The days and weeks after a loved one’s death are filled with emotional anguish and busy with funeral arrangements and social obligations. After the immediate aftermath of the death, the decedent’s personal representative named in their will becomes the administrator of their estate, or the probate administrator.
Administering an estate is a challenging legal endeavor. If you are facing this last task for a deceased loved one in Tredyffrin Township or the surrounding area, call a Pennsylvania probate attorney at ThePeoplesLawFirm.com for experienced legal counsel.
Why You Should Choose ThePeoplesLawFirm.com for Your Tredyffrin Township Probate Case
Estate attorney and author, Michaelangelo L. Dippolito, has dedicated his career to advocating for the last wishes of clients and assisting decedents’ appointed representatives with the complex process of estate administration.
With ThePeoplesLawFirm.com, you’ll have the following advantages:
- Guidance and legal counsel throughout the process by an attorney with over 26 years of accumulated knowledge and experience in Pennsylvania estate law
- An attorney with a commitment to professional excellence and a well-earned reputation for satisfied clients
- Diligent attention to filing details, ensuring that your loved one’s estate administration proceeds as smoothly and efficiently as possible
ThePeoplesLawFirm.com offers a complimentary phone consultation to prospective clients, allowing you to learn about the benefits of hiring an estate administration and probate lawyer in Tredyffrin Township.
Understanding the Pennsylvania Probate Process
When a loved one leaves behind an estate with over $50,000 in assets and/or real estate property, the state’s probate laws require the estate’s administrator to open a probate case. Probate is the legal process that facilitates the orderly distribution of an estate after a death.
Once the estate’s probate administrator obtains copies of the death certificate and locates all copies of the will, they can begin probate. The probate process proceeds as follows:
- The estate representative files the will and a certified copy of the death certificate with the county’s Will Register office and files a petition to open a probate case with the county’s probate court
- After obtaining the court’s authorization for probate, the probate administrator must inform the beneficiaries, creditors, and tax authorities of the open probate case
- The probate case must be announced publicly, typically through a newspaper posting to alert any unknown creditors
- The estate administrator takes an in-depth inventory of the estate’s assets, debts, and tax obligations and then pays the debts and taxes as directed by the will, sometimes requiring the sale of property
- After paying all taxes and all outstanding debts against the estate, the probate administrator oversees the distribution of the remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will
In cases of a family member’s death without a will, the probate court appoints a family member as administrator. The state requires them to distribute remaining assets according to the state’s intestacy laws.
These are the laws of inheritance that apply to the estates of deceased individuals who do not have a will or an estate plan.
Contact the Tredyffrin Estate Administration & Probate Attorney at ThePeoplesLawFirm.com
The probate administrator is legally responsible for the probate process. This responsibility leaves them liable for any deficits to a beneficiary or creditor, even if it results from an honest mistake or oversight.
By hiring an experienced Tredyffrin estate administration and probate lawyer, you can reduce your risk of error and ensure the most straightforward process possible for your probate case.
Contact ThePeoplesLawFirm.com today so you can learn more about how the state’s probate laws apply in your case.
