Free Tools and Information
for Philadelphia County, PA Consumers

Pennsylvania Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Pennsylvania PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Philadelphia County: Key information about your local probate court (Circuit Court in Pennsylvania) for Philadelphia County.
• How Probate Works in Pennsylvania: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Philadelphia County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • Pennsylvania Probate Forms and the
    • Pennsylvania State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Pennsylvania: Learn how to use Pennsylvania's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Virginia you can use an Affidavit if the value of the probate estate is $50,000 or less (Probate estate doesn't count assets that pass by beneficiary, like life insurance, and retirement, and assets held in joint tenancy).

    Va. Code Ann 64.2-601.

    For real estate, if there's no Will, heirs, or personal representative can record Affidavit setting out names of heirs: clerk will send abstract of the Affidavit to the revenue comissioner, then real estate can be transferred.

    Va. Code Ann 64.2-510.

• Pennsylvania Estate Taxes:

  • Pennsylvania, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in Pennsylvania. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
• Pennsylvania BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Pennsylvania law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in Pennsylvania?:  

    • No. Va. Code Ann. § 34-3.1.

  • Pennsylvania Homestead Exemption

    • Must file homestead declaration before filing for bankruptcy
      $5,000 plus $500 per dependent; rents & profits; sale proceeds exempt to $5,000 (husband & wife may double, unused portion of homestead may be applied to any personal property); if 65 or older, exemption is $10,000; an additional $25,000 exempt if property is primary residence.

  • Pennsylvania Vehicle Exemption

    • Motor vehicles to $10,000 total ($10,000 if needed for occupation or education)

• Pennsylvania BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Democracy In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Philadelphia 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Philadelphia County, PA.
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Pennsylvania Voter Registration Status: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/view-your-info/
• Gerrymandering in Pennsylvania: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

 

Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Pennsylvania: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $60 per week
  • Maximum: 
    • $378 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In Pennsylvania, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Pennsylvania.
  • Virginia Employment Commission 
    • 866-832-2363
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

• Pennsylvania Wage & Hour Law

  • Pennsylvania Minimum Wage:  

    • The minimum wage in Virginia is $12 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, employees in Virginia must be paid at least $12 an hour.

      Philadelphia County Minimum Wage

      The minimum wage in Philadelphia County is $12 an hour, the state minimum wage. Pennsylvania law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

      Philadelphia Minimum Wage

      The minimum wage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is $12 an hour, the state minimum wage. Pennsylvania law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage.

  • Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Pennsylvania and whether they apply to you.
  • Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Pennsylvania. 
  • Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Pennsylvania.

    • In Pennsylvania, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $12 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

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Find a Lawyer in Philadelphia County, PA

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
  • VALegalAid.org 

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