Probate & Trust Administration

What Is Probate?

Probate is the court-supervised legal proceeding used to administer the property (called probate property or the probate estate) owned by someone who has died. Probate property is all of the property titled solely in the decedent’s name at the time of his or her death. It is distributed according to terms of the deceased person’s will or, if there is no will, according to Pennsylvania law.

During the probate process, the person named in the will as executor (or the person appointed by the court, if there is no will) is responsible for gathering the deceased’s assets, filing all of the necessary paperwork, making sure that all claims, expenses, and taxes of the estate are properly paid, and then distributing the remaining assets to the rightful heirs under the will or according to Pennsylvania law.

If a named executor is unfamiliar with the duties of the position and the various rules and deadlines that must be observed, the process can be overwhelming. At Peak Legal Group, we have experience representing clients in all aspects of estate administration and probate, and we can assist and guide executors and other heirs as they navigate the process.

If you are an executor or a personal representative of an estate, we can make sure that you fulfill all of your legal and fiduciary obligations, meet all of the applicable deadlines, and administer the estate according to your deceased loved one’s wishes.

Pennsylvania Probate and Estate Administration

We understand how difficult it can be to work through unfamiliar estate administration and probate issues, especially in the wake of a loved one’s death. We will work with you to ensure that all of the executor’s duties are properly fulfilled and that the estate is administered according to the deceased loved one’s wishes.

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West Chester Pennsylvania Trust Administration Attorney

Unlike property that passes by Will, a properly drafted and funded trust (such as a Revocable Living Trust) will generally avoid probate, but action is still necessary to administer the trust. Beneficiaries must be contacted, assets must be gathered, potential creditors must be notified, debts and taxes must be paid, and any remaining income and assets must be distributed according to the trust terms.

Many successor trustees live out of town, or they lack the time, resources, or knowledge to personally administer the trust properly, and this is where Peak Legal Group comes in. We help successor trustees deal with the complexities of the trust administration process, even in cases where our office did not draft the original trust. Give us a call to find out how we can help you.

Knowledgeable Assistance When You Need It Most

We understand how difficult it can be to work through unfamiliar estate administration and probate issues, especially in the wake of a loved one’s death. We will work with you to ensure that all of the executor’s duties are properly fulfilled and that the estate is administered according to the deceased loved one’s wishes.

We can also prepare and file the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax returns and any necessary Federal Estate Tax returns by the applicable deadlines.

Finally, if there are any challenges or disputes regarding the will or the administration of the estate, we can appear in court to resolve the issues as quickly and efficiently as possible.