What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania
My wife's adult son died in 2003. He had no wife or kids. An estate was established. My wife (his mother) is the adminstritrix (sp.?). Currently there are no funds in, nor claims against, the estate. We are about to settle a wrongful death lawsuit which will result in funds being in the estate. I know that legal fees (1/3 of settlement amount plus fees for expert witnesses, etc.) will be deducted from the settlement amount and only the remainder will end up being in the estate.
Other immediate family of the deceased include a father and one brother (also an adult).
Questions:
1.) Are there laws that will dictate how long the money needs to stay in the estate before being distributed (i.e. - give creditors a chance to make a claim). The estate was established in the early part of 2004. If so, what are they?
2.) Are there laws which dictate how the funds are to be distributed to the survivors (mother, father, brother) or is it up to the discretion of the administratrix? If there are laws, what are they? Not looking for advice or opinions, I am looking for what PA law dictates. If there are no such laws in PA, are there laws in other states that are relatively consistent? If so, what are they?
Thanks.What is the name of your state?
My wife's adult son died in 2003. He had no wife or kids. An estate was established. My wife (his mother) is the adminstritrix (sp.?). Currently there are no funds in, nor claims against, the estate. We are about to settle a wrongful death lawsuit which will result in funds being in the estate. I know that legal fees (1/3 of settlement amount plus fees for expert witnesses, etc.) will be deducted from the settlement amount and only the remainder will end up being in the estate.
Other immediate family of the deceased include a father and one brother (also an adult).
Questions:
1.) Are there laws that will dictate how long the money needs to stay in the estate before being distributed (i.e. - give creditors a chance to make a claim). The estate was established in the early part of 2004. If so, what are they?
2.) Are there laws which dictate how the funds are to be distributed to the survivors (mother, father, brother) or is it up to the discretion of the administratrix? If there are laws, what are they? Not looking for advice or opinions, I am looking for what PA law dictates. If there are no such laws in PA, are there laws in other states that are relatively consistent? If so, what are they?
Thanks.What is the name of your state?