Estates and Probate | Bucks County, PA Probate Lawyer
Will Probate Attorney | The Martin Law Firm, P.C.
The Martin Law Firm, with its principal office located in Blue Bell, PA, regularly assists Bucks County, PA executors (aka personal representatives) with Will probate in the Bucks County, PA Register of Wills. The Will probate lawyer at The Martin Law Firm represents executors living in Doylestown, Quakertown, Warminster, Yardley, Pottstown and the rest of Bucks County, PA. The Martin Law Firm also regularly handles Wills, trust and estate matters in Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, Chester County and the rest of southeastern Pennsylvania.
What is Will Probate?
Will probate in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is defined as "proving" a Will by submission of the Last Will and Testament of a decedent to the Bucks County Register of Wills. The Register of Wills determines the validity of the Will and, if the Will is valid, issues a decree appointing an executor (aka personal representative) to administer the estate. The Register of Wills grants "Letters Testamentary" to the executor named in the Will, and the executor is then tasked with complying with applicable Pennsylvania law for probate and estate administration.
Who is the executor of a Will?
An executor, also known as a personal representative, is usually named in the Will. Typically, the executor is a close family member of the decedent.
What are the executor's responsibilities?
Generally, the executor must follow the terms in the Will and make distribution to the beneficiaries only after the probate formalities are followed and all debts and expenses of the estate are satisfied. Probate formalities include some of the following:
Does an executor or personal representative need to hire an attorney?
For any Bucks County, PA Will probate matter, the executor is a fiduciary. A fiduciary is held to the highest standards of loyalty and care under the law. As such, the executor must comply with Pennsylvania probate law; make appropriate decisions with regards to estate assets, i.e. decisions for investments, payment of taxes, sale of home, etc.; make decisions for satisfying debts; and properly handle claims against the estate. If the executor fails at complying with any of these obligations, the executor can be held personally liable. As such, an executor should be extremely diligent and prudent in carrying out his or her duties, and an experienced Bucks County, PA Will probate attorney can help.
What are the fees for legal representation?
Pennsylvania law does not have express requirements for what attorneys may or may not charge, except to say that the fees must be reasonable. The Martin Law Firm offers a variety of fee arrangements to executors including flat fees, hourly fees or contingency fee arrangements. During the free initial consultation, the attorney at The Martin Law Firm and the client can discuss an appropriate fee prior to the commencement of attorney representation. The fees are paid by the estate and fees are deductions for inheritance tax and estate tax purposes.
Where is the Bucks County Register of Wills?
The Bucks County, PA Register of Wills is located at the Bucks County Courthouse, at 55 East Court Street, 3rd Floor, Administration Building, Doylestown, PA 18901. The Bucks County Register of Wills can be reached by phone at 215-348-6265.
Probate and Estate Administration Attorney | Bucks County, PA
If you are named as an executor or personal representative and you have questions regarding Bucks County, PA Will probate, The Martin Law Firm can help. An executor’s responsibilities are numerous, complicated, and can be difficult without appropriate guidance and resources. An experienced Bucks County, PA probate attorney can help ease the burden associated with Will probate and estate administration. Contact The Martin Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Bucks County, PA probate lawyer.
For more information, please visit our Pennsylvania Wills, Trusts and Estates Blog.