Q: Is it mandatory to hire an attorney if will does not need to go into probate.
All parties are residents of Pennsylvania. Joint OR on all deceaseds accounts. Only one other party in will, can I just calculate the inheritance tax on the joint accounts with a cpa and pay the sum to the only other member mentioned in the will. Or am I required to have an attorney carry this out in PA?
A:
… there is no requirement that you need an attorney for this in PA …
… however - you mentioned a Will as well as being on all of the decedent’s accounts or joint …
… that doesn’t seem to make sense … whether a CPA can interpret that is up to you …
John
A: There may not be an obligation to hire an attorney to assist in probate, but by the wording of your question it indicates that you may not understand the rights of joint owners of assets versus beneficiaries under a Will. I would recommend that you meet with an attorney to discuss the rights and responsibilities of a joint owner, versus what the wording of the Will might be. Also, the potential responsibilities of the joint owner and the Executor if there are any debts outstanding
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