Some people agree to be the personal representative of an estate when a loved one asks them to assume that responsibility. Other people end up appointed to the role of personal representative by the Pennsylvania probate courts. However someone acquires the authority...
Probate proceedings and the distribution of estate assets are often very dull processes. Many testators talk openly with their families about what they want to do with their property when they die, so people know exactly what to expect. The reading of the will doesn't...
Many people find the idea of estate administration and serving as a personal representative to be rather overwhelming. However, everyone who dies needs someone to handle their last wishes and outstanding personal obligations. People who never expected to be entrusted...
You may have recently lost a loved one in your life. They left behind a will that may divide their estate between family and friends. Someone in your family may not agree with how the will was written or how the estate was split. This could prompt them to challenge...
A loved one or close friend is developing their estate plan and asks if they can name you as their executor (also known as the personal representative). You’re likely flattered. You may feel obligated to take on the job (and it is a job). However, before you say yes,...
Most people want to leave assets that they’ve worked hard to accumulate during their life to their loved ones and other beneficiaries like non-profit organizations when they die. Careful estate planning allows people to determine what happens to those assets. What if...
People often think of a will as an absolutely final document that can dictate exactly what they want their heirs to do with their possessions. If they change their mind on something or make any other decision later in life, they can just add that to the will, and...
The person responsible for administering an estate in Pennsylvania is an executor, a term often used interchangeably with the phrase "personal representative." This person is generally selected by a testator when they draft their will. The court may appoint someone to...
One of the most important things you can do as you’re developing your estate plan is to make sure that all your accounts have transfer on death (TOD) designations with the beneficiaries of the accounts listed. This includes your bank accounts, retirement accounts and...
When a person passes away, loved ones and other parties must deal with the responsibility of administering the estate. This is the process of gathering assets and distributing them according to the will. In some cases, estate administration can be quite complex, and...