What is Intestacy?
Intestacy is death without a will. Intestacy can also occur when a decedent has not fully disposed of his or her assets by a Will or other beneficiary designation. In these instances, the decedent’s property will not pass under a will and instead will pass under Pennsylvania’s Intestate Succession Act. The person appointed by the Register of Wills to handle the estate of an intestate decedent will receive Letters of Administration and is referred to as the Administrator. The Orphans’ Court has jurisdiction over all matters of intestate succession.
