1Amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the
2Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3settlement of small estates on petition and for estates not
4exceeding $25,000.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Sections 3102 and 3531 of Title 20 of the
8Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

9§ 3102. Settlement of small estates on petition.

10When any person dies domiciled in the Commonwealth owning
11property (exclusive of real estate and of property payable under
12section 3101 (relating to payments to family and funeral
13directors), but including personal property claimed as the
14family exemption) of a gross value not exceeding [$25,000]
15$50,000, the orphans' court division of the county wherein the
16decedent was domiciled at the time of his death, upon petition
17of any party in interest, in its discretion, with or without

1appraisement, and with such notice as the court shall direct,
2and whether or not letters have been issued or a will probated,
3may direct distribution of the property (including property not
4paid under section 3101) to the parties entitled thereto. The
5authority of the court to award distribution of personal
6property under this section shall not be restricted because of
7the decedent's ownership of real estate, regardless of its
8value. The decree of distribution so made shall constitute
9sufficient authority to all transfer agents, registrars and
10others dealing with the property of the estate to recognize the
11persons named therein as entitled to receive the property to be
12distributed without administration, and shall in all respects
13have the same effect as a decree of distribution after an
14accounting by a personal representative. Within one year after
15such a decree of distribution has been made, any party in
16interest may file a petition to revoke it because an improper
17distribution has been ordered. If the court shall find that an
18improper distribution has been ordered, it shall revoke the
19decree and shall direct restitution as equity and justice shall
20require.

21§ 3531. Estates not exceeding [$25,000] $50,000.

22When the gross real and personal estate of a decedent does
23not exceed the value of [$25,000] $50,000, the personal
24representative, after the expiration of one year from the date
25of the first complete advertisement of the grant of letters, may
26present his petition to the court with an annexed account
27showing the administration of the estate, the distribution
28theretofore made and suggesting the proper distribution of the
29estate not theretofore distributed. Thereupon, the court, upon
30satisfactory proof of notice to all known parties in interest,

1may approve the distribution theretofore made and order
2distribution of the assets not theretofore distributed and
3discharge the personal representative and his sureties from
4future liability without the expense of proceedings as in a
5formal account. The court may discharge only the surety from
6future liability, and may allow the personal representative to
7continue without surety upon condition that no further assets
8shall come into the possession of the personal representative
9until he files another bond, with sufficient surety, as required
10by the register.

11Section 2. The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3102 and 3531
12shall apply to estates of decedents dying on or after the
13effective date of this section.

14Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.