Assets solely owned by the Testator that are distributed through the Register of Wills probate process. Examples of probate assets include: 1) A house titled solely in the deceased’s name; 2) a car solely owned by the deceased; and 3) Any bank account solely in the deceased’s name. The personal representative of the deceased’s estate is generally required to file a legal document known as an “Inventory” within 3 months of the deceased’s date of death. This document generally includes all probate assets owned by the deceased at the time of their death along with the appraised value of those assets.

Assets that are jointly owned or have a named beneficiary, which pass outside of the probate process and are distributed by operation of law. Examples of nonprobate assets include 1) Joint bank accounts; 2) Jointly owned homes and real property; and 3) Life Estate Deeds. These items are generally not included in an “Inventory,” but may be required to be included in a document known as an “Information Report.” The personal representative of the deceased’s estate generally must file this document prior to filing an “Inventory” or simultaneously file both documents. 

A personal representative is an individual or business entity that handles the administration of the deceased’s estate. If the deceased had a Last Will & Testament, the personal representative will likely be named in the document. If the deceased did not have a Last Will & Testament, or what is referred to as “died intestate”, then an individual, usually a family member, or business entity, generally must petition the Orphans’ Court in the appropriate county to be appointed personal representative.