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.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 20 - DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES
Chapter 35 - Accounts and Distribution
Section 3501 - Accounting required (Repealed)
Section 3501.1 - Accounting by personal representative
Section 3501.2 - Annexation of account of terminated trust, guardianship or agency
Section 3503 - Notice to parties in interest
Section 3504 - Representation of parties in interest (Repealed)
Section 3511 - Audits in counties having separate orphans' court division
Section 3512 - Audits in counties having no separate orphans' court division
Section 3513 - Statement of proposed distribution
Section 3514 - Confirmation of account and approval of proposed distribution
Section 3521 - Rehearing; relief granted
Section 3531 - Estates not exceeding $50,000
Section 3532 - At risk of personal representative
Section 3533 - Award upon final confirmation of account
Section 3534 - Distribution in kind
Section 3534.1 - Cost of distribution of tangible personal property
Section 3535 - Delivery of possession of real estate
Section 3536 - Recording and registering decrees awarding real estate
Section 3538 - Distributions involving persons born out of wedlock
Section 3539 - Change in law after pattern of distribution established
Section 3540 - Absentee and additional distributees
Section 3541 - Order of abatement
Section 3543 - Income on distributive shares
Section 3544 - Liability of personal representative for interest
Section 3545 - Transcripts of balances due by personal representative
Section 3546 - Determination of title to decedent's interest in real estate
Section 3551 - Enforcement of payment
Section 3552 - Discharge of portion of property from charges payable in the future
Section 3553 - Discharge of property from lien of charge
Section 3554 - Presumption of payment, release or extinguishment