Estate Planning Checklist for Pennsylvania
A comprehensive, location-aware guide to organizing your estate plan in Pennsylvania.
Quick Facts for Pennsylvania
Property Regime
Equitable Distribution
Pennsylvania follows equitable distribution.
State Estate Tax
No state estate tax
Only the federal estate tax applies.
Will Requirements
No attesting witnesses required to sign
Holographic wills: recognized
Healthcare Documents
Living Will
Medical orders: POLST
Legal details as of 2026-07-29 — last checked against published sources, not reviewed by an attorney.
What You Need to Cover
Legal Documents
Establish the core legal documents that form the foundation of your estate plan, including your will, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
Beneficiary Designations
Review and update beneficiary designations on all accounts. These pass outside your will and are among the most overlooked — and consequential — parts of estate planning.
Financial Planning
Create a complete picture of your assets, debts, and estate size. Review Pennsylvania's estate-tax posture and property titling rules.
Digital Estate Planning
Inventory your digital life — accounts, passwords, cryptocurrency — and document your wishes for each. Set up platform legacy tools and grant access in your legal documents.
Practical Arrangements
Write your Letter of Instruction, document funeral preferences, address organ donation, and make sure your executor has what they need.
Storage, Registration & Communication
Store your documents safely, register your healthcare directive, distribute copies to the right people, and create a master document locator.
Ongoing Maintenance
Estate planning is not a one-time event. Set up reviews for life events, periodic beneficiary checks, and regular updates to keep your plan current.
Prefer a paper checklist?
Download a printable version of the full 53-item checklist for Pennsylvania. It keeps the same structure as Styx online and adds the jurisdiction summary details this page can responsibly surface today.
Download printable Pennsylvania checklist PDFReady to get started?
Styx guides you through all 53 checklist items with Pennsylvania-specific guidance. Free, private, and no account required.
Start Planning for PennsylvaniaThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania for personalized guidance.