Wills

A will is a legal document that allows you to declare in writing how your property will be distributed and how your affairs will be handled after your death. A will provides instructions about who should serve as your personal representative (executor or executrix). It allows for the quick transfer of property while avoiding many state and federal tax burdens. It allows you to designate the care, custody and guardianship of your minor or disabled children and pets. A will can provide notice of your desire to be cremated or buried with your wedding ring. It is a highly personalized estate planning tool.

In PA, a will can be created by anyone 18 years of age or older, who is of sound mind. A testator must sign the will, declaring it to be his last will, in the presence of two adult witnesses.

In PA, if a person dies without a valid will, (“intestate”), the laws of intestacy determine who inherits the estate.