How is a Pennsylvania trust administered after the grantor dies?

The successor trustee takes over and the trust becomes irrevocable, then distributes assets according to the trust terms without probate court involvement. The successor trustee must publish notice to Pennsylvania creditors, after which a claim is barred in 13 months. (20 Pa.C.S. § 7755(c)(1)(ii) imposes an affirmative conditional duty — the trustee "Shall advertise" if the PR has not advertised the grant of letters within 90 days after the settlor's death (§ 7755(c)(1)(i) separately permits the trustee to advertise "at any time"). Distribution is free of creditor liability under § 7755(e) unless the claim is known to the trustee within 13 months after the first complete advertisement of the grant of letters to the PR, or within 1 year (12 mo) after the trustee's own first complete advertisement if no PR is appointed. Real-property claims under § 7755(f) require written notice filed with the clerk within 1 year of death and expire 5 years after death. Verified 2026-06-19.) Pennsylvania requires the trustee to notify beneficiaries within 30 days of the grantor's death. The trust also needs its own EIN from the IRS once the grantor dies.

Is a trust worth it in Pennsylvania?

It depends on your estate size and goals. Pennsylvania allows simplified probate for estates under $50,000 (20 Pa.C.S. § 3101 (payments without administration: $10K wages, $20K deposits, $10K patient care, $11K life insurance), § 3102 (small estate petition — gross personal property $50K; raised from $25K by Act 35 of 2013, no CPI indexing), § 3121 (family exemption $3,500), § 3162 (advertisement once/week for 3 successive weeks in newspaper of general circulation + designated legal periodical), § 3171/§ 3174 (bond + exemptions), § 3301 (inventory deadline), § 3531 (post-administration small-estate settlement on petition $50K), § 3532 (creditor claims 1 yr from first complete advertisement), § 3537 (PR compensation "reasonable and just"; attorney fees by court review of reasonableness, In re LaRocca's Trust Estate, 431 Pa. 542 (1968)), §§ 901-908 (Register of Wills); 72 P.S. § 9116 (inheritance tax rates 0%/4.5%/12%/15%), 72 P.S. § 9136 (return due within 9 months), 72 P.S. § 9142 (5% discount if paid within 3 months), 72 P.S. § 9143 (delinquent 9 months after death); county Register of Wills fee schedules on pacourts.us and individual county Register of Wills sites — verified via legis.state.pa.us / palegis.us / pa.gov/agencies/revenue on 2026-06-11), so smaller estates may not need a trust for cost savings alone. A trust adds value when: you own real estate, you want privacy (probate is public), you need incapacity planning, or you own property in multiple states. A will alone means probate court handles everything.

Can I sign my trust online in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania allows remote online notarization (RON), so a notarization can be completed by video call (57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1). Whether an electronically signed trust instrument is valid in Pennsylvania is not settled by statute, so this trust is built to be printed and signed on paper.

Does my Pennsylvania trust need an EIN?

While you're alive, a revocable trust uses your Social Security number. After the grantor dies, the trust becomes irrevocable and needs its own EIN from the IRS. The successor trustee applies for the EIN before opening trust bank accounts or filing trust tax returns.

Pennsylvania Revocable Living Trust

Pennsylvania revocable living trust: avoid probate, name beneficiaries, set distribution rules, appoint a successor trustee. State-specific execution.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Revocable Living Trusts

Yes. Assets held in a revocable living trust bypass Pennsylvania probate entirely — no court supervision, no public record, no statutory fees. Full probate in Pennsylvania typically takes 9-14 months. Use the Pennsylvania probate cost calculator to see what probate would cost without a trust.

Pennsylvania accepts a certificate of trust in lieu of the full trust instrument. The certificate confirms the trust exists, identifies the trustee, and states the trustee's powers — without disclosing beneficiaries or distribution terms. Third parties who rely on the certificate in good faith are protected by statute.

Many families with a trust also use a pour-over will — one way to direct assets not transferred into the trust during your lifetime. Pour-over assets go through probate before reaching the trust. Create a Pennsylvania pour-over will if needed.

The successor trustee takes over and the trust becomes irrevocable, then distributes assets according to the trust terms without probate court involvement. The successor trustee must publish notice to Pennsylvania creditors, after which a claim is barred in 13 months. Pennsylvania requires beneficiary notification within 30 days of death. Use the Trust EIN application tool to get the tax ID.

Most assets can be transferred: Pennsylvania real estate (via a Special Warranty Deed or Quitclaim Deed), bank accounts, investment accounts, vehicles, and personal property. Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) use beneficiary designations rather than being retitled. Life insurance policies can name the trust as beneficiary. The key is funding — only assets actually transferred into the trust bypass probate.

It depends on your estate size and goals. Pennsylvania allows simplified probate for estates under $50,000, so smaller estates may not need a trust for cost savings alone. Use the Pennsylvania trust vs. will comparison to see which fits your situation.

Pennsylvania allows remote online notarization (RON), so a notarization can be completed by video call. Whether an electronically signed trust instrument is valid in Pennsylvania is not settled by statute, so this trust is built to be printed and signed on paper. See all Pennsylvania signing requirements.

While you're alive, a revocable trust uses your Social Security number. After the grantor dies, the trust needs its own EIN from the IRS. Use the Trust EIN application to prepare the paperwork.

Avoiding Probate in Pennsylvania

Whether a revocable trust makes sense for Pennsylvania residents depends on estate size, asset types, and goals. Full probate in Pennsylvania typically takes 9 months to 14 months and creates a public record. A trust bypasses this entirely — assets transfer privately to beneficiaries without court involvement.

Estates under $50,000 in Pennsylvania may qualify for simplified probate — so smaller estates don't always need a trust. A trust adds value for larger estates, for incapacity planning, and when you want to keep asset details out of public court records.

After the grantor dies, the trust becomes irrevocable and the successor trustee distributes assets according to the trust terms — without court involvement. The successor trustee must publish notice to Pennsylvania creditors, after which a claim is barred in 13 months. Pennsylvania accepts a certificate of trust in lieu of the full instrument, so the trustee can act without disclosing beneficiaries or distribution terms. Pennsylvania real estate is transferred into the trust using a Special Warranty Deed or Quitclaim Deed.

Many families pair a trust with a pour-over will — one way to direct unfunded assets into the trust at death.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

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Data sourced from Pennsylvania statutes and official state code. How we research.

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In-depth guides covering Pennsylvania probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Revocable Living Trusts

While you're alive, a revocable trust uses your Social Security number. After the grantor dies, the trust needs its own EIN from the IRS. Use the Trust EIN application to prepare the paperwork.

Avoiding Probate in Pennsylvania

Many families pair a trust with a pour-over will — one way to direct unfunded assets into the trust at death.