How do you settle an estate in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania you file with the county Register of Wills to be granted Letters, advertise the grant of letters, get an estate EIN and bank account, inventory and value the assets, notify heirs and creditors, pay valid debts and the inheritance tax, then account and distribute what remains before closing the estate.

Do you have to go through probate in Pennsylvania?

Assets that pass by will or to no named beneficiary generally go through probate via the Register of Wills. Assets with a beneficiary designation or joint ownership — like life insurance, retirement accounts, or jointly held property — usually pass outside probate.

Do you need a lawyer to settle an estate in PA?

Pennsylvania does not require an executor to hire an attorney, but many do for larger or contested estates, real estate sales, or formal Orphans' Court accountings. Simple estates are often handled by the executor with help confirming deadlines and forms.

PA Executor Guide

How to Settle an Estate in Pennsylvania

The whole PA probate process, in plain English — from the Register of Wills to closing the estate.

Being named executor (Pennsylvania calls it the "personal representative") can feel overwhelming, but the Pennsylvania probate process follows a predictable path. Here's the whole thing, step by step, so you know what's ahead and which deadlines actually matter.

The short version: file with the Register of Wills → get Letters → advertise the grant of letters → open an estate account → inventory the assets → notify heirs and creditors → pay debts and inheritance tax → account and distribute → close the estate.

1 File with the Register of Wills

Take the original will, a certified death certificate, and the petition for probate to the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent lived. If everything is in order, the Register admits the will and issues Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration if there's no will) — often the same day. These Letters are your authority to act for the estate.

2 Advertise the grant of letters

Pennsylvania requires you to advertise the grant of letters — typically once a week for several weeks in a local newspaper of general circulation and in the county legal journal. This puts creditors on notice and starts Pennsylvania's one-year creditor claim period, so do it promptly.

3 Get an EIN and open an estate account

Apply for a federal tax ID (EIN) for the estate, then open an estate bank account. From here on, all estate money flows through this account — never your personal account. Keep clean records of everything in and out.

4 Inventory and value the assets

Identify and value everything the decedent owned as of the date of death — real estate, bank and investment accounts, vehicles, personal property, and business interests. Pennsylvania may require you to file an inventory with the Register of Wills. These date-of-death values also feed the inheritance tax return.

5 Notify heirs and creditors

Provide the required notice to beneficiaries and known creditors. Pennsylvania also has a formal notice rule (Rule 10.5) requiring written notice to heirs and beneficiaries within a set time after Letters are granted, plus a certification filed with the Register.

6 Pay debts and the inheritance tax

Pay valid debts and expenses from the estate account in the proper order of priority. File the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return (Form REV-1500), generally due 9 months after death — and remember the 5% discount for paying within 3 months. (Full PA inheritance-tax breakdown →)

7 Account, distribute, and close

Once the creditor period has run and taxes are settled, prepare an accounting (formal, filed with Orphans' Court, or informal by agreement among the beneficiaries), distribute what remains under the will, and obtain receipts/releases from the heirs. That closes the estate. (How long all of this takes →)

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General information, not advice. ExecutorPilot is an educational resource, not a law firm, and this guide is general information about the Pennsylvania probate process — not legal advice about your estate. Requirements, forms, and deadlines depend on the facts of each estate and can change. Confirm your specific steps and dates with your county Register of Wills or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before acting.