Being appointed as the personal representative for the estate is a serious legal responsibility. Whether you were named as an executor in a will or have been appointed to distribute the assets of someone who has died intestate in Pennsylvania, the experienced attorneys at Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee, P.C. will guide you through the legal steps necessary to complete the probate or administration process while minimizing expense and hassle.
In Pennsylvania, probate matters are handled by the Orphans’ Court, a division of the Court of Common Pleas. It doesn’t matter if the probate process is relatively simple or is fraught with disputes over such issues as fraud or undue influence. With practices that include work in litigation and estate planning, our firm can assist with every aspect of the process, including:
Each estate is unique and the amount of time it takes to conclude probate depends on the individual circumstances. Extra months might be required to deal with if real estate needs to be sold or there are tax complications. Regardless of the complexities, we will handle each aspect of the estate and work to complete the process as quickly as possible.
Whether you’re planning your estate or looking to distribute the property of a recently deceased loved one, it’s important to remember that some assets are not subject to the probate process. Some people place their assets into a revocable living trust, which lets them use the assets throughout their lifetime and upon their death shifts ownership to named beneficiaries. Ownership of jointly held property, such as shared bank accounts or real estate held in joint tenancy, passes immediately to the surviving owner(s). Life insurance proceeds and certain gifts made during the decedent’s lifetime are also excluded from probate. We’ll offer knowledgeable information about your circumstances and options for the handling of all such assets.
Feldstein Grinberg Lang & McKee, P.C. assists Pennsylvania clients with a full range of probate and estate administration tasks. Please call 412-471-0677 or contact us online to schedule a consultation at our office in Downtown Pittsburgh.