Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

You need to begin estate administration by probating, or filing, a Will of the deceased person, if there was a Will, or if there was no Will, by applying for Letters of Administration, at the Office of the Register of Wills for the County where the deceased resided at the time of death. In either case, you will need an original death certificate, the original Will, if there was one, and your own photo ID. If there was no Will, you must be one the relatives permitted to serve as a Personal Representative of the Estate under PA law. You may call the Register of Wills' Office to get information about that. The staff will give you some guidance but it will not give you legal advice.

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.

What Attorney Jacobson said. A short certificate is a document indicating that you are the personal representative of the estate. In order to get one you have to first be appointed by filing the will, if any, and by applying for probate and issuance of letters. The court/register of wills grants the petition and issues the certificate. You can then use the certificate to give to banks or any other entities which have custody of the deceased. Once presented with the certificate they will release such property to you for you to put into the estate so you can pay estate bills and transfer any remaining assets to the decedent's heirs/beneficiaries.