Make your Free Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament

A Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament (a "Will") is a legal document that sets forth your wishes in relation to asset distribution after death, including who will inherit your money, your home, or your personal belongings.

The individual making a Will is known as the "testator," and the person or organization being appointed to handle the testator's estate after death is known as the "executor." Designed for residents of Pennsylvania, this free Last Will and Testament can be used in Philadelphia County, Allegheny County, Montgomery County, and in all other counties and municipalities in the state. Any Pennsylvania Will from Rocket Lawyer can be edited to address your unique situation. With this document on hand, your loved ones will have a point of reference for your decisions.

It's very easy to set forth your wishes using a free Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make the document - Answer a few basic questions, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share - Review the document with a lawyer, if needed
3. Sign it - Optional or not, having two disinterested witnesses is a best practice

This solution is, in most cases, much more affordable and convenient than meeting and hiring your average provider. If necessary, you can fill out a Last Will and Testament on behalf of your spouse or another relative, and then help that person sign when ready. Please keep in mind that for a Will to be valid, the testator must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. In the event that the testator is already unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship might be necessary. In this situation, it would be a good idea to connect with a lawyer.

Every person over 18 years old ought to have a Last Will and Testament in place. Though it is difficult to acknowledge, your loved ones will want to know your preferences for guardianship (if applicable), your property, and/or assets should you pass away. Typical occasions in which it would be helpful to make or update your Will include:

• You are newly married or divorced
• You are getting older or have declining health
• You have new beneficiaries, such as a child
• You own real estate property

Regardless of whether this Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament has been prepared as part of a long-term plan or produced in response to a recent change in your life, witnesses and/or notarization are strongly recommended for protecting your document if anyone questions its authenticity.

Writing a Will is typically simple, but you or your executor could still have questions. It may vary depending on whom you approach, but often some attorneys won't even accept requests to review documents that they did not draft. An easier approach would be to request help from Rocket Lawyer On Call^® network of attorneys. By signing up for a Premium membership, you can request feedback from an attorney with relevant experience or send additional questions related to your Will. We're here to support you.

The fees associated with finding and working with a lawyer to write a Last Will and Testament might total between $200 and $1,000, depending on where you are located. Different from many other Last Will and Testament template websites that you might encounter elsewhere, Rocket Lawyer gives Premium members up to 40% in savings when hiring a lawyer, so an attorney from our network can take action on your behalf if you ever need help.

Your Pennsylvania Last Will comes with its own set of tips for what's next with regard to finalizing the document. As a Rocket Lawyer member, you may make edits, save it as a PDF document or Word file, and/or sign it. Even if you decide to make copies, take care to store your signed original in a secure location where it can't get wet or otherwise damaged. It is critical that your loved ones know where to find it after your passing.

The specific guidelines and restrictions will be different in each state; however, in Pennsylvania, as a general principle, your witnesses will need to be competent people. Furthermore, it is highly encouraged that you have your Last Will acknowledged by a notary public in order to reinforce its authenticity.

Pennsylvania Last Will and Testament Laws: Pennsylvania Code § Title 20 2502

A Will doesn't need to be filed with the county until the testator has passed away. Filing the Will (in addition to any specific forms needed by the county) allows for the process of probate to begin.