Pittsburgh Will & Estate Law Attorneys

Representing Families in Allegheny County for Nearly 20 Years

The attorneys at Notaro Epstein Family Law Group, P.C - Divorce and Family Lawyers have Over 20 Years of experience helping clients craft wills and plan their estates. Our attorneys can handle issues that arise about estate laws including wills, intestate estates, powers of attorney, living wills, and estate administration. Estate law encompasses formal arrangements on how a person’s assets and debts should be handled after they die. This can be done by drafting a will or creating a trust, which can be revocable or irrevocable. If you need assistance with any will and estate cases, our Pittsburgh will and estate law attorneys can help you.

Contact our Pittsburgh will & estate law attorneys today for a free initial consultation at (412) 281-1988! 

Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Estate law is the net worth of a person at any point in time alive or dead. An area of estate law is estate administration, which refers to the process of collecting and managing the estate and distributing the remaining property to the heirs of the estate. During this phase, there is a period for the orderly distribution of a person’s assets. This is where taxes are paid and where a will contest may arise. Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of the complexities of estate law. Estate administration also involves submitting a will for probate. Our attorneys can guide you through this process to ensure that you submit the required documentation for your estate administration. We work hard to ensure that our clients can protect their property while providing them with a clear understanding of the process.

Will Laws in Pennsylvania

Executing a valid will is one of the most important steps in estate planning. A will is a document that directs how your estate should be distributed upon your death. You may choose to include in your will provisions for guardianship of minor children and establishing a trust for your estate. In Pennsylvania, the law requires a person to be 18 years old or older to make a will.

Although not required, our attorneys assign two witnesses to every will and have it notarized to make the administrative process easier. Once a will is made, it can only be revoked by another will, codicil, or another writing (made and proved in the same manner as the previous will) or by being burnt, torn, canceled, obliterated, or destroyed by the testator.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney enables a person to make important financial on your behalf. A person may choose to execute this document so that important matters can be taken care of in case he or she is incapacitated in some way. However, a power of attorney can become effective once signed by the party and his or her designated agent.

You may choose to give your selected agent a variety of powers, including but not limited to:

• The power to make a gift on your behalf,
• Borrow money,
• Enter safe deposit boxes,
• Pursue claims,
• Engage in real estate,
• Banking and other financial transactions.

Estate Administration

In spite of the pain of losing a loved one, important steps need to be taken regarding that person’s estate. We recommend that you gather the following documents as a first step: an original will, a death certificate, life insurance policies, and outstanding bills and expenses paid on behalf of your loved one after their death. These documents will assist you in administrating that person’s estate. An executor or administrator of an estate is usually appointed by a will or may be appointed by the Court. The executor or administrator has essential duties that can be completed with the assistance of an attorney.

These duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Arrange for the probate of the will with the office of the Register of wills.
• Notify banks, employers, insurance companies, stock brokers, and others of the death, and begin identifying assets and liabilities of the decedent.
• Advertise the grant of letters by the Register of Wills.
• Prepare and file inventory of estate with Register of Wills.
• Prepare and file Pennsylvania inheritance tax return, federal estate tax return, and any other death tax returns needed for property located in other states.
• Prepare and file decedent's final lifetime income tax returns, federal and state.

Contact Our Will & Estate Law Attorneys Today!

The attorneys at Notaro Epstein Family Law Group, P.C. - Divorce and Family Lawyers have Over 20 Years of experience helping clients with their will and estate cases. We handle issues that arise regarding estate law, including wills, intestate estates, powers of attorney, and estate administration. We can help you through the process to ensure that your assets are protected, and that your will and estate administration is completed correctly. Our team is always available to answer your questions.

Contact our Pittsburgh will & estate lawyers today for a free initial consultation at (412) 281-1988!