Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

Re: short certificates

A Short Certificate is the paperwork that you get from the local Register of Wills Office when you open an estate and initiate the probate process. Banks often make this sound like a very simple and uncomplicated matter. "Just go to the Register and get a Short Certificate." In reality, the probate process is anything but simple. When you open an estate you trigger a whole series of procedural steps that must then be completed. You will have to advertise the estate, give notice of the opening to other beneficiaries, file an estate inventory, file a Pennsylvania inheritance tax return, close out the estate, etc. Unless you have some kind of legal or accounting background, this whole process can be pretty overwhelming. In any event and to answer you question, aside from a Short Certificate you will need an original death certificate and an employer indentification number in order to open an estate bank account. The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by phone, fax or the internet. If you would like to consult with me, please feel free to contact me directly at either [email protected] or throught are website at www.americanwillsandestates.com Thank you.

Lloyd A. Welling, Esq.