Wills

A will (also called a testament) is a legal declaration of how a person wants to dispose of his property after death.

In Pennsylvania there are advantages to drafting a will that may not exist in other states. Probate isn’t as burdensome, nor are probate costs as high in Pennsylvania as in other states. Also, the cost of probating a will isn’t substantial. By comparison living trusts generally take more time to prepare and are more costly to draft.

There is no maintenance involved in a will, unlike a living trust. A living trust must be maintained and assets consistently titled in the trust name, which adds time, cost and effort.

Even if you have a living trust, it is still necessary to draft a will to confirm the provisions of the trust plan. A will is necessary is because it’s nearly impossible to ensure all assets are titled in a trust name.

For advice in drafting a will, Attorney Jim Coletta will be happy to answer your questions and assist in drawing up your will. Call today at 412-429-7770 to arrange an appointment.

Probate

Probate is the legal process of proving a will is authentic. The probate process also includes supervising the administration of a will and distributing the estate assets to beneficiaries.

Probate varies from state to state. In some states probate is more costly, time-consuming and complicated than in other states. A long, involved probate process delays distributing assets to beneficiaries and adds fees that drain assets from an estate.

Probate in Pennsylvania is less complex and costly than in many other states. Attorney Jim Coletta can help you understand and navigate the legal process regarding probate.