The Short Answer

In Pennsylvania, a creditor generally protects a claim by giving the personal representative (executor/administrator) timely written notice, and disputed claims are typically resolved through the estate accounting/audit process rather than informal back-and-forth. If you are deciding whether to approve or object to a claim (even a small one like a key fob reimbursement), you should treat it seriously because mishandling claims can delay distribution and potentially expose the personal representative to liability.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Creditor claims in a Pennsylvania estate often turn on whether the claim was properly brought to the personal representative’s attention and whether it is treated as “admitted” or “not admitted” when the estate is administered and ultimately accounted for. Pennsylvania law also ties creditor rights to the timing of the estate’s advertisement and the personal representative’s knowledge of claims—issues that can become fact-intensive quickly.

The Statute

The primary law governing this issue is 20 Pa.C.S. § 3384.

This statute establishes that written notice of a claim against the decedent given to the personal representative (or the attorney of record) before the claim is barred tolls the statute of limitations, and it also lists acts that count as the equivalent of written notice.

Two other provisions commonly come into play when claims are disputed or when distributions are made before a formal accounting: 20 Pa.C.S. § 3386 (a claimant whose claim is not reported as admitted may need to present it at the audit/confirmation) and 20 Pa.C.S. § 3532 (distributions made “at risk” can limit a claimant’s recovery if the claim was not known within the statutory timeframes).

If you want a deeper overview of how these issues typically play out, see: How Do Creditor Claims Work in a Pennsylvania Estate (and How Are They Paid)? and What Is the Creditor Claim Period in Pennsylvania Probate, and What Happens After It Ends?.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

While the statutes provide the general framework, applying them to a specific creditor claim is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Timing can be driven by the estate’s advertisement and whether the claim was “known” to the personal representative within the statutory windows that affect “at risk” distributions. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3532.
• Burden of Proof: A reimbursement request (like a key fob) may sound straightforward, but disputes often turn on documentation, authorization, and whether the expense was actually an estate obligation versus a personal expense.
• Exceptions and Procedure at Audit: If a claim is not treated as admitted, the claimant may need to present it at audit/confirmation to share in distributions, which can change leverage and strategy. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3386.

Trying to handle claim approvals/objections informally can lead to avoidable disputes, delayed distributions, or allegations that the personal representative mishandled estate funds. A Pennsylvania probate attorney can evaluate whether the claim is valid, how it should be treated in the estate administration/accounting, and how to reduce risk to the estate and the personal representative.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.