Pa. Cons. Stat. » 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. (DECEDENTS) / Chapter 35
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3531 (2026)

 Estates not exceeding $50,000.

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER D

DISTRIBUTION

 

Sec.

3531.  Estates not exceeding $50,000.

3532.  At risk of personal representative.

3533.  Award upon final confirmation of account.

3534.  Distribution in kind.

3534.1. Cost of distribution of tangible personal property.

3535.  Delivery of possession of real estate.

3536.  Recording and registering decrees awarding real estate.

3537.  Compensation.

3538.  Distributions involving persons born out of wedlock.

3539.  Change in law after pattern of distribution established.

3540.  Absentee and additional distributees.

§ 3531.  Estates not exceeding $50,000.

When the gross real and personal estate of a decedent does not exceed the value of $50,000, the personal representative, after the expiration of one year from the date of the first complete advertisement of the grant of letters, may present his petition to the court with an annexed account showing the administration of the estate, the distribution theretofore made and suggesting the proper distribution of the estate not theretofore distributed. Thereupon, the court, upon satisfactory proof of notice to all known parties in interest, may approve the distribution theretofore made and order distribution of the assets not theretofore distributed and discharge the personal representative and his sureties from future liability without the expense of proceedings as in a formal account. The court may discharge only the surety from future liability, and may allow the personal representative to continue without surety upon condition that no further assets shall come into the possession of the personal representative until he files another bond, with sufficient surety, as required by the register.

(Dec. 10, 1974, P.L.867, No.293, eff. imd.; Dec. 1, 1994, P.L.655, No.102, eff. 60 days; July 2, 2013, P.L.199, No.35, eff. 60 days)

 

2013 Amendment.  Section 2 of Act 35 provided that the amendment of section 3531 shall apply to estates of decedents dying on or after the effective date of section 2.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 2015–2015 · leading case: In Re: Order Rescinding & Replacing Rules 1.1 through 13.3 & Rule 17, & Amending Rules 14.1 through 16.12 of the Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules (Pa. 2015).
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In Re: Order Rescinding & Replacing Rules 1.1 through 13.3 & Rule 17, & Amending Rules 14.1 through 16.12 of the Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules (Pa. 2015). “In lieu of filing and advertising an Account, a personal representative who is distributing an estate under the provisions of 20 Pa.C.S. § 3531, or the guardian of the estate of a minor who has attained majority and whose gross estate does not exceed the statutory limitation of…”
In Re: Order Rescinding & Replacing Rules 1.1 through 13.3 & Rule 17, & Amending Rules 14.1 through 16.12 of the Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules (Pa. 2015). “In lieu of filing and advertising an Account, a personal representative who is distributing an estate under the provisions of 20 Pa.C.S. § 3531, or the guardian of the estate of a minor who has attained majority and whose gross estate does not exceed the statutory limitation of…”
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