Who gets notified when an estate is opened in Pennsylvania?

Under Pennsylvania law, the Executor or Administrator of an estate is required to mail Notice of Estate Administration to specific individuals within three months of the grant of letters. Those required to be sent this notice include anyone named in the decedent’s will, the spouse and children of the decedent (whether or not named in the will), and all individuals entitled to receive property under the laws of intestacy when there is no will. Depending on the specific circumstances, other individuals may also need to be sent notice. Additionally, the personal representative of the estate must advertise that letters have been granted in a newspaper of general circulation near the decedent’s residence and in the legal journal designated by local rule. These advertisement notices must run once a week for three consecutive weeks. The purpose of advertising the estate is to give notice to potential estate creditors.