Help for Executors and Families in Canonsburg
Someone you love has died and now the phone is ringing. The bank wants a document you have never heard of. A sibling is asking when the house will sell. A letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue mentions inheritance tax. You were named executor, or nobody was, and you are not sure where to start.
McKelvey Elder Law & Estate Planning helps executors, administrators, and heirs in Canonsburg and across Washington County settle estates from start to finish. Attorney Colt McKelvey worked as an accountant before law school, which matters in estate administration: most of the work is inventory, valuation, tax, and accounting, done inside the rules of the Pennsylvania Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code.
Our Canonsburg office is at 224 W. Pike Street, a short drive from the Washington County Register of Wills in Washington, PA, where every local estate is opened.
What Estate Administration Involves in Pennsylvania
Whether the decedent left a will (a testate estate) or did not (an intestate estate), the process runs through the same county office and the same general steps.
- Opening the estate. We petition the Washington County Register of Wills for Letters Testamentary (with a will) or Letters of Administration (without one). Those letters are what banks, brokerages, and title companies require before they will speak with you.
- Notice. Pennsylvania requires notice to beneficiaries and heirs within three months, plus a legal advertisement in a newspaper and the county law journal so creditors can come forward.
- Inventory and valuation. Every asset gets identified, valued as of the date of death, and listed on the inventory filed with the Register.
- Pennsylvania inheritance tax. The return is due nine months after death. Paying an estimate within three months earns a 5% discount. Rates depend on who inherits: 0% for a surviving spouse, 4.5% for children and other lineal heirs, 12% for siblings, 15% for most other beneficiaries.
- Debts, expenses, and final income taxes. Creditor claims, funeral costs, and the decedent’s final returns are paid from the estate in the order the law sets.
- Distribution and closing. Assets go to beneficiaries under the will or under Pennsylvania’s intestacy rules, documented with a family settlement agreement or a formal accounting to the Orphans’ Court.
Common Problems We Solve for Washington County Executors
- Real estate in Canonsburg, Cecil, Peters Township, or McDonald that needs to be sold or deeded to an heir
- Retirement accounts and life insurance with outdated or missing beneficiaries
- A parent who died without a will, leaving children unsure who has authority
- Small estates that may qualify for Pennsylvania’s simplified small-estate petition
- Disagreements between siblings over the house, personal property, or the executor’s decisions
- Out-of-state executors who cannot easily appear in person
- Oil, gas, and mineral rights, which are common in Washington County estates and are often overlooked in the inventory
Why Executors in Canonsburg Work With Us
An executor is personally responsible for getting this right. Miss the inheritance tax deadline and the estate pays interest. Distribute too early and you can be on the hook to creditors. We take those risks off your plate and handle the filings, deadlines, and correspondence so you can focus on your family.
You will work directly with Colt, not a rotating staff. Fees are discussed up front. Most estates are handled on a flat or clearly estimated basis rather than a percentage of the estate. Our practice is built on a Christian understanding of stewardship, and settling an estate faithfully, with honesty toward every heir, is part of that.
If the estate includes a trust, see our Canonsburg trusts page. If you are planning ahead for your own estate, start with estate planning in Canonsburg.
Estate Administration FAQ for Pennsylvania
Do I need a lawyer to probate an estate in Pennsylvania?
Not legally, but most executors hire one. The Register of Wills staff cannot give legal advice, the inheritance tax return has real penalties for errors, and an executor who makes a mistake can be personally liable. For very small estates we will tell you honestly if you can handle it yourself.
How long does probate take in Washington County?
A straightforward estate typically closes in 9 to 15 months, driven mostly by the inheritance tax timeline. Estates with real estate sales, business interests, or family disputes take longer.
What does an executor get paid in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no fixed statutory fee. Courts generally accept reasonable compensation, and many executors follow a sliding scale that Orphans’ Courts have approved over the years. Family members often waive the fee. We can walk you through the options.
What if my parent died without a will?
The estate is intestate. A close relative petitions to be administrator and Pennsylvania’s intestacy statute decides who inherits. A surviving spouse, for example, receives the first $30,000 plus half the remainder when there are children from that marriage. We handle intestate estates regularly.
Which assets avoid probate?
Jointly owned property with right of survivorship, accounts with named beneficiaries, and assets already in a trust pass outside probate. They may still be subject to Pennsylvania inheritance tax.
Talk to an Estate Administration Attorney in Canonsburg
Bring the will (if there is one), a death certificate, and whatever financial statements you have. We will tell you what has to happen, in what order, and what it will cost.
Call 724-276-5066 or schedule a consultation online. McKelvey Elder Law & Estate Planning, 224 W. Pike Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317. Serving Canonsburg, Washington, Peters Township, McMurray, Cecil, Houston, Bridgeville, and all of Washington County.
