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2024

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Best Probate Lawyers in Erie

Our Recommended Top 9

We did the research for you!

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Erie Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

30

Reviewed

21

Curated

9

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

68 East Main Street, North East, PA 16428

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Orton & Orton, Attorneys at Law, serves the community of Erie with estate planning and administration services. With over 50 years of combined experience, the firm's attorneys provide guidance in managing and distributing assets, delegating powers of attorney, and establishing living wills. It also practices family, real estate, and business law. G. Christopher Orton, the firm's partner, guides clients in commercial lending transactions.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Steven SrnkaActive14 yrs
Guy OrtonActive28 yrs
Leigh Ann Orton - PartnerActive25 yrs

333 State Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Damon C. Hopkins Attorney & Counselor at Law offers legal counsel and representation for individuals and families in Erie. Included in his services is probate administration. He also creates estate plans, taking into account various factors such as clients' charitable intentions, retirement benefits developments, and life insurance plans. In addition, Hopkins guides clients in the process of valuing and distributing assets. The attorney, who has been practicing since 1995, also represents injury victims and divorce law clients.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

100 State Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

MacDonald, Illig, Jones, & Britton LLP is a team of civil litigation and estate planning attorneys in Erie that has a history going back over 100 years. The firm has experience with a number of probate and estate planning matters, including those involving business succession, powers of attorney, and taxes. Its team works to verify the will's authenticity and honor the decedent's last wishes. Additional practice areas include education, construction, and real estate law.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Antoun - PartnerActive46 yrs
Shaun Adrian - Senior PartnerActive35 yrs
Russell Warner - Founder and PartnerActive43 yrs
Brian Hennessy - AssociateActive9 yrs

24 Main Street East, Girard, PA 16417

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (12)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Steadman Law Office PC has operated near Erie for over 40 years. The attorneys practice several fields of law, including probate and estate administration. Steadman Law Office provides support as clients file wills, pay estate taxes, and distribute assets to heirs. The lawyers also take care of public notices that must be published to advertise executor appointments. Owner Jim Steadman is the former president of the Erie County Bar Association.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
James Steadman - PrincipalActive49 yrs

234 West 6th Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (27)
Avvo
5.0 (6)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Bernard, Stuczynski, Barnett, & Lager is a firm with a team of probate lawyers in Erie who have been practicing law since 1985. The attorneys help those charged with administering an estate gather a formal inventory and appraisal of the decedent's assets. The firm also aids clients in the notifying of heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors related to the probated estate. Managing partner Adam Barnett is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, the Erie County Bar, and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Adam Barnett - PartnerActive18 yrs

502 Parade Street, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)
Yelp
3.0 (2)
FindLaw
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Gregory L. Heidt Attorney at Law has served the community since 1975. Mr. Heidt is an estate planning attorney in Erie that works with grieving families to address legal concerns that commonly accompany the probate or estate administration process. If family members of the decedent do not agree on a course of action, the attorney is prepared to offer litigation services. He also drafts trusts and durable power of attorney documents.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Gregory Heidt - PrincipalActive49 yrs

300 State Street, Suite 300, Erie, PA 16507

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (31)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Marsh Schaaf Law Firm is the present name of an office representing families, businesses, and individuals in Erie since 1897. Its estate and trust lawyers team aims to conserve family wealth during transfer and minimize loss from taxes by monitoring tax law changes and adjusting estate plans accordingly. Clients are assisted with wills, estate valuation freezing plans, charitable giving programs, and probate administration. The firm also represents persons during audits and with the IRS when necessary.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

504 State Street, Erie, PA 16501

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (16)
Facebook
5.0 (16)
Avvo
4.5 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Alan Natalie, Attorney at Law, has more than 30 years of experience helping people settle the estates of their loved ones. As a probate attorney in Erie, Mr. Natalie assists clients with all aspects of estate administration. This includes litigation and legal disputes that involve non-probate assets and invalid wills. The lawyer serves clients that have been appointed as representatives by assisting with the inventorying of assets and the payment of final estate expenses.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Alan Natalie - PrincipalActive35 yrs

1001 State Street, Erie, PA 16501

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Los Scales Elder Law is a legal firm in Erie that represents individuals and families in probate administration and estate planning matters. When probate is required to settle an estate, the firm's attorneys assist clients in determining probate and non-probate assets, calculating estate taxes, and managing asset distribution. Estate planning services the firm provides include preparation and drafting of last wills and living wills, setting up trusts to preserve assets, and preparing powers of attorney agreements and medical directives.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Schellart Joyce - PrincipalActive28 yrs

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Erie, Pennsylvania?

    The Erie Police Department can be reached at (814) 870-1125 for non-emergencies.

  • Can a beneficiary also be the executor of a probated estate in Erie?

    Yes, you can be an estate executor and administrator and also inherit from the estate. This commonly happens in probate when the decedent designated their spouse as the executor of their estate in a will or when a legal heir files a petition to be the estate administrator. If you have concerns regarding the persona managing your loved one's estate, consult with a local probate lawyer in Erie.

  • Do all estates have to go through formal probate in Erie?

    Not all estates in Erie need to be probated. An estate needs to undergo probate if it includes assets that are solely under the decedent’s ownership. Assets with designated beneficiaries like an insurance policy, and assets jointly owned with others like the marital home, can skip probate. Also, a simplified probate process can be used for small estates that are worth below $50,000. This simplified probate has less formalities and court involvement compared to formal probate.

  • What will happen to your assets that you missed to include in your will if you pass away in Erie?

    These new assets will be distributed to your heirs in accordance with inheritance laws in Erie. You can save your loved ones this extra complexity during probate without having to regularly update your will by including a residuary clause in the will. This clause will inform your executor how to deal with any asset unaccounted for. The clause can also include redistribution instructions for assets refused by a beneficiary and assets left if a beneficiary passes away.

  • Who pays for the decedent’s debt during probate in Erie?

    Settling debts is one of the responsibilities of the estate’s executor or personal representative in Erie. The personal representative must receive creditor claims and arrange payments. Estate assets can be sold if there is insufficient cash in the estate to settle the debts. Note that some assets are exempted from being used to pay creditors. Only after settling debts can the personal representative distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries and heirs.

  • Is there a deadline for filing probate, and where do you file the probate petition in Erie?

    While there is no deadline for filing probate, inheritance taxes in Erie must be paid off within nine months of the decedent’s death. It is advised that you initiate the probate process immediately in order to file inheritance taxes on time. Probate petitions are filed with the Register of Wills in the county where the decedent resided. For Erie residents, the Register of Wills is located at Erie County Courthouse 140 West Sixth St., Room 122, Erie, PA 16501.

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