Pittsburgh Probate Basics

Filing for letters testamentary is one of the very first steps in the probate process, and it's easy to get held up on paperwork requirements you didn't know existed.

Contesting a will means formally challenging its validity in court, rather than simply disagreeing with how the assets were divided.

Many people use the words "probate" and "trust administration" interchangeably. They don't. Both are legal processes for settling someone's affairs after death, but they work differently, follow different rules, and often move at very different speeds.

You want someone close by, someone you can trust, and someone who actually knows Pennsylvania probate law inside and out.

One of the first questions families ask when facing the probate process is: What is this going to cost? It is a completely reasonable question — and one that deserves a thorough, honest answer.

By Wendy Witt, Pittsburgh Probate Attorney | The Pittsburgh Probate Law Firm When someone passes away without a will, it can add a layer of uncertainty to an already difficult time. Family members may assume that without a will, there is nothing to do — or conversely, that everything will dissolve into legal chaos. Neither is true. Pennsylvania has a clear, established legal framework for exactly this situation, and understanding it can bring a measure of calm to what feels l

How long is probate going to take? It's a completely reasonable thing to want to know. You're grieving, you're dealing with family, and the last thing you want is an open-ended legal process hanging over you for an unknown period of time.

By Wendy Witt, Pittsburgh Probate Attorney | The Pittsburgh Probate Law Firm Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through. And yet, within days of the loss, families are often expected to make legal and financial decisions they've never faced before — without a roadmap, without a guide, and often while still in shock. This post is the roadmap for what happens after someone dies in Pennsylvania Whether you've just lost a parent, a spouse, or a si

And now you're wondering: Do I actually need a probate attorney in Pennsylvania? Or can I handle this myself?