Pennsylvania trusts and estates are used by people of all ages, financial positions, and geographic locations throughout the state. Some people think that they don't need a will or aren't rich enough for a trust. These are both questionable comments since everyone can benefit from a will and most can benefit from a trust.

There are even more issues surrounding Pennsylvania trusts and estates law when it comes to paying out on an estate after a loved one passes away. Questions arise concerning wills in PA such as which creditor to pay first and how to pay that person. All these questions should be answered before the final days of one's life.

Take the following steps to protect yourself and a loved one's PA wills, trusts and estates:

1. Be aware of the rules — all the legalities — of the game.

2. Have your PA will and trust documents ready and easily accessible when a loved one passes.

3. Don't be left holding the empty bag when the IRS man comes knocking.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look up the rules of Pennsylvania wills and trusts

A person transfers property before and after one's death using legal instruments known as PA wills and trusts. Each state has its own 'rules' (a.k.a. statutes) surrounding the execution of wills and trusts. PA wills and trusts statutes are written as easy-to-follow steps. If these steps are followed, property is transferred to your loved ones as the testator intended.

I recommend: Look at Pennsylvania wills rules in Title 20 Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and Trusts rules in Title 20 Chapter 71. Read through the rules and get to know what the requirements are for making, executing, and using wills and trusts in PA. Find forms to help you at Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's website.

Update legal documents regularly

A Pennsylvania probate court is the last place you want to end up. Contact probate lawyers in Pennsylvania if you find yourself stuck with ambiguous or outdated wills and trusts in Pennsylvania. Make all attempts to plan in advance to avoid having these problems by updating your legal documents regularly.

I recommend: Contact an estate planning attorney in Pennsylvania to determine what needs you have. If you are of retirement age, contact an Elder Law attorney. A reliable Elder Law attorney can be found through the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA). If you are a young professional, update your wills and trusts in Pennsylvania when a significant life change happens. Review a checklist, like the one on ABAnet.org, to help you know when changes have occurred to your estate plan. Update the will when you get married, have children, purchase a home, go on a trip, have a health scare, or another important change occurs on your check list.

Know when to pay and who to pay upon the death of a loved one leaving a PA estate

When a person dies, there are business affairs left to the family or loved one's to carry out. Everyone is waiting for his and her inheritance to come through, but this is not the first step. First, creditors must be paid, PA inheritance taxes must be paid, and then the leftovers are distributed by the executors in pennsylvania as dictated by the trust and will.

I recommend: Change the locks on the deceased person's doors. Do this immediately or property of the state may begin to disappear. Take the more friendly approach by having executors in Pennsylvania to take an accounting of all contents the deceased person owned. Start collecting the mail. Forward all mail to the executor's residence and collect bills from creditors. Get a change of address form online from the United State Postal Service. Pay the creditors out of the estate. The federal and PA state taxes must also be paid. Get a quick Q&A on how much PA taxes to pay at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website. Pay off the debts and then the relatives knocking down the door.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact an attorney specializing in estate planning and get a free consultation.
• •  Remember to consider your family's own businesses when thinking about estate planning. Succession planning is an important part of your estate plan and can add lots of additional tax consequences if you have not properly planned.