Understanding Pennsylvania's Intestate Succession Laws in Estate Administration

Intestate succession refers to the legal process that determines how a deceased person's assets are distributed if they die without a valid Will. In Pennsylvania, intestate succession laws are designed to ensure that the deceased's estate is distributed fairly among their heirs. This article will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws and explain how estate administration lawyers can assist in navigating this process.

What is Intestate Succession?

When a person dies without a Will, their estate is considered "intestate." Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws dictate how the deceased's assets are distributed among their surviving relatives. The distribution process is handled through probate administration which involves validating the deceased's estate, paying-off debts, and distributing the remaining assets according to state law.

Intestate Succession Order in Pennsylvania

The order of inheritance in Pennsylvania follows a specific hierarchy:

●     Spouse and Descendants: If the deceased is survived by a spouse and children, the spouse typically receives the first $30,000 of the estate and half of the remaining assets. The children receive the other half.

●     Spouse and Parents: If there are no children, but the deceased is survived by a spouse and parents, the spouse receives the first $30,000 and half of the remaining estate. The parents receive the other half.

●     Children Only: If there is no surviving spouse, the children inherit the entire estate equally.

●     Parents Only: If there is no surviving spouse or children, the parents inherit the estate equally.

●     Siblings and Their Descendants: If there are no surviving spouse, children, or parents, the estate goes to the siblings or their descendants.

Role of Estate Administration Lawyers

Navigating intestate succession can be complex, particularly when disputes arise among heirs or when the estate includes significant assets. Estate Administration Lawyers play a crucial role in managing these challenges. They ensure that the estate is administered according to state law and that the deceased's wishes, as far as they can be determined, are honored.

Steps in Probate Administration

Probate administration involves several key steps:

1.   Filing the Petition: The process begins with filing a petition in the appropriate court to open probate.

2.   Appointing an Administrator: If there is no Will, the court appoints an administrator to manage the estate.

3.   Inventory and Appraisal: The administrator compiles a detailed inventory of the deceased's assets and obtains appraisals as needed.

4.   Paying Debts and Taxes: The estate's debts and any applicable taxes are paid from the estate's assets.

5.   Distributing the Assets: The remaining assets are distributed to the heirs according to Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws.

Importance of Professional Guidance

Working with an experienced estate planning law firm can provide invaluable assistance throughout the probate process. These professionals ensure that all legal requirements are met and that the estate is administered efficiently. Additionally, they can help mitigate potential disputes among heirs and provide guidance on complex legal issues.

Benefits of Having a Will

While intestate succession laws provide a framework for distributing assets, having a valid Will offers numerous advantages:

●     Control Over Distribution: A Will allows you to specify how your assets should be distributed, ensuring that your wishes are honored.

●     Appointing a Guardian: If you have minor children, a Will allows you to designate a guardian for their care.

●     Minimizing Disputes: Clearly outlining your wishes in a Will can help prevent disputes among your heirs.

Take Action to Protect Your Estate

Understanding and navigating Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws can be challenging. Whether you need assistance with probate administration or wish to create a comprehensive estate plan, our Pennsylvania Wills Lawyers can help. We can provide the expertise and support you need to ensure that your estate is managed according to your wishes and the law.

This blog was originally posted on https://pa4law.com/pennsylvanias-intestate-succession-laws-in-estate-administration/

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Hazards of Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning

Hundreds of websites offer do-it-yourself wills and other estate planning documents. While DIY estate planning may seem like a good way to save a few dollars, it can have serious repercussions for your beneficiaries. Even if you have few assets, laws vary by state, so it’s always a good idea to seek the counsel of local lawyers for wills and other estate planning documents.

An Estate Plan is More Than a Will

Many people believe that as long as they have a valid will, they have all aspects of estate planning covered. This is simply untrue – proper estate planning is also designed to protect your rights and interests while you are still alive. Some other vital estate planning documents include:

• Power of attorney for health care
• Power of attorney for finances
• Advance directive (living will)
• Trusts

If you fail to have durable powers of attorney in place and you become incapacitated, the court may appoint someone to make medical decisions and handle your finances for you. A probate lawyer or estate planning attorney takes a comprehensive look at your specific needs and can help you draft solid, legally valid documents that protect you and your family.

Trusts Can Simplify Estate Planning

Assets in trusts usually don’t have to pass through probate, and some types of irrevocable trusts can offer tax advantages. However, if you attempt to create a trust by yourself, you run the risk of making mistakes that can have negative consequences for your loved ones. If you’re creating a trust, it’s important to be well-versed in the laws of your state to ensure it’s done correctly. 

Trusts can include certain stipulations, such as disbursing funds over time or when a beneficiary reaches a certain age. This means that you have to do your homework, which can be complex and take a significant amount of time and energy. Using a good estate planning law firm instead of attempting to do it yourself ensures that any trusts are done right the first time and all your legal bases are covered.

Updating Your Estate Plan is Critical

Reviewing your estate plan every year or two or when major life events happen is essential. Marriage, the birth of children or grandchildren, divorce, and other happenings can have a significant impact on your estate. You may also acquire or sell assets. It’s critical to adjust your estate plan accordingly to help make things as easy as possible for your loved ones after you’re gone. For example, if you get remarried and want to ensure your children’s inheritance is protected, creating a new will and trust can help to ensure your assets end up in the right hands.

If you need assistance with estate planning, don’t go it alone. Our Pennsylvania wills lawyers and estate planning attorneys in Chester County PA offer affordable, personalized legal services you can trust.

This blog was originally posted on https://pa4law.com/hazards-of-do-it-yourself-estate-planning/

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Want To Challenge AWill In Court? Here’s How You Can Do It!

Challenging a Will isn’t easy because it is assumed that if someone went to the effort to make a Will, then the Will is valid. A probate lawyer will tell you that contesting a Willcan drain you mentally and emotionally, and the process can be costly.However, there are certain factors that may assistyou in achieving a successful challenge:

•    It is a do-it-yourself Will. When a person (called the Testator) writes a Will himself or herself, it is possible that certain legal formalities were overlooked. Another possible weakness is that the Will may not have addressed the “what ifs” that an estate planning law firm will make sure are included.      

•    The Testator has been isolated from family and friends by the primary beneficiary of the Will. In a case like this, your challenge might request invalidation based on undue influence.

•    The Testator’s mental capacity is in question. This requires evidence that the Testator did not have the mental capacity to make a Will at the time he or she signed it.

Contesting a Will requires that you meet certain guidelines. The first one is that you must have something called “standing.” To have standing, an individual or entity must be able to show that they would be personally or directly affected by the outcome. For instance, a person contesting a Will might be a close relative who was left out of the Will, or a beneficiary who had been named in a previous Will. An entity such as a bank must show they were a beneficiary or a fiduciary in a previous Will. If you don’t have standing, you cannot proceed with the challenge.

Also, you must file in a timely manner as defined by state law. Which state? The state in which the decedent resided at the time he or she passed away. The proscribed time period for contesting a Will ranges from a few weeks to a few years, so it’s important to hire an experienced estate attorney who knows the timeline that applies to your case.

You may wonder why time limits are set. This is to expedite the payment of final expenses and the transfer of assets to the beneficiaries of the Will. If no time limits were set, a challenge could be brought any time in the future. The Will could not be fully distributed in order to provide for a potential legal challenge. Make sure to move ahead in a timely manner so your case is not time-barred.

Let us assume that you have standing and are within the time limit set by state law. Now you must have sufficient grounds to contest the Will. There are four possible grounds:

1.    Lack of proper legal formalities;

2.    Mental incapacity of decedent at the time the Will was signed;

3.    Undue influence on the decedent;

4.    Procurement of the Will by fraud.

Proving any of these grounds requires more than suspicions, you must have evidence. That is why you should take any intentions to challenge a Will to be evaluated by an experienced probate law firm. Time is of the essence, so don’t delay this consultation.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/want-to-challenge-awill-in-court-heres-how-you-can-do-it/

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What does a Health Care Directive Consist of? Here is the Info.

Everyone has the right to choose his or her own health care interventions and treatments. Yet sometimes an individual is comatose or has dementia or some other debilitation and cannot make health care choices. In this case, a health care directive will express to medical personnel the wishes of the individual when he or she was still able to make health care choices.

A health care directive refers to not just one document, but several. If you don’t have a health care directive in place, consult with a lawyer that handles wills as soon as possible. Your loved ones may thank you, as you will be saving them from some very difficult choices at a later time.

Your Living Will

This is sometimes called a health care declaration. It is not the same as the will you would leave, directing disposition of property after you die. This truly is a document that is activated when you are still living, but no longer able to make your own health care decisions.

In your living will, you must state what kind of medical care you do and do not want to receive. The primary example of this would be indicating if and when you want doctors to end life-support measures such as ventilation or feeding tubes, even though you will die without them (i.e., “pulling the plug”).

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

This important document might also be called your medical power of attorney. In this, your estate planning law firm helps you select a trusted person to name your medical agent (also called attorney-in-fact). He or she will make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated to make decisions.

Who should you choose as your agent? To review quickly, this should be someone who:

•    Is assertive. Your health care agent may need to stand up to the medical establishment, and/or to family members who don’t agree with your directives. Medical malpractice lawyers will tell you there is always a chance that your agent will need to recognize when medical care has gone wrong.

•    Lives nearby. Your health care agent may be needed to be present for weeks or months to make sure your health care directives are carried out. This could be a particular burden if your agent lives in another city or state.

•    Can be your financial agent. Because medical care involves financial decisions, it’s best to give your health care agent a durable power of attorney for finances as well. If you are naming two separate people, make sure you select two people who can get along and make decisions together on your behalf.

Sometimes the combined living will and durable power of attorney are called the “advance health care directive.” 

DNR Order

This stands for Do Not Resuscitate, and it is a specific order one might give when hospitalized to tell health care personnel you do not wish to have certain life-saving measures. Usually this is given by a person who is terminally ill. However, if you are already incapacitated, you cannot give a DNR order. To make your wishes known, you may create a “prehospital DNR” which can be presented to paramedics if they are called to your home or care facility.

If you do not have these important health care directives in place, schedule time with an an experienced estate attorney who will guide you through the process.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.pa4law.com/what-does-a-health-care-directive-consist-of-here-is-the-info/

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