Pennsylvania (PA) · Process
Pennsylvania probate process
Probate in Pennsylvania follows a fairly predictable sequence, even when individual cases vary. Below is the typical shape of a Pennsylvania probate from filing through final distribution.
Opening probate
The will (if any) is presented to the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent lived. The Register grants Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Advertising the grant
Pennsylvania requires the executor to advertise the grant of Letters in a local newspaper of general circulation and the county legal journal.
Inventory, inheritance tax, claims
The executor files an inventory and handles claims. Pennsylvania inheritance tax — with rates that depend on the relationship of the heir to the decedent — is a distinctive part of administering a Pennsylvania estate.
Distribution and accounting
After debts, taxes, and expenses are paid, the executor distributes the residue and either files a formal account with the Orphans' Court or distributes against family settlement agreements.
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