How to Switch to a Small Estate Process in Pennsylvania
Detailed Answer Short answer: North Carolina’s $60,000 “year’s allowance” rule does not control what happens in Pennsylvania. If you are dealing with a Pennsylvania estate (or need to administer property located in Pennsylvania), you must follow Pennsylvania probate rules. Pennsylvania does not use North Carolina’s dollar cap; instead, it has its own rules about when […]
Read article →Pennsylvania: Paying Back Taxes on Inherited Land When You Are Not on the Deed — Key Outcomes and Next Steps
Detailed Answer Short answer: Paying delinquent property taxes protects the land from tax sale and preserves the property, but it does not automatically make you the legal owner if your name is not on the deed. Payment creates rights you should document and may give you a basis to seek repayment, a lien, or a […]
Read article →How to Find the Heirs and Who Owns Property After a Grandparent’s Death — Pennsylvania
How to Identify the Heirs and Determine Property Ownership After a Grandparent’s Death in Pennsylvania Short answer: Start by locating a will and a certified death certificate, then search county probate (Register of Wills) and land (Recorder/Deeds) records. If there is no will, Pennsylvania’s intestacy rules control who inherits; the county Register of Wills can […]
Read article →Pennsylvania: How to Recover Surplus Funds After a Tax Sale
Detailed Answer Short summary: When a property is sold at a Pennsylvania tax sale and the sale price exceeds the taxes, interest, penalties and sale costs, the excess money (the “surplus”) does not automatically go to the former owner’s bank account. Pennsylvania law requires the surplus to be held and distributed according to statutory priority. […]
Read article →Pennsylvania: How to Reconsider Letters of Administration and Seek Removal of an Administrator
Getting the Court to Reconsider Letters of Administration and Removing an Administrator in Pennsylvania Quick answer: In Pennsylvania you can ask the court to reconsider or revoke letters of administration and to remove an administrator if you can show cause (for example, fraud, misconduct, failure to perform duties, incapacity, or a procedural defect in the […]
Read article →Challenging an Administrator Closing a Joint Bank Account in Pennsylvania
Detailed Answer Short overview: If someone appointed as the personal representative (administrator) of a decedent’s estate closed a bank account that was jointly held with the decedent without telling heirs, you have several possible responses under Pennsylvania law. Your options depend on how the account was owned (true joint account with right of survivorship, a […]
Read article →Pennsylvania — Reviewing and Correcting Missing or Incorrect Probate Filings
Detailed Answer Overview: If you believe probate filings in your father’s estate are missing or contain errors, Pennsylvania law gives interested persons several ways to review the probate record and to ask the court to correct or compel proper filings. The process typically involves (1) obtaining the probate file and related documents from the Register […]
Read article →Pennsylvania Guide to Correcting Probate Paperwork Errors (Wrong Heirs Listed)
Correcting Errors in Pennsylvania Probate Records: What to Do When the Wrong Heirs Are Listed Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice about a specific probate matter in Pennsylvania, consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney. Detailed Answer — […]
Read article →Challenging a Grandparent’s Appointment as Estate Administrator in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Estate Administrator Appointments: A Practical Guide Disclaimer: This is educational information only and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified Pennsylvania attorney about your specific situation before taking action. Detailed answer — what to know and the steps to take If someone (for example, your grandparent) has been named or appointed as the estate […]
Read article →Pennsylvania — Challenging an Administrator's Claim to Inherited Real Property
Can I challenge an administrator's claim to ownership of real property I’m entitled to inherit? Short answer: Yes — under Pennsylvania law you can challenge an administrator’s claim that they personally own real property that should be part of an estate. The administrator (also called a personal representative) holds legal title only as a fiduciary […]
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