Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament Package
What is this form package?
The Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament Package is designed to help individuals create a legally binding will and plan for their estate. It includes essential forms tailored specifically for Pennsylvania residents, ensuring that users' unique needs and circumstances are met. Unlike generic options, this package is drafted by licensed attorneys and includes personalized forms, giving you peace of mind in your estate planning process.
Forms included in this package
Common use cases
This form package is useful when:
- You want to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death.
- You have dependents and want to specify guardianship arrangements.
- You are undergoing significant life changes, such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
- You have specific funeral preferences or directives regarding your healthcare.
Who should use this form package
- Individuals over the age of eighteen who are residents of Pennsylvania.
- People who have dependents or expect to acquire significant assets.
- Anyone looking to create a straightforward estate plan without hiring an attorney.
- Individuals who have experienced changes in their life that affect estate planning, such as marriage or divorce.
How to prepare this document
- Review the included forms carefully to understand your options.
- Fill out the Estate Planning Questionnaire to gather necessary information about your assets.
- Choose the Last Will and Testament form that best suits your situation, whether you are single, married, or divorced.
- Complete the Personal Planning Information Worksheet for important personal details.
- Sign the will in the presence of witnesses to ensure its validity according to Pennsylvania law.
Do forms in this package need to be notarized?
Some forms in this package require notarization to be legally valid. US Legal Forms provides secure online notarization powered by Notarize, allowing you to complete the process through a verified video call, available 24/7.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Failing to sign or properly witness the will.
- Leaving significant assets out of the document.
- Not updating the will after major life events like marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
- Underestimating the importance of clear language in specifying wishes.
Benefits of completing this package online
- Convenience of completing your estate planning from home at your own pace.
- Editability allows you to make necessary changes quickly.
- Access to attorney-drafted documents, ensuring legal compliance.
- Instant downloads and user-friendly formats provide added flexibility.
Form popularity
FAQ
No, in Pennsylvania, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, you must go to a notary to make your will self-proving, see above.
Identify beneficiaries. One of the main purposes of a last will is distributing your assets to certain people upon your death. Perform an inventory of property. Decide who gets what. Designate a personal representative. Draft the final will.
Bank accounts. Brokerage or investment accounts. Retirement accounts and pension plans. A life insurance policy.
A valid will in Pennsylvania must be in writing, either typed or handwritten. Pennsylvania only accepts oral wills in very narrow circumstances. In all cases, the testator, or person drafting the document, must also sign it.
A person's last will and testament outlines what to do with possessions, whether the deceased will leave them to another person, a group or donate them to charity, and what happens to other things that they are responsible for, such as custody of dependents and management of accounts and financial interests.
Generally, probating a will costs between $200 $1,000 depending on the size of the estate. Although probate is generally easier in Pennsylvania compared to other states, an Executor still has legal obligations and a fiduciary duty to beneficiaries of the estate.
No, in Pennsylvania, you do not need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, you must go to a notary to make your will self-proving, see above.
In Pennsylvania, you must be at least 18 years of age and sound mind to make a will. Your will must be in writing and signed at the end by the testator.Pennsylvania does accept self-proved wills. Such a will includes a separate page which is notarized and signed by the testator and witnesses.
In Pennsylvania, the law requires that the testator be at least 18 years old and of sound mind (mentally competent). In addition, the testator must declare that the will is his or hers in front of two witnesses -- and these witnesses must then sign the will in front of the testator.
