Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

greedy murder

If a person if convicted of killing someone who is leaving them a sum of money in their will, who gets the money?


Asked on 5/07/07, 5:37 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
John Gibson John W. Gibson, Esquire

Re: greedy murder

Pennsylvania has what is called a "Slayer's Statute." This provides that "(c) SLAYER'S SHARE.-- Any person who participates either as a principal or as an accessory before the fact in the wilful and unlawful killing of any person shall not in any way acquire property or receive any benefits as the result of such killing, but such property or benefits shall be distributed as provided in Chapter 88 of this code (relating to slayers)."

The decedent's property is distributed as if the slayer had died before the person that was killed.

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Answered on 5/08/07, 10:09 am
Daniel Cevallos Cevallos & Wong, LLP

Re: greedy murder

Typically, murder invalidates gifts in a will to the killer.

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Answered on 5/07/07, 10:12 pm


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