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Recipes
People Above Politics
Taking
Action, Getting Results.
2501 Cumberland St., Lebanon PA 17042
644-4698
If you demand open government, drop me a note to receive email
alerts informing you of meeting highlights that let you know how commissioners
vote on issues. Litz@mbcomp.com
Team Litz:
Honorary Chair: Lt.
Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll --a woman who broke the glass ceiling and
contributed greatly to PA politics; born
in 1930, died
November 12, 2008.
Chair: Jeff Werner
Treasurer: Richelle Whitman
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Register of Wills/Marriage Licenses
Dawn Resanovich is the Register of Wills. Dawn is elected to a four
year term of office. She is located in room 105 of the Municipal Building,
400 S 8th St., Lebanon PA. Phone 274-2801, extension 2215.
The Register of Wills records wills, grants letters of administration to
settle estates, issues marriage licenses, maintains all records of the
orphans' court, adoptions, and appointment of guardians.
The office also serves as the collection agent for PA Inheritance Tax
owed by decedents that lived in Lebanon County. The office receives a
commission for the collection, docketing, deposit, and reporting associated
with the PA Inheritance Tax.
While the staff cannot dispense legal advice, in many instances,
assistance is given to persons seeking to probate wills or pay inheritance
tax without an attorney.
Marriage Licenses
 | Cost is $50, and must be paid in cash. |
| Licenses have a three day waiting period before they can be used, and
expire in 60 days. |
| Take your social security number, parent's address, occupation, place
of birth, final divorce decree if your were previously married, and if
applicable, a copy of your election to retake your maiden name. |
| Effective 6/97, it is no longer necessary to get a blood test or take
a physical. |
| STATISTICS: |
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| Year |
Court Cases |
Marriages |
Revenue |
Commission |
| 1992 |
591 |
975 |
$103,240 |
n/a |
| 1993 |
674 |
928 |
$110,139 |
n/a |
| 1994 |
612 |
953 |
$117,666 |
42,000 |
| 1995 |
582 |
943 |
$172,545 |
56,000 |
| 1996 |
752 |
885 |
$132,263 |
33,000 |
| 1997 |
659 |
1009 |
$135,633 |
43,000 |
| 1998 |
623 |
971 |
$178,057 |
74,000 |
| 1999 thru Nov. |
626 |
914 |
$151,000 |
60,000 |
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The Probate Process
| The probate process involves "proving" of the deceased's will (i.e.,
that it was a properly signed, valid will and that it was the last one the
decedent made). As a practical matter, however, Probate Court also deals
with disputes relating to the transfer of property of the deceased person
and claims against the state. |
| If a will is declared to be valid, the probate estate is disposed of
according to the will. If the will is not valid or if the deceased left
no will, then the probate court will order the property of the deceased to
be disposed of through the Probate Court, according to state law. Any
disputes relating to the estate or claims against the estate will also be
handled through the Probate Court. |
| Probate property is any property in your name alone at the time of
your death. If property is held jointly by husband and wife with rights
of survivorship, only the decedent's share or one-half of the property is
included in the estate. Assets payable to a named beneficiary at death
are not included in the estate. An exception to this rule is life
insurance owned by the decedent or life insurance gifted within three
years of death. |
| The probate process begins when the will is found after the deceased's
death. It is submitted to the Court in order that it may be approved as
the last Will and Testament of the deceased. The next step consists of an
order that a notice of the petition be given to heirs and other
"interested" parties. This is normally done through "publication" or
placing a legal notice in the local newspaper to the effect that John
Jones has died and a petition has been submitted to the Court asking that
"Mary Smith" be named executrix (administratix if there is no will). |
| Once formally appointed by the court, the executor will take all legal
title to the deceased's probate assets. |
Filing the Estate Inventory:
| The Executor is required by law to file a "complete" inventory of the
estate's assets within the statutory required time. The inventory is
submitted to the court and becomes a matter of public record. The purpose
of filing the inventory is to indicate to the court the items of property
of which the executor must "account" for and to let beneficiaries,
creditors and other parties know what is included in the estate. |
Probate
Probate is the legal process of assembling a decedent's assets, paying a
decedent's debts, and transferring title to a decedent's property to
survivors.
The process is generally characterized by the following procedures:
1) Probate administration is initiated by filing a petition to have the
will probated and filed with the court.
2) Once the will is admitted to probate, interested parties have a
stated period of time in which to challenge or set aside the probate of the
will. Notice is given to all interested parties by letter or publication.
3) All creditors have an opportunity to file their claims with the court
within a stated period of time.
4) A letter of authority (Letters testamentary) is given to the executor
by the court to act on behalf of the estate as fiduciary.
5) The will must be proved to be a valid document.
6) Administration of the probate estate occurs which includes an
inventory of all probate estate assets, payment of creditors' claims and
distribution of the estate according to the terms of the decedent's will or
according to the laws of intestacy, if there is no will.
7) Once all claims, debts, and taxes have been paid and all the property
distributed, the estate is closed.
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