What Happens if you Die Without a Will in Pennsylvania?

Clients often ask what happens if you die without a will in PA. It is a common misconception that if you die in Pennsylvania without a will that everything will be left to the Commonwealth. Because of the statutory scheme that Pennsylvania currently has in place, it is a rare occurrence that anything will be left to the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has developed what is commonly referred to as the laws of Intestate Succession. A person who dies without a will in Pennsylvania is said to have died “intestate.” The laws of Intestate Succession govern the disposition of a persons property if he or she dies without a will, or if all of his or her property is not disbursed pursuant to a will. The Pennsylvania laws of Intestate Succession are designed to protect both the surviving spouse and children (if any). In addition to providing for spouses and children, the Pennsylvania laws of Intestate Succession may also provide for a decedents parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and their children and grandchildren under certain conditions.

The starting point is if the spouse of the decedent survives the decedent, the amount of property that the decedent ultimately receives is dependent upon which other relatives survive the decedent.  So, who takes property and other assets pursuant to the Pennsylvania law of Intestate Succession?  The law can be summarized as follows:

No Surviving Children

If the decedent was survived by his or her spouse and had no surviving children or parents at the time of death, the surviving spouse receives the decedents entire estate. If the decedent was survived by his or her spouse and one or both parents, the surviving spouse is entitled to the first $30,000.00 of the estate, plus one-half of the remaining estate. The decedents parents’ share of the estate is discussed below.

Surviving Children

If the decedent was survived by his or her spouse and had surviving children, all of whom were also the surviving spouses children, the surviving spouse receives the first $30,000.00 of the estate, plus one-half of the remaining estate. However, if the decedent was survived by his or her spouse, and at least one of the decedents surviving children were not also the surviving spouses child, the surviving spouse is limited to one-half of the estate. The reason that the surviving spouse receives less if one of the surviving children is not also a child of the surviving spouse is because the law presumes that a surviving spouse will care for his or her own children, but not necessarily those of the decedent.

No Surviving Spouse

What happens if the decedent is not survived by his or her spouse or the surviving spouse is not entitled to take everything in the estate? Pennsylvania’s Intestate Succession law provides as follows for the remaining share:

1. Children. First to the children of the decedent.
2. Parents. If no children survive the decedent, the decedent’s parents share equally. If only one parent survives the decedent, the surviving parent takes the entire estate. If the decedent dies with a surviving spouse, the surviving parents are also entitled to take one-half of the estate remaining after the surviving spouse takes the initial $30,000.00 of the estate and one-half of the remaining estate.
3. Brother, Sister or their Children. If no children or parents survive the decedent, the estate will be distributed to the children of the decedents parents (the decedent’s siblings and their children).
4. Grandparents.  If no siblings survive the decedent, then the grandparents of the decedent shall receive, one-half to the paternal grandparents and one-half to the maternal grandparents and their children.
5. Uncles, Aunts, and Their Children and Grandchildren. If no grandparents survive the decedent, the estate is distributed to the decedent’s uncles, aunts, and their children and grandchildren.
6. Commonwealth.  If no one mentioned above survives, then the estate goes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It is important to note that will substitutes such as joint tenancy property, life insurance payable to specific persons, bank accounts with specific beneficiaries and the like will pass in accordance with their terms and will not be a part of the decedent’s estate to be distributed pursuant to the laws of Intestate Succession.

It goes without saying, that the best way to plan for the future and adequately provide for your loved ones is to have a will and other estate documents prepared by a trusted professional. Contact our estate attorneys today.