Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

A short certificate represents the formal appointment of a personal representative to administer the estate of a deceased. Without one, no one is authorized to act on behalf of the estate.The only government official who may issue a short certificate is the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased resided.

As executrix, it is your responsibility to find out what debts and assets there are, pay taxes and debts and prepare and file an inheritance tax return, before any assets may distributed. If you do not do these correctly, you may be personally liable for any claims against the estate.

Although you may apply for and get the short certificate in the county where your father resided, you also have to take care of the rest of the estate administration. You should engage an estates lawyer to help you with this.

This response is not legal advice, since I do not have all of the information that would be required, and I do not have a representation agreement with you.

* If the answers to your question confirm that you have a valid issue or worthwhile claim, your next step should almost always be to establish a dialog with a lawyer who can provide specific advice to you. Contact a lawyer in your county or township.

* Another reason for contacting a lawyer is that it is often impossible to give a good answer in the Internet Q&A format without having more information. The unique circumstances of your situation and things that you may not have thought to mention in your question may completely change the answer. If you want to be sure that you have a complete answer to your question and an understanding of what that answer means, establish a connection with a lawyer who practices in the area of your concern.