Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

Re: Fathers will

If your stepmother has to probate your father's estate, then she'll have to file his Will with the local Regiser of Wills Office and it will become a matter of public record. However, if your father and stepmother were together for many years and owned everything jointly with on another, then it is quite possible that his estate will never be opened and that his Will may never be presented for probate.

However, if you are certain that your father owned assets that were in his name alone at the time of his death, i.e. real estate, bank accounts, stocks, etc., then you may be forced to compel your stepmother to come forward and probate the Will.

Proceed carefully. You don't want to go out and spend alot of money only to find out that she is getting everything. If you'd like to discuss this matter further, please see my website at www.americanwillsandestates.com or contact me by email at [email protected]. Thank you.

Lloyd Welling, Esq.

Re: Fathers will

Call the county (where your father lived) Register of Wills office to see if anything has been filed for your father's estate.