accomplished elder law attorneys who provide valuable counsel with the compassion and understanding you deserve.

We know these decisions are deeply personal. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience helping residents of Allegheny, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties navigate the complexities of elder law with confidence and dignity.

Regular estate plan reviews ensure your documents still reflect your current circumstances and intentions. Life changes and your plan should too.

Many people are confused about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid: Medicare provides healthcare coverage for Americans 65 and older, whereas Medicaid assists people who lack financial ability to pay for medical needs regardless of age.

Nursing home care often costs $8,000-$10,000 per month or more. Even affluent families can see their life savings disappear paying for long-term care. We’re committed to helping you achieve Medicaid eligibility as quickly as possible while preserving the most wealth for your family.

You’ve worked hard your entire life to build financial security. You feel comfortable about your retirement, even if it lasts twenty years or more. But have you considered what happens if you need extended nursing home care?

The reality is sobering: Nursing home care often costs $8,000-$10,000 per month or more. Even affluent families can watch their life savings disappear and still be denied Medicaid coverage. At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we’re accomplished Pennsylvania lawyers with more than 50 years of combined experience delivering strong support to families facing these challenges.

We counsel clients of all ages about Medicaid planning and help them take concrete measures to relieve financial burdens before a crisis hits.

A medical condition requiring extended residential care could destroy your finances and estate planning efforts in a matter of months. Many people assume Medicare or Medicaid automatically covers these expenses once they turn 65 but that’s not true. Before you experience a medical crisis, it’s vital to evaluate eligibility, review private coverage, and restructure assets appropriately.

If you're denied Medicaid coverage because of excess income or resource limits, our firm helps guide you legally through the spend-down process, including managing a spouse's medical expenses while keeping family assets intact.

Life is unpredictable. Illness, injury, or even routine medical procedures can leave you temporarily unable to make important decisions. A power of attorney ensures that someone you trust can act on your behalf when you need it most without the time, expense, and court involvement of guardianship proceedings.

At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience preparing power of attorney documents that protect clients and their loved ones throughout Allegheny, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

By executing a power of attorney, you (the “principal”) grant legal authority to a named person (the “agent”) for a particular purpose. You maintain control: the authority can be granted immediately, or you can draft a document that only confers power if you become incapacitated (springing POA). We help you create documents perfectly suited to your circumstances.

Trusts can be key elements in your overall estate plan regardless of your financial position. At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we develop trusts and other legal instruments to accomplish the goals of our Western Pennsylvania clients, from preserving assets to providing for loved ones with special needs.

Whether you’re looking to transfer assets outside probate, minimize taxes, or establish funding for a special needs child, our attorneys are here for you.

We handle disputes over trust administration, including breach of fiduciary duty, comingling of funds, misinterpretation of trust provisions, and validity challenges (undue influence or fraud). We advocate for clients in negotiations and represent them in Orphans' Court when litigation is necessary.

Sometimes, someone close to you no longer has the ability to make sound choices about their own physical and financial well-being. This is one of life’s most difficult situations and you need an attorney who understands both the legal complexities and the emotional challenges involved.

At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we provide thoughtful, compassionate guidance for families seeking to establish guardianship or conservatorship. With more than 50 years of combined experience serving Allegheny, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, we assist with matters involving elderly individuals and those with special needs.

Guardianship gives you legal authority to make decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person. Pennsylvania courts take these proceedings seriously and so do we. We’ll advise you honestly about the likelihood of obtaining guardianship and help you explore whether less intrusive alternatives (like POAs) might be appropriate.

Many elderly people can remain in their own homes — the place they love most — if they have some help with daily tasks. Often, a family member is the ideal person to provide this assistance. It’s personal, it’s compassionate, and it allows your loved one to maintain independence and dignity.

But here’s what many families don’t realize: Even the best-intended arrangements can go seriously wrong without a proper family caregiver agreement.

At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we guide Pennsylvania families through the creation of these essential agreements. From our office, we create personalized family caregiver contracts that protect everyone involved — the elderly person receiving care, the family member providing it, and other relatives who might have concerns.

A proper, legally binding caregiver agreement provides:

• For the elderly person: Assurance they’ll receive quality care while remaining at home.
• For the caregiver: Fair compensation and clear expectations without family guilt.
• For other family members: Transparency and confidence that everything is handled properly.
• For everyone: Protection from future disputes and legal problems.

Don’t let an informal arrangement put your family at risk. A modest investment in a proper caregiver agreement can prevent years of conflict and thousands of dollars in legal problems.

Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a commercial property, negotiating a lease, or resolving a boundary dispute, having an experienced real estate attorney protecting your interests makes all the difference. At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. we understand that real estate transactions are significant financial decisions and we’re here to help you navigate them with confidence.

From our law offices in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, we assist clients throughout the region with residential and commercial real estate matters. Each transaction is unique, and we provide the individualized approach necessary to help you close deals efficiently while protecting your best interests.

Is your property tax bill too high? You’re not alone. Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. is based in Allegheny County, and with near-constant reassessment requests by school districts and the large countywide reassessment of 2013, we’ve acquired extensive experience with property tax assessment appeals.

Unfortunately, unrealistic, unfair, and unreasonable valuations of real property occur more often than they should resulting in significantly higher property taxes for you.

Disputes involving a loved one’s estate, trust, guardianship, or power of attorney can become emotional, complicated, and time sensitive. When family members disagree, when a fiduciary is accused of mishandling assets, or when questions arise about a will or trust, the matter may need to be resolved in Pennsylvania’s Orphans’ Court.

At Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, P.C. in Allison Park, we help clients understand what is happening, what options are available, and what steps should be taken next. Our attorneys work with beneficiaries, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, agents under powers of attorney, and concerned family members throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Whether your goal is to resolve the dispute efficiently or prepare for formal litigation, we help you protect your position with practical, focused legal guidance.

Pennsylvania’s Orphans’ Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas that handles many legal issues involving estates, trusts, guardianships, fiduciaries, minors, incapacitated adults, and powers of attorney.

These cases often involve sensitive family dynamics. A disagreement may begin with a missed communication, an unclear will, a suspicious change to an estate plan, or concerns that someone in authority is not acting properly. Because Orphans’ Court matters follow specific rules and procedures, it is important to work with attorneys who understand both the legal process and the personal issues behind the dispute.