A good estate plan protects your family, your home and, for many Washington County families, your oil and gas rights. Work through this free interactive checklist at your own pace. Your progress is saved in this browser, and you can print it to bring to a meeting.
Check off each item as you finish it.
1. The core documents
2. The people you choose
3. What you own
4. Beneficiaries and titles
5. Pennsylvania taxes and probate
6. Keep it current
Your checks are saved only in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to us.
Why every Pennsylvania adult needs an estate plan
Without a will, Pennsylvania’s intestacy law decides who inherits your property. That may not match your wishes, especially in blended families or when you want to leave something to a friend or charity. Without powers of attorney, your family may have to go to court to manage your money or make medical decisions if you become unable to.
An estate plan does not need to be complicated. For many people, a will, a financial power of attorney and a health care directive cover the essentials.
What to bring to your first meeting
- A list of what you own and roughly what it is worth
- Copies of deeds, including any oil and gas leases or mineral deeds
- Recent account statements and beneficiary designation forms
- Names and contact details for the people you want to name
- Any existing will, trust or power of attorney
- Your questions, written down
Estate planning for landowners with mineral rights
In Washington County and across southwestern Pennsylvania, many families own oil and gas rights that produce royalty income. Without a plan, those rights can be split into smaller and smaller fractions among heirs. This makes leasing and payments harder. A trust or a family LLC can keep the interest together. Your plan should also cover who signs leases and division orders if you cannot. Our mineral rights value calculator can help you estimate what those rights are worth.
Common questions
How often should I update my estate plan?
Review it every three to five years, and after any major life event. In Pennsylvania, a divorce generally cancels gifts to the former spouse in your will. Other documents and beneficiary forms may still need to be changed.
Do I need a trust or just a will?
A will is enough for many people. A trust can help if you want to avoid probate, own property in more than one state, have a beneficiary who should not receive money all at once, or want to keep land and minerals together.
How much does estate planning cost?
It depends on what you need. Contact us to talk about your situation and our fees before any work begins.
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