Creditor Claims
Creditors have 1 year from the first complete advertisement of letters to file claims against the estate. After that, unknown creditors are barred.
20 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3532
Notice: Estate administration and planning involve complex legal, tax, and fiduciary considerations. This information is provided for educational purposes. Consult with a licensed attorney and tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Priority of Claims
When estate assets are insufficient to pay all debts, claims are paid in the following order of priority:
Costs of estate administration
Filing fees, publication costs, attorney fees, personal representative compensation
Family exemption
Surviving spouse or minor children entitled to $3,500 from estate assets
Funeral expenses
Reasonable funeral and burial costs
Costs of last illness
Medical expenses from final illness
Government claims
Federal and state tax liens, Medicaid estate recovery
All other claims
General unsecured creditors
Family Exemption: $3,500
The surviving spouse (or minor children if no surviving spouse) is entitled to retain $3,500 worth of estate assets free from creditor claims. This is separate from and in addition to any intestate share or bequest.
20 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 3121