Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania
Reading of the will
My grandmother recently past away, And left her sister's executor of the estate. It�s been a week and a half and we have yet to here from them. There are four grandchildren; my father being only son is deceased. I know we are in the will but know one has contacted us to hear the will. I was going to wait a little longer to call and ask, but I hesitate to do so, do not want to sound greedy. A thou I do not fully trust the executors. How long does it normally take to have the will read? Do they have to read the will? To the beneficiaries. My grandmother does have a nice size estate.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Reading of the will
It is rare to have the "will read to the heirs/beneficiaries", except in movies.
What actually happens is that the executor or other personal representative of the deceased applies to the Register of Wills in the County where the deceased resided at the time of death to have letters issued to the personal representative, authorizing her/him to administer the estate. Filing the will with the Register of Wills is referred to as "probating" the will, and is done at the time of application for letters.
This cannot be done immediately after death, but should be done within 3 months, to take advantage of discounts on the PA inheritance tax.
Distributions are not usually made until after Inheritance (and Federal Estate Tax, if applicable) Tax Returns are filed and approved. All debts and taxes must first be paid, and only then may the estate be distributed to beneficiaries or heirs.
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