What to Do When Someone Dies in Pennsylvania: A Complete Guide
What to Do When Someone Dies in Pennsylvania: A Complete Guide
When someone dies in Pennsylvania, your first actions are: confirm the death with a medical professional, contact a funeral home, and locate any will or estate plan. Pennsylvania has unique requirements that differ from most other states, most notably an inheritance tax that applies to nearly every estate. This guide walks you through each required step, with specific statutes, deadlines, and fees.
The First 24 to 48 Hours
The hours right after a death involve time-sensitive steps under Pennsylvania law.
Confirm the death. If the death happens at home under hospice care, the hospice nurse pronounces death and handles the medical certification. If the death was unexpected, call 911. The county coroner must be notified for deaths due to violence, accident, suspicious circumstances, sudden unexplained deaths, and deaths without medical attendance. Pennsylvania has elected coroners in 64 of 67 counties; Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Delaware counties have appointed Medical Examiners.
Contact a funeral home. The funeral director initiates the death certificate with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. They coordinate with the physician or coroner, handle body transport, and apply for the disposition/transit permit required before burial or cremation (35 P.S. section 450.501).
Note the 24-hour cremation rule. Pennsylvania requires a 24-hour waiting period after death before cremation may occur (49 Pa. Code section 13.212). The body may be transported to the crematory before 24 hours, but cremation cannot begin until the waiting period has passed. If the death is under coroner jurisdiction, the coroner must also approve the cremation.
Locate key documents now. Before you contact banks or courts, find these:
- The will (the original, not a copy)
- Any trust documents
- Life insurance policies
- Financial Power of Attorney (now void upon death)
- Advance Health Care Directive (now void upon death)
- Property deeds, vehicle titles, and financial account statements
Do not spend money from the deceased's accounts. Until the Register of Wills appoints a personal representative, no one has legal authority over individually held accounts. Joint accounts with right of survivorship remain accessible to the surviving owner.
Getting Death Certificates in Pennsylvania
Order 8 to 12 certified copies. Banks, insurance companies, the Register of Wills, and the PA Department of Revenue each require their own certified original with a raised embossed seal. Photocopies are not accepted. See the full guide to death certificates in Pennsylvania for detailed ordering instructions.
Fees: $20 per certified copy from the PA Department of Health. Online orders through VitalChek add a $10 service fee. In-person orders at one of six branch offices are processed same day if received by 2:30 PM. Mail and online orders take approximately 3 weeks. Contact: 724-656-3100 or toll-free 844-228-3516.
Notifying Agencies and Canceling Accounts
Work through this list systematically. Each agency has its own process.
Social Security Administration. Call 1-800-772-1213. The funeral home typically reports the death, but call to confirm. If the deceased received benefits, the payment for the month of death must be returned. Ask about the $255 lump-sum death payment (apply within 2 years of death). Ask about survivor benefits: a surviving spouse may receive up to 100% of the deceased's benefit at full retirement age; eligible children may receive 75%.
Banks and financial accounts.
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship: the surviving owner has immediate access (20 Pa.C.S. section 6304). Bring a certified death certificate to the bank.
- Payable-on-death (POD) accounts: pass directly to the named beneficiary under 20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63. Bring a death certificate and valid ID.
- Individual accounts up to $20,000 in deposits: banks may pay to eligible family members (spouse, children, parents, siblings) without Letters Testamentary, upon presentation of a funeral bill receipt (20 Pa.C.S. section 3101).
- Individual accounts above these limits: you need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the Register of Wills.
Retirement accounts and life insurance. These pass directly to named beneficiaries. Contact the plan administrator or insurance company with a certified death certificate and a completed beneficiary claim form. Life insurance payable to a named beneficiary is generally exempt from Pennsylvania inheritance tax (72 P.S. section 9111(h)). However, IRAs and retirement accounts are generally subject to inheritance tax.
Vehicles. Transfer vehicle titles using PennDOT Form MV-39 (Notification of Assignment/Correction of Vehicle Title Upon Death of Owner). A surviving spouse who is a co-owner pays no title transfer fee. Contact PennDOT at 717-412-5300.
Real property. Pennsylvania does NOT allow transfer-on-death deeds for real estate. If the property was held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship or tenancy by the entirety (married couples), title passes automatically. File an affidavit of survivorship with the county Recorder of Deeds. If the property was in the deceased's name alone, it must go through probate.
Utilities, subscriptions, and credit cards. Cancel subscriptions. For credit cards in the deceased's name only, the estate is responsible. Notify each issuer in writing with a death certificate.
Pennsylvania unclaimed property. Search the PA Treasury database at unclaimedproperty.patreasury.gov for any accounts you cannot locate. Over $3.5 billion in unclaimed property is currently held by the state.
Probate in Pennsylvania: What You Need to Know
Probate in Pennsylvania is administered by the Register of Wills, an elected county official, not a traditional probate court. Contested matters, accountings, and distributions go to the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas. For a detailed walkthrough, see how probate works in Pennsylvania.
What goes through probate. Only assets titled solely in the deceased's name with no beneficiary designation. The following assets skip probate:
- Joint accounts with right of survivorship
- Tenancy by the entirety property (married couples)
- POD bank accounts (20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63)
- TOD securities (20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 64)
- Retirement accounts with named beneficiaries
- Life insurance with named beneficiaries
- Property held in a revocable living trust
Small estate petition (20 Pa.C.S. section 3102): For estates with personal property (excluding real estate) valued at $50,000 or less. Filed with the Orphans' Court. No letters required.
Full probate: File a Petition for Grant of Letters (Form RW-02) at the Register of Wills in the county where the deceased lived. The Register issues Letters Testamentary (if there is a will) or Letters of Administration (if no will). The personal representative must then advertise the grant in a newspaper once per week for three consecutive weeks (20 Pa.C.S. section 3162).
Filing fees. Pennsylvania has no statewide uniform fee schedule. Fees are set by each of the 67 counties and are typically graduated by estate value. A typical range is $50 to $300+ for letters, depending on county and estate size. Order 6 to 10 short certificates (certified copies of letters) at $5 to $20 each.
For more detail on executor duties in Pennsylvania, see the full executor guide.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax: A Major Issue
Pennsylvania is one of only five states (along with Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey) that imposes an inheritance tax. This is the single most important financial fact for Pennsylvania estates. Unlike the federal estate tax which has a $15,000,000 exemption, Pennsylvania's inheritance tax has no exemption threshold. Every estate owes it unless all assets pass to a spouse or charity.
Tax rates by relationship (72 P.S. section 9116):
| Beneficiary | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Surviving spouse | 0% |
| Parent from child aged 21 or younger | 0% |
| Lineal descendants (children, grandchildren) | 4.5% |
| Lineal ancestors (parents, grandparents) | 4.5% |
| Siblings | 12% |
| All others (nieces, nephews, friends, unmarried partners) | 15% |
| Charities and government entities | 0% |
Key fact for blended families: Step-children and step-grandchildren qualify for the 4.5% lineal descendant rate. Formal adoption is not required (72 P.S. section 9116(a)(1.1)).
Filing deadline: The inheritance tax return (Form REV-1500) is due 9 months from the date of death. Pay within 3 months for a 5% discount. Interest accrues on late payments from the 9-month mark.
For complete details, see estate and inheritance tax in Pennsylvania.
Medicaid Estate Recovery in Pennsylvania
If the deceased received Medical Assistance (Medicaid) for long-term care services at age 55 or older, the state may file a claim against the estate to recover what it paid. Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance Estate Recovery (MAER) program is authorized under 62 P.S. section 1412.
Families can request an undue hardship waiver. Contact the DHS Estate Recovery Program at (800) 528-3708 or RA-PWESTATERECOVERY@pa.gov.
Ongoing Tasks Timeline
| Timeframe | Task |
|---|---|
| First 24-48 hours | Confirm death, contact funeral home, call 911 if unexpected, notify immediate family |
| First week | Order 8-12 death certificates, secure the home, locate will and financial documents, notify SSA |
| Weeks 2-4 | File for probate at Register of Wills, notify banks and creditors, apply for life insurance and survivor benefits |
| Within 3 months | Pay inheritance tax for 5% discount (72 P.S. section 9142) |
| Within 9 months | File inheritance tax return (Form REV-1500), file inventory with Register |
| 1 year after advertisement | Creditor claims period expires (20 Pa.C.S. section 3385) |
| April 15 following year | Final federal income tax return (Form 1040), PA state income tax return (PA-40), estate income tax (Form 1041 if applicable) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pennsylvania have an inheritance tax? Yes. Pennsylvania is one of only five states with an inheritance tax. Rates are 0% for spouses, 4.5% for lineal descendants, 12% for siblings, and 15% for all others. There is no exemption threshold.
How long does probate take in Pennsylvania? Simple uncontested estates typically take 9 to 18 months. Complex or contested estates can take 2 to 5 years or longer. The one-year creditor claim period and the 9-month inheritance tax deadline are the main constraints.
What if the deceased had no will in Pennsylvania? Dying without a will is called dying intestate. Pennsylvania intestacy law (20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 21) determines who inherits. The distribution depends on whether the deceased had a surviving spouse, children, or parents. An administrator is appointed by the Register of Wills.
Can I avoid probate entirely in Pennsylvania? Yes, if all assets have beneficiary designations, are held jointly with right of survivorship, or are in a trust. Pennsylvania does NOT allow transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, so real property in one person's name alone must go through probate unless held in a trust.
What to Do Next
Kaira organizes every step for your state -- deadlines, forms, and next actions -- so nothing gets missed. See how it works.
This guide was researched using Pennsylvania statutes current as of April 2026. Laws change. For complex estates, contested probates, or inheritance tax planning, consult a Pennsylvania-licensed attorney.
Sources: 20 Pa.C.S. (Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code); 72 P.S. section 9101 et seq. (Inheritance and Estate Tax Act); 35 P.S. section 450.101 et seq. (Vital Statistics Law); pa.gov; pacourts.us; ssa.gov