Carrying out a loved one’s final wishes is both an honor and a legal duty. If you’ve been named in a loved one’s will as their personal representative or executor, you become their estate administrator after their death. With this responsibility comes a complex legal process that can quickly become challenging, especially for vast estates or when conflicts arise.
Fortunately, you don’t have to face this daunting process alone. Instead, call a Pennsylvania probate lawyer at ThePeoplesLawFirm.com.
Why Should I Choose ThePeoplesLawFirm.com for My Uwchlan Township Probate Case?
Attorney Michaelangelo L. Dippolito has over 26 years of experience guiding clients through Pennsylvania’s estate law during probate and estate administration with a commitment to professional excellence.
By choosing ThePeoplesLawFirm.com, you have the following advantages in your probate case:
- Decades of experience, knowledge, and resources on your side throughout every step of the process
- A clear-eyed neutral party to minimize the risk of conflicts arising between heirs
- Meticulous attention to filing details, legal requirements, estate inventories, and all aspects of estate administration
By choosing an experienced Uwchlan Township estate administration and probate attorney to help you navigate the complex legal process of probate, you have time to work your way through the grieving process with your family, with fewer anxieties about your legal responsibilities.
What Can I Expect During Probate In Pennsylvania?
The probate process typically begins soon after the decedent’s personal representative completes other obligations, such as the funeral and burial. However, everyone grieves differently, and there is no set time following a death when probate must begin.
To initiate the process, the estate administrator should gather relevant documents, including certified copies of the death certificate, bank statements, three years of tax returns (if the decedent was employed), any living trust and life insurance documents, and the will.
Then, probate proceeds as follows:
- The estate administrator files the will and death certificate with the county’s Will Register office, files a petition to open probate with the county Probate Court (Sometimes called the Orphans’ Court), and pays the filing fee
- Then, the estate administrator has the legal obligation to inform the public of the open probate case through newspaper posts in the area to inform any unknown creditors
- All beneficiaries, tax agencies, and creditors must be informed of the probate case
- The administrator must resolve all debts against the estate, typically through the plan determined in the decedent’s will, sometimes requiring the sale of property
- Once all debt and tax obligations have been met, the estate administrator is responsible for distributing the remaining assets and property to the heirs as outlined in the will
For those whose family member died without a will, the court appoints a spouse or close relative as the estate administrator, and the distribution of assets follows the state’s intestacy laws for inheritance.
How Can an Estate Administration & Probate Lawyer In Uwchlan Township Help?
The responsibility of overseeing estate administration is significant, with possible legal liability for any missteps that might occur. It’s not uncommon for conflicts to arise between heirs.
By hiring an experienced Uwchlan Township estate administration and probate lawyer to guide you through every step of the estate administration process, you minimize the risk of errors, delays, and conflict, ensuring that your loved one’s wishes are carried out with maximum efficiency, respect, and dignity.
Contact ThePeoplesLawFirm.com today for a free phone consultation to learn more about how attorney Michaelangelo L. Dippolito and ThePeoplesLawFirm.com can help.
