PRINTER'S NO. 4457
No. 2883 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY J. TAYLOR, OCTOBER 4, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, OCTOBER 4, 2004
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 person entitled to letters of administration.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 3155(b) and (c) of Title 20 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
8 § 3155. Persons entitled.
9 * * *
10 (b) Letters of administration.--Letters of administration
11 shall be granted by the register, in such form as the case shall
12 require, to one or more of those hereinafter mentioned and,
13 except for good cause, in the following order:
14 (1) Those entitled to the residuary estate under the
15 will.
16 (2) The surviving spouse.
17 (3) Those entitled under the intestate law as the
18 register, in his discretion, shall judge will best administer
1 the estate, giving preference, however, according to the
2 sizes of the shares of those in this class.
3 (4) The principal creditors of the decedent at the time
4 of his death.
5 (5) Other fit persons.
6 (6) If anyone of the foregoing shall renounce his right
7 to letters of administration, the register, in his
8 discretion, may appoint a nominee of the person so renouncing
9 in preference to the persons set forth in any succeeding
10 paragraph.
11 (7) A guardianship support agency serving as guardian of
12 an incapacitated person who dies during the guardianship
13 administered pursuant to Subchapter F of Chapter 55 (relating
14 to guardianship support).
15 (8) A nonprofit corporation organized for community
16 development purposes.
17 (c) Time limitation.--Except with the consent of those
18 enumerated in [paragraphs] subsection (b)(1), (2) and (3), no
19 letters shall be issued to [those enumerated in paragraphs (4)
20 and (5) of subsection (b)]:
21 (1) Those enumerated in subsection (b)(4) and (5) until
22 seven days after the decedent's death.
23 (2) Those enumerated in subsection (b)(8) until 30 days
24 after the decedent's death.
25 * * *
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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