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Pennsylvania Probate Law: The Truth About “The Reading of the Will”

Time and again, on television shows and in movies, scenes occur in which a person has died and his or her last will and testament is “read” to family members. In considering these entertainments, one could easily include that the so-called reading of the will is a commonplace or even required occurrence. A person might think that Pennsylvania probate law requires a reading of a will. In fact, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere across the country, a reading of a will rarely takes place in the manner presented on television or in a movie.

Pennsylvania Probate Law and the Reading of a Will

There is no provision in Pennsylvania probate law requiring a will to be read aloud to family members of a person who died. There are isolated instances in which a reading of a will may actually occur in Pennsylvania. But, in the final analysis, and as previously mentioned, this is not something that frequently happens.

There is nothing that prohibits the reading of a will to family members. When it happens, it usually is in a Pennsylvania probate lawyer’s office.

Pennsylvania Probate Law and the Public Record

When a will is probated, that will becomes a public record. A probated will is one that is submitted to the court to allow a judge the ability to ensure that the provisions of that will are carried out – to ensure that the bequests and directives made by the writer of the will are carried out.

Because the will is public record, literally anyone can access the document and read it. Certainly, family members have the ability to read and review a will once it is submitted to the probate process in court. In some cases, a Pennsylvania probate lawyer will provide family members and others copies of a last will and testament.

Pennsylvania Probate Lawyer

A person involved in an estate matter, including one involving reviewing a last will and testament, is best served engaging the services of an experienced Pennsylvania probate lawyer. This type of attorney will schedule a no obligation, no cost initial consultation to discuss a particular legal mater.