Pennsylvania estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Pennsylvania will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Pennsylvania law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Pennsylvania estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | zero witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | None |
| State inheritance tax | Yes |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Pennsylvania courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania will must be in writing and signed by you in front of zero witnesses. Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Pennsylvania recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, but a properly witnessed will is far stronger and easier to probate.
Spousal protection. 1/3 elective share (20 Pa.C.S. § 2203). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Pennsylvania
A will still has to pass through Pennsylvania probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Pennsylvania situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Pennsylvania
A financial power of attorney in Pennsylvania must be notarized and signed before two witnesses. (20 Pa.C.S. § 5601)
A Pennsylvania healthcare directive must be signed before two qualified witnesses. (20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5442/5452)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Pennsylvania's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Pennsylvania estate & inheritance tax
Pennsylvania has no state estate tax, but it does levy an inheritance tax paid by certain beneficiaries depending on their relationship to the decedent. There is no Pennsylvania estate tax on top of the federal one.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Pennsylvania department of revenue.
Pennsylvania statutes referenced
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 2502
- 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601
- 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5442/5452
Pennsylvania estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Pennsylvania?
- Yes. Pennsylvania does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Pennsylvania's execution rules. A will is valid in Pennsylvania when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by zero people (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502). Estateur builds each Pennsylvania will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania requires zero witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Pennsylvania also recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills, though a witnessed will is stronger.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Pennsylvania?
- No. Pennsylvania law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Pennsylvania documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Pennsylvania attorney is wise.
- Does Pennsylvania have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Pennsylvania has no state estate tax, but it does levy an inheritance tax paid by certain beneficiaries depending on their relationship to the decedent. There is no Pennsylvania estate tax on top of the federal one.
- How much does an online will cost in Pennsylvania?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Pennsylvania as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Pennsylvania estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Pennsylvania, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Pennsylvania law in general terms and may change.
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