Death and Dirt

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we are joined by Kristen Del Grosso, Senior Vice President and Market Leader for Central Pennsylvania at PNC Private Bank, and Kimberly Pennell, Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist at PNC Private Bank. Together, we discuss why estate planning, wealth strategy, tax planning, and financial advising cannot operate in silos—and how stronger collaboration among attorneys, financial adviso...

Land use and zoning issues touch far more than developers and municipal officials. They affect real estate transactions, business expansion plans, estate and succession planning, investment decisions, and property rights throughout every community.

In this episode, we are joined by Slade Miller, partner at Abernethy, Hagerman & Miller, for a discussion on the fundamentals of land use and zoning law. We examine where municipaliti...

In a special live episode of Death and Dirt recorded at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association in Pittsburgh, the hosts sit down with the Executive Director of the PBA, Matthew M. Holliday, to discuss the role of the PBA in shaping the legal profession across Pennsylvania.

The conversation explores how attorneys can become involved in meaningful statewide change through the support and structure of the PBA – fr...

What does a real estate lawyer actually do?

In this episode of Death and Dirt, attorney Glenn Smith joins us for a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of a dirt lawyer. We discuss seller disclosure claims, contractor disputes, partition actions, neighbor conflicts, fraudulent deed transfers, and the many ways property problems become legal problems.

Part substantive knowledge, part stories from the trenches, and full of pract...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we sit down with Marshal Granor, a leading voice in community association law and one of the principal drafters of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Planned Community Act. Marshal brings a rare combination of legal, development, brokerage, and management experience, offering a comprehensive perspective on how private communities are structured and governed.

We explore the foundations of private rea...

Pennsylvania probate law changed in a big way with Act 50 of 2025, and in this episode of Death and Dirt, the hosts talk with Bryan Tate, York County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court, about what the new law means. Bryan explains the practical impact of Act 50, including raising the limit that allows banks to release certain funds to family members without opening a probate estate. The conversation also explores i...

This episode of Death and Dirt is essential listening not only for law firm owners, but also for attorneys and professionals who are thinking about buying into a firm or acquiring an ownership interest. We sit down with Owen T. Carhart, Managing Partner of Business Optimization Group, LLC, to break down what business valuation actually means in the context of a law practice and why it matters long before any sale is on the horizon....

Season Two of Death and Dirt opens with a conversation between the co-hosts reflecting on Season One and setting the stage for what’s ahead.

We revisit some of our past guests and the insights they shared, talk through themes that kept resurfacing, and preview topics we’re excited to explore in the coming season. We also spend time discussing the value of professional engagement—particularly the role the ...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, Philadelphia trusts and estates attorney Charles Bender joins the show to break down one of Pennsylvania’s most misunderstood inheritance tax provisions: the Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest (QFOBI) exemption. We cover who qualifies, how investment real estate fits in, why the seven-year rule matters, and what families can do to avoid costly mistakes. A must-listen for practitioners,...

In this episode, we sit down with Vicky Ann Trimmer—attorney, CPA, and Partner at Daley Zucker, LLC—to talk about how Pennsylvania tax rules affect the transfer of family farms, during life and at death.

Vicky shares her path from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to agricultural law, a transition that brought together her legal training, tax background, and upbringing on a family farm. Her experience gives her a u...

What happens after you buy a house and the deed gets “recorded”? For most of us, the Recorder of Deeds Office feels like a mysterious backroom of government paperwork — but behind those records lies the backbone of property ownership, public history, and fraud prevention.

In this episode of Death and Dirt, Fred, Jay, and Jenn sit down with Jeanne Sorg, Montgomery County’s Recorder of Deeds and Mayor of Ambler...

In this episode, we’re joined by Anna Marie Sossong, Esq., Underwriting Counsel at Conestoga Title Insurance Company, who brings decades of experience in real estate law, commercial transactions, and title work. Together, we unpack a major regulatory change on the horizon: FinCEN’s new rule taking effect in December 2025.

This rule will require title agents to report additional information on certain real estate transact...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we sit down with Dean Jerry Dickinson, the youngest active dean of any U.S. law school, to trace his remarkable journey—from Pittsburgh native to constitutional law scholar, civil rights lawyer, and, as of January 15, 2025, Dean of Pitt Law School at age 38. Dean Dickinson discusses his early years in private practice at Reed Smith LLP, his deep roots in constitutional law and real property ...

In this Special Bonus Episode of Death and Dirt, we sit down with Christine M. (“Chrissy”) Green, a seasoned tax attorney and Member at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, to break down the sweeping changes introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA or OB3). Chrissy provides clear insights into how these new provisions impact estate planning and real estate professionals, from the historic increase in th...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we’re joined by Anne N. John, Esq., to discuss her work with the Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts and Pennsylvania’s broader efforts to strengthen protections for older adults. Anne, a long-serving member of the Council, shares insight into its mission, structure, and accomplishments—including the implementation of the Guardianship Tracking System (GTS) and the imp...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we’re joined by Alison T. Smith, a leading trusts and estates attorney and past Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section. Alison shares practical insights from her work advising fiduciaries on their roles, responsibilities, and how to set expectations with beneficiaries to reduce the risk of conflict and litigation. With extensive experi...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we take a deep dive into the increasingly complex world of real estate ownership and insurance, particularly in the context of trusts and estates. Our guest, Kevin Thomas—Partner and Personal Risk Practice Leader at USI Insurance Services—brings over 20 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals on property risk, with a focus on flood and fire coverage.

Together, we explore...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we sit down with Justin Brown, current Chair of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association—and one of the driving forces behind this podcast. Justin shares how Death and Dirt came to life, reflecting on his podcasting journey and what inspired him to help create a new platform for meaningful conversation in our practice areas. We also dive into his ...

In this episode of Death and Dirt, we are joined by Jean Marfizo King, the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court for Dauphin County, who has been serving the county since 2011. Jean shares insights into the vital role these offices play in estate administration, guardianship proceedings, adoptions, and the issuance of marriage licenses, and how her leadership has modernized the way the office serves the public.

We ...