When an individual passes away in Pennsylvania, those appointed to handle their estate may have to go through the probate process. At the beginning of the probate process, the executor of the will is appointed by the court to handle the estate administration. However, in the event that the decedent did not have a will at the time of their passing, the court may appoint a personal representative such as a next of kin to administer the estate.
Once the court agrees that the appropriate person is handling the estate, the administer can officially begin the probate process. Some of the steps of the probate process include the following:
- Filing the will in the Register of Wills
- File a Petition for Probate
- This is when the court will either appoint someone to serve as the Personal Representative or the executor will come into power
- Notify all beneficiaries of the estate that the probate process has begun
- Publish a Notice of Probate in the local newspaper, which allows any creditors with outstanding claims to do so within one year of the notice
- Create an inventory of all of the assets in the estate within 9 months
- Get approval from the court to distribute assets to beneficiaries
If you have been named the executor of a will and have questions about probate, contact our firm today.
Friedman Schuman is an experienced and dedicated legal resource for clients throughout Pennsylvania. We proudly serve clients facing a wide range of legal matters. If you require the services of an effective attorney, please contact Friedman Schuman Layser today to schedule a consultation.
