How Do I Get Appointed as Executor in Pennsylvania?
See the appointing court, the petition that opens the estate, what to file, and bond rules to be appointed in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pennsylvania uses Petition for Grant of Letters (RW-02), filed with the Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s domicile. The county Register of Wills issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration after the court grants the petition.
Along with the petition, Pennsylvania generally requires: Original will and any codicils, presented to the Register of Wills of the county of the decedent’s last family or principal residence (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3131, 3132); Original (raised-seal) death certificate, presented at the county Register of Wills — county intake practice, not a statutory, rule, or statewide-form requirement for a grant of letters; Completed RW-02 Petition for Grant of Letters (rev. 10/11/2011), including the Oath of Personal Representative on page 2; Oath of subscribing / non-subscribing witness(es) where the will is not self-proved (RW-03 Oath of Subscribing Witness(es) / RW-04 Oath of Non-subscribing Witness(es) / RW-05 Oath of Witness(es) to Will Executed by Mark) (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3132, 3132.1); Renunciation (RW-06) from any person with equal or higher priority who declines to serve (20 Pa.C.S. § 3155); Estimated estate value (personal and real property) entered on the petition for fee/bond calculation; Bond unless excused (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3171-3175); Notice of Estate Administration to beneficiaries and intestate heirs (RW-07) within 3 months of the grant of letters, and Certification of Notice (RW-08) within 10 days after giving that notice (Pa. O.C. Rule 10.5).
Pennsylvania does not require a bond by default before Letters issue, though the court can order one.
Pennsylvania permits self-represented filers to open an estate, using Petition for Grant of Letters (RW-02). E-filing is available to self-represented filers. The Self-File Probate Assessment compares self-filing and attorney costs for Pennsylvania.
Yes. A revocable living trust passes assets to beneficiaries without any court appointment in Pennsylvania — no petition, no Letters, no bond. A revocable trust built with SimplyTrust takes about 15 minutes.
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Calculators and checklists for navigating probate and estate administration.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Prepare the application to open probate and request Letters Testamentary or of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Prepare the creditor notice for an estate — the official state form or a notice typeset to statute, plus mailed notices for known creditors.
Small Estate Affidavit
Prepare the affidavit that collects a small estate's property without probate — the official state form or an affidavit drafted to statute, plus a presentation letter for each holder.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Estate Closing
Prepare the paperwork that closes the estate — the state's closing statement, petition for discharge, or final account, with the state's closing instructions and the optional federal forms.
Letter of Instruction
Prepare the letter of instruction a bank or insurer requests during estate settlement.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?
Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.
Do I Need Probate?
Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.
Hire a Pennsylvania Probate Attorney
Browse 94 probate firms in Pennsylvania with addresses, contact info, and practice details.
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Pennsylvania Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Pennsylvania probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.