Pennsylvania Estate Planning
Get your own affairs in order in Pennsylvania, for yourself or an aging parent. Compare the documents most adults need (a will, a power of attorney, and a healthcare directive), decide whether you need a trust, and see how to keep your estate out of probate.
Which document do I need?
The core documents at a glance. Each row links to its Pennsylvania guide.
- Will
- Pennsylvania will requirements explained: age 18 and sound mind, signing at the end, no witnesses at signing, two witnesses to prove at probate, self-proving. Read the guide
- Living trust
- Pennsylvania revocable living trust guide: Chapter 77, the Uniform Trust Act, funding, the pour-over will, probate avoidance, and inheritance tax. Read the guide
- Power of attorney
- Pennsylvania power of attorney guide: signing, witnesses, notarization, durability, agent acknowledgment, delayed effectiveness, and express authority. Read the guide
- Healthcare directive
- Pennsylvania healthcare directive: health care powers of attorney, living wills, combined advance directives, witnesses, signing, and operative conditions. Read the guide
Planning to prepare the will with an online service? See what Pennsylvania requires from an online will before you sign anything.
Pennsylvania estate planning guides
Pennsylvania Estate Planning Basics: The Core Documents Every Adult Needs
Pennsylvania estate planning basics under 20 Pa.C.S.: the will, durable power of attorney, and health care directive, plus probate, inheritance tax, intestacy.
Pennsylvania Will Requirements: Making a Valid Will
Pennsylvania will requirements explained: age 18 and sound mind, signing at the end, no witnesses at signing, two witnesses to prove at probate, self-proving.
Pennsylvania Power of Attorney Guide
Pennsylvania power of attorney guide: signing, witnesses, notarization, durability, agent acknowledgment, delayed effectiveness, and express authority.
Pennsylvania Healthcare Directive Guide
Pennsylvania healthcare directive: health care powers of attorney, living wills, combined advance directives, witnesses, signing, and operative conditions.
Pennsylvania Guardianship: Types, Orphans' Court Process, and Alternatives
How Pennsylvania guardianship of an incapacitated person works: guardian of the person vs estate, the Orphans' Court process, and less-restrictive alternatives.
Pennsylvania Revocable Living Trust Guide
Pennsylvania revocable living trust guide: Chapter 77, the Uniform Trust Act, funding, the pour-over will, probate avoidance, and inheritance tax.
Pennsylvania Trust Administration Guide
How a successor trustee settles a Pennsylvania living trust after death under 20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 77: the 30-day beneficiary notice, debts, taxes, distributions.
How Pet Trusts Work in Pennsylvania
How a Pennsylvania pet trust works under the Uniform Trust Act: setting aside money for an animal's care, naming a caregiver and trustee, and funding it.
Digital Assets and Estate Planning in Pennsylvania
Plan for and access a deceased person's digital assets in Pennsylvania under RUFADAA: online legacy tools, will and POA language, crypto, and executor access.
Not sure what you need in Pennsylvania?
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you which estate planning documents to set up first.
Information current as of 2026-06-18
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in your state can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
More Pennsylvania Resources
Explore the rest of the Pennsylvania estate planning hub.
Start planning