In Pennsylvania, this means that your property is distributed entirely to your spouse if there is no surviving child or parent. Someone who dies without a will is called “intestate,” which invokes the strict laws of intestacy. Once debts and taxes of the estate are paid, the property as designated in the will may be distributed. In Pennsylvania, probate begins with the filing of a petition for letters testamentary or of administration at the county register of wills where the decedent was domiciled. Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing the estate of a deceased person. A Pennsylvania will gives you the opportunity to set up this kind of pet trust, which terminates upon the death of the animal or animals provided for in the trust.Ī valid last will and testament can also help the estate navigate through the probate process with ease.

In addition to testamentary trusts (i.e., trusts created through a last will and testament) that provide a benefit for people, Pennsylvania law explicitly permits the creation of a trust to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor’s lifetime. In general, Pennsylvania law permits you to dispose of your property as you see fit, with some exceptions as described more fully below.Īnother benefit of a Pennsylvania will is that it can allow you to name someone as the legal guardian of your children and/or handle property left to minor children. If you do not choose an executor of your estate in a will, a court will do so for you.Ī will can serve various purposes, most notably by providing a way for the testator to detail how assets should be divided upon her death. Having a last will and testament can be beneficial for many reasons, including the fact that it allows the testator to choose the executor of her estate, the person who will be responsible for carrying out the wishes contained in the will. Because the outcome may not coincide with the decedent's (the person who passed away) wishes, it is generally advisable to create a last will and testament. Pennsylvania explicitly allows living wills.Īlthough a last will and testament is not legally required, without a will, state laws (called laws of intestacy) determine the distribution of an estate's assets. It is important to note that a last will differs from a living will in that the latter provides instructions in the event that you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions regarding your health and medical care. Pennsylvania wills give the person writing the will, called the testator, the opportunity to provide for a spouse, children, other loved ones, and pets after her death. Creating a Pennsylvania last will and testament is important if you wish to have control over the distribution of real and personal property upon your death.

Does a will have to be notarized in pa