Choosing a probate attorney is usually a one-time decision made at a hard moment, with little basis for comparison. The good news: a handful of direct questions — about focus, fees, who does the work, and how the Westmoreland County process will actually run — separates the right fit from the wrong one quickly. Here's what matters, what doesn't, and the eight questions worth asking any attorney (including us) before you sign an engagement letter.
Most people hire a probate attorney exactly once, shortly after losing someone, chosen from a search-results page. That's a difficult position to shop from — so this guide is the one we'd want a family member to read before hiring anyone, us included.
First: Make Sure You Need Full Administration at All
An honest attorney's first job is telling you what you don't need. If the estate's qualifying personal property is $50,000 or less (real estate generally isn't counted), it may be eligible for Pennsylvania's simplified small-estate petition, and certain bank accounts of $20,000 or less can sometimes be paid directly to family members without any administration. Run our free Small Estate Checker before assuming you need the full process — and be wary of anyone who quotes a full-administration fee without asking the questions that would reveal a simpler path.
What Actually Matters in the Choice
Probate focus, not just probate willingness. Almost every general-practice firm will accept an estate. The difference shows up months in: an attorney who administers estates constantly knows the Westmoreland County Register of Wills' current practices, the realistic timelines, the inheritance-tax traps, and what the bank across the street will and won't accept. Ask what share of the practice is estates — not whether they "handle" them.
Current, local filing experience. Westmoreland County estates run through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Division at the Greensburg courthouse, with the county's own tiered fee schedule and filing practices. Note what this does not mean: your attorney doesn't need a Greensburg address — filings and courthouse coordination are the attorney's job wherever their desk sits, and once the estate is open, many uncontested estates are administered largely remotely. It means the attorney should be filing there regularly now, not remembering how it worked a decade ago.
A fee you understand before work begins. This is the single biggest source of client regret we hear about from families who hired elsewhere. Pennsylvania allows various fee structures — hourly, percentage-based, flat — and reasonable fees are paid from the estate, not your pocket. The structure matters less than the practice: the scope and fee should be explained and agreed in writing before the engagement begins, with clarity about what's included and what costs extra. (Here's how our fees work.)
Who actually works your file. In some firms the attorney you meet is not the person who administers the estate. Neither model is wrong, but you should know before you hire: who prepares the inventory, who fields your calls, and who signs off on the tax return.
Responsiveness you can test in advance. How a firm treats you before you're a client is the best preview of after. A firm that takes four days to return your consultation call will take four days when the bank freezes the estate account, too.
The Eight Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Bring these to every consultation — the answers, and the comfort with being asked, tell you most of what you need:
- "What portion of your practice is probate and estate administration?" — You're looking for a core practice area, not an occasional accommodation.
- "Who will actually work on my file, and who do I call with questions?" — Names, not titles.
- "How is your fee structured, and will I have it in writing before any work begins?" — The answer should be specific and unhesitating.
- "What's included in that fee — and what's not?" — Publication costs, certified copies, real-estate deeds, tax return preparation: included, or extra?
- "How will you handle the Pennsylvania inheritance-tax return and the three-month discount?" — The return is due nine months from death, and tax paid within three months earns a 5% discount. An attorney who doesn't raise the discount unprompted is telling you something.
- "The estate includes a house — how will that be handled?" — Solely owned real estate usually requires administration to transfer title, and the answer should cover deeds, possible sale, and how that interacts with distributions.
- "What's a realistic timeline, and what drives it?" — The honest answer for a straightforward estate is commonly 9 to 12 months, driven by the one-year period that follows the estate advertisement and the inheritance-tax deadline — not a promise of speed. See our Probate Timeline Estimator.
- "What happens if a dispute comes up — a will challenge, a creditor fight, family conflict?" — You want to hear that the firm can represent the estate before the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court, and how that changes the fee, before it happens.
Red Flags Worth Trusting
- A fee quoted as a percentage of the estate before anyone has asked what's in the estate.
- Vagueness about what the fee includes, or reluctance to put it in writing.
- Guaranteed timelines. Pennsylvania's process has statutory rhythms no attorney controls.
- You can't get the attorney on the phone during the sales process.
- Pressure to sign an engagement letter at the first meeting. A good fit survives a night's sleep.
Use the Free Tools First — Then Talk to Someone
Whichever attorney you choose, you'll be a better client (and a better judge of counsel) if you walk in oriented. Our free resources are built for exactly that: the Executor Checklist, the First 30 Days guide, the Probate Timeline Estimator, the Inheritance Tax Calculator, and — if you're weighing a national online settlement service instead of an attorney — our honest comparison of what each actually costs.
And when you interview us, bring the eight questions. We like answering them — the fee discussion especially, because "agreed up front, in writing, paid from the estate" is an easy conversation to have.
Call (724) 733-3500 or schedule a free consultation. Our office is on Route 22 in Murrysville, in the heart of Westmoreland County — and most of an estate can be handled without you ever needing to visit it.
Named as Executor? We Can Help.
Probate in Pennsylvania has strict deadlines, filing requirements, and fiduciary obligations. We guide executors through every step — from opening the estate to final distribution. Transparent fees, no surprises.