Pennsylvania Estate Administration Attorneys

Helping You Fulfill Your Duties as an Estate Administrator

If you have been named as executor or administrator of the estate of a loved one, you may be uncertain of what you need to do to complete your tasks and distribute assets in the estate. This page outlines the basic obligations of an estate administrator in Pennsylvania. To ensure that your
rights are protected, you want to work with an experienced lawyer.

At the office of Spadea & Associates, LLC, in Folsom, Pennsylvania, we have provided comprehensive counsel to estate executors and administrators for more than a decade. Before going into private practice, attorney Spadea worked as an IRS agent and as a certified public accountant. We take a holistic approach to estate administration, looking at tax and financial issues, as well as legal concerns. We know from experience that every case is different, and will take the time to learn the unique facts and circumstances of your case so that we can identify any potential issues, as well as your options. We are well-versed in the duties of an estate administrator and can help you fulfill your responsibilities and successfully close the estate.

Attorney Spadea is a proud veteran of the first Gulf War and offers a free will to anyone currently serving in or retired from the armed forces of the United States.

Your Duties as an Estate Administrator in Pennsylvania

When you have been named to take the estate of a loved one through the probate process, you will need to:

• Send out all appropriate notices — You must send a notice to every heir or next of kin within 60 days of filing with the probate court. We will prepare the notice for you and make certain you comply with all filing requirements. If there are charitable bequests in the will, you will also need to send a notice to the state’s attorney general. If the deceased was receiving Social Security checks, you must immediately notify Social Security of the death. The same is true if the decedent was receiving veteran’s benefits. You should also notify the post office to forward all of the deceased’s mail to you.
• Obtain any necessary property valuations — You will want to determine the value of all assets in the estate as of the date of death, including all tangible personal property, all real property and all financial assets, such as investments, employee benefits, retirement accounts, insurance policies and bank accounts. We will help you get appraisals of property if necessary.
• Determine any debts owed by the deceased at the time of death — We will help you obtain balances for any amounts owed, and will work with you to pay all final debts.
• Change title to any assets — You must re-title all property in the name of the estate. We will take care of this task for you.
• File all insurance claims — We will help you complete the necessary paperwork to recover death benefits under insurance policies, annuities or retirement plans.
• Protect any real or personal property owned by the estate — You will want to make certain that insurance policies are current, and that all utilities or taxes on real property are not in arrears.
• Prepare, file and settle any tax returns — We will help you with final income tax returns for the deceased, with any gift tax returns that may be due, and with all state and federal inheritance or estate taxes.

Contact Spadea & Associates, LLC

We provide a free initial consultation to every client. For a private meeting with experienced Philadelphia-area estate administration attorneys, contact our office online or call us at 610-521-0604.