At Chadwick Estate Law, we believe a well-drafted will is the cornerstone of a secure estate plan. A will empowers you to control asset distribution, appoint guardians for children, name executors, and even establish trusts—ensuring your wishes, not the state’s default rules, guide your family’s future.
Based in Wayne, we serve families across Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and offer statewide planning via Zoom.
Why a Will Matters in Pennsylvania
A will is not just a formality—it is a legal tool that ensures:
Your spouse is protected beyond statutory minimums.
Your children have guardians you personally select.
Assets go to beneficiaries you choose, including charities, stepchildren, or friends.
Trusts for minors delay distributions until a responsible age.
Executors you trust manage your estate, rather than a court-appointed administrator.
Without a will, Pennsylvania’s intestacy laws (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101–2114) determine who inherits. Courts may appoint administrators or guardians you wouldn’t have chosen, often leading to delay, cost, and disputes.
What Happens Without a Will (Intestacy)
If you die without a will:
Your spouse may not inherit everything. Under 20 Pa.C.S. § 2102, they often share with children or parents.
Children may inherit directly at age 18, with court-appointed guardians managing assets until then.
Non-relatives and stepchildren inherit nothing.
The Register of Wills appoints an administrator from a statutory priority list (20 Pa.C.S. § 3155).
In other words, intestacy is the “estate plan” Pennsylvania writes for you.
Our Estate Planning Process
Step 2: Design a Tailored Plan
Collaborate to create an estate plan personally tailored to align with your values and your goals.
Key Roles a Will Lets You Control
Protecting Your Spouse
Intestacy may split your estate between your spouse and children or parents, leaving your spouse without full financial security. A will ensures your spouse receives what you intend.
Appointing Guardians for Children
Without a will, courts select guardians for your minor children (23 Pa.C.S. § 5328). A will allows you to name trusted individuals to raise your children if you cannot.
Appointing Trustees for Children
You can create testamentary trusts in your will, appointing trustees to manage inheritances for children until an age you choose (20 Pa.C.S. § 2507). This avoids lump-sum distributions at 18.
Naming Executors
A will lets you choose the executor who will manage your estate, file tax returns, and distribute property (20 Pa.C.S. § 3156). Without this, courts may appoint someone unsuited to the role.
Planning for Taxes
While a will alone doesn’t reduce taxes, it can integrate with trusts and charitable planning to reduce Pennsylvania inheritance tax (72 P.S. § 9116) or federal estate tax (applies to estates > $13.61M in 2025).
Step 3: Implement & Fund Your Strategy
With the final documents prepared and ready for your signature, you will sign your estate planning documents, update titles, and coordinate beneficiaries.
Step 4: Support Through Probate & Beyond
Ongoing updates, probate assistance, and trust administration when needed.
Step 1: Discover & Define Goals
Understand your family, assets, and priorities and strategize the best estate plan for you and your family.
FAQs
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Assets are divided by intestacy statutes (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101–2114). Spouses often share with children or parents, and stepchildren are excluded.
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Yes. With a will, you can give your spouse your full estate, avoiding intestacy’s limits.
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Yes. It is the only legally recognized method to designate guardians for minor children.
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A trust created by your will that manages a child’s inheritance until a later age.
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Joint accounts, retirement accounts, and life insurance with beneficiaries pass outside of probate.
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Not directly, but it can incorporate trusts or charitable gifts to reduce inheritance tax.
Protect Your Legacy with a Plan You Understand
Call 215-277-0888, email Bass or fill out this form to get started.
