Probate & Estate Administration

If you have questions regarding Elder Law and/or  Probate & Estate Administration and the options available to you in the state of Pennsylvania, call Slutsky Elder Law at (610) 940-0650 to schedule a consultation today.

After you pass away, your property will be distributed and transferred to other people. An executor or administrator will take charge of this process, which is known as estate administration. The way your estate administration proceeds depends on several factors, including any planning you have done beforehand. A probate attorney can advise and represent you throughout this process to ensure it goes smoothly. If you need advice about probate and estate planning, Slutsky Elder Law can help you. Robert Slutsky has been representing clients in Montgomery County, PA, Chester County, PA, and Delaware County, PA for over 30 years, making him highly qualified to advise you in probate matters.

What Happens During an Estate Administration

In Pennsylvania, the Register of Wills determines who will serve as executor or administrator of an estate, whether it is in Montgomery County, PA, or anywhere else in the state. When the decedent (the person who died) left a Will, the person named in the Will serves as executor unless they are disqualified or declines to serve.

The process is a little more complicated when the decedent dies intestate, which means he or she did not leave a Will. Usually, one of the decedent’s relatives is named the administrator of the estate based on the list provided in Pennsylvania law.

Executors and administrators have the same job to perform. However, the executor is directed by the decedent’s Will when distributing probate assets to heirs. The administrator must follow the intestacy laws of the state in which you lived when you died.

It’s important to understand how assets pass from the decedent to his or her beneficiaries during estate administration. Speaking with our estate administration lawyer can give you a better understanding of this process.

Probate Property vs. Non-Probate Property

Assets owned only by the decedent usually become part of the probate estate for the executor or administrator to manage. But some property transfers to beneficiaries by other, non-probate, means.

• Property owned by a trust is managed by a trustee, whose job is similar to the executor or administrator.
• Jointly-owned property passes directly to the co-owner. However, joint ownership with someone other than a spouse has its dangers and should be carefully considered. Probate lawyers can tell you more about these dangers and help you develop a plan for the future.
• Accounts with named beneficiaries transfer directly to the beneficiary after the account owner dies.

Probate is not always a lengthy process, and non-probate assets transfer slightly faster than probate assets. By using non-probate transfers, however, the estate loses some of the protections offered by wills and trusts. Robert Slutsky is an attorney who has been dealing with probate matters and wills for over 30 years, and if you live in Chester County, Delaware County, or anywhere nearby, he can advise you during this process.

Wills, Trusts, & Non-Probate Transfers

Wills and trusts direct the distribution of a decedent’s property. They can also protect your beneficiaries in situations like the following:

• Beneficiaries under age 18 require the appointment of a legal guardian of their estate.
• Some beneficiaries may lack the maturity to handle a large inheritance.
• Irresponsible beneficiaries of any age may need help managing their funds.
• Disabled beneficiaries may lose public benefits like Medicaid and SSI if they receive their inheritance directly.

A properly drafted Will or trust can include provisions to avoid these problems. Having an estate plan in place before you pass away could make estate administration easier for your executor and your family. A probate attorney serving Montgomery County, PA, and nearby communities is the best source of advice about these matters.

Estate Administration Duties

Executors and administrators typically have to do the following when handling an estate, and probate attorneys can assist them during this process:

• Find and notify beneficiaries.
• Locate and gather the decedent’s property.
• Evaluate the property to see if it belongs in the probate estate.
• Manage estate assets, which may include paying for maintenance and insurance.
• Pay the decedent’s debts.
• Distribute probate assets to beneficiaries.

Before finalizing an estate administration, the executor or administrator also has to address any tax problems and pay any income or inheritance taxes due.

For example, Pennsylvania imposes an inheritance tax on property transferred through an estate, except for life insurance proceeds. Rates vary based on the relationship between the decedent and beneficiary:

0% — spouses and charities

4.5% — lineal descendants (parents, children, grandchildren )

12% — siblings

15% — anyone else

Federal inheritance taxes may also apply. Since the 2022 federal estate exemption is $12.1 million, your estate will not be affected unless it exceeds the exemption amount. Whether you have inherited some money or you want to plan for the future so your heirs can avoid unnecessary taxation, experienced probate lawyers can help you develop the right strategy moving forward.

We Can Help with Estate Administration Issues

Someone will take charge of your estate after you are gone. Dying without a will or trust means your estate will pass according to Pennsylvania state intestacy laws, without regard to your individual preferences. Leaving a will or trust allows you to direct how you want your assets to be distributed and provisions are included to protect your heirs. Estate administration lawyers can help you write a will, set up a trust, or deal with the probate process if you are the executor of someone else’s estate.

At Slutsky Elder Law, we often help clients safeguard their futures through powers of attorney, estate planning, and guardianship proceedings. Robert Slutsky has been serving clients in Montgomery County, PA and the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area for over 30 years, If you have inherited money or you are the executor of an estate, Elder Care Attorney Rob Slutsky is the best choice to advise you.

Estate Administration Lawyer Serving Chester County & Delaware County, PA

When you have inherited assets or you have been entrusted to administer someone else’s estate, you no doubt will have a lot of questions. You don’t have to do it on your own; a probate attorney like Robert Slutsky has all the answers you need. As a Montgomery County, PA probate attorney for three decades, he has seen it all and he is ready to put his experience to work for you. Other probate lawyers and estate administration lawyers may not have the same level of experience or familiarity with the Chester County, PA area. If you are looking at probate lawyers in the Delaware County, PA area, you don’t need to call anyone other than Robert Slutsky. Get in touch with Rob today for a top probate attorney near Philadelphia or to work with an estate planning lawyer in Chester County, PA. today!