The Pennsylvania Petition for Probate and Grant of Letters is a legal document filed in the estate of a deceased person to open his or her estate and appoint a personal representative (executor) to administer the estate. The petition must be filed in the Register of Wills office of the county in which the deceased resided at the time of death. The petition requests the court to grant the executor the authority to settle the estate by collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing assets to the beneficiaries. The petition must be signed by all interested parties, including the executor, beneficiaries, creditors, and any other interested parties. There are two types of Pennsylvania Petition for Probate and Grant of Letters. These are formal administration and informal administration. Formal administration is a court-supervised process that requires the executor to file an inventory, provide notice to creditors, and obtain court approval for any distributions to beneficiaries. Informal administration is a simpler process that does not require court supervision, but still requires the executor to collect assets, pay debts, and distribute assets to the beneficiaries.