Pennsylvania is one of the few states with a state inheritance tax that applies regardless of estate size, so Pennsylvania estate planning has to account for both probate administration and tax planning for heirs.
2 required
Pennsylvania requires two witnesses to a will (unless it's entirely handwritten and signed by the testator, which can be valid without witnesses, though this is riskier and harder to probate smoothly).
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Pennsylvania allows a self-proving affidavit sworn before a notary at signing, which avoids needing witnesses to testify at probate.
Permitted by state law
Pennsylvania permits remote online notarization through approved platforms and notaries commissioned for RON. LegacyShield remote notary sessions are coming soon — in-home notary visits are available now.
6–12 months for routine administration; Pennsylvania's inheritance tax return is due within 9 months of death, which drives much of the timeline.
Pennsylvania probate (called estate administration through the Register of Wills) involves filing fees based on estate value plus attorney fees typically billed hourly or as a percentage (often 2–5%); a mid-size estate frequently totals $5,000–$12,000 in combined costs.
$50,000 (excluding real estate and certain exempt property)
Pennsylvania's small-estate petition process lets qualifying estates settle informally without full estate administration.
Common law
Pennsylvania is a common-law property state. Assets are owned according to title, and a surviving spouse who is disinherited can elect against the will to receive roughly one-third of the estate.
Pennsylvania uses a combined Advance Health Care Directive covering both a health care power of attorney and living-will instructions, typically signed with two witnesses.
Pennsylvania's durable power of attorney requires two witnesses and notarization, and Pennsylvania also requires a specific statutory notice and acknowledgment to be signed by the agent before acting, which trips up many self-drafted forms.
Laws change and every estate is different — verify current requirements with a licensed attorney in your state before signing or relying on any document.
LegacyShield AI walks you through a state-aware will, trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives — with signing instructions for your state included.