Pittsburgh Will Attorneys

45+ Years of Helping Clients Plan for Their Futures in Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Butler, Westmoreland Counties

If you are looking for a Pittsburgh will attorney, then Herb & Winters Law is the law firm that you have been looking for. Our attorneys can help you draft a will that fits your goals and needs.

Our Pittsburgh will attorneys can also serve as your one-stop shop for all your estate needs as we provide a wide range of services in this area of the law including estate planning (wills, powers of attorneys, trusts, Medicaid planning, etc.), probate (legal process after a person dies with a will), intestate estate (legal process after a person dies without a will), litigation associated with trusts and wills, guardianships, and many more services. Call Herb & Winters Law today to schedule a consultation with a Pittsburgh will attorney. 

In many situations, your will is only one part of a larger estate plan that may involve beneficiary designations, jointly owned property, or planning for a closely held business. When you work with our team, we take the time to learn about your family, your assets, and your long-term priorities so that your documents work together instead of against each other under Pennsylvania law. Because we have handled matters in local courts in Allegheny County and surrounding counties for decades, we understand how judges and court staff typically handle estate administration issues that may arise later. 

Call (412) 533-4821 or contact Herb & Winters Law online to schedule a consultation so you can get answers to your questions about will contests

Creating a Will in Pittsburgh: 

At Herb & Winters Law, our Pittsburgh will attorneys can help you draft a will that fits your goals and can serve as your one-stop shop for all your estate planning needs. 

1. Step #1 - Call to Schedule Consultation: The first step is to call Herb & Winters Law to schedule a consultation with one of our Pittsburgh will attorneys. We can conduct the consultation in person, over the phone, or by video call. Generally, the consultation lasts around one hour.
2. Step #2 - Attend Consultation: The second step is for you to attend the consultation. During the consultation process, one of our Pittsburgh will attorneys will ask you a series of questions to get a better idea of what your goals are so that we can draft a will that best accomplishes those goals. If we believe there are additional estate planning documents that you will need besides a will, we will make that recommendation at the consultation. We lay out the options for you and you decide what estate planning documents that you want to pay for. 
3. Step #3 - Hire Our Law Firm: The third step is that you hire one of our Pittsburgh will attorneys to draft the will or any other estate planning documents that you may want and agree to the cost for those services. 
4. Step #4 - Drafting Process: The fourth step is that the drafting process will begin for whatever wills or estate planning documents that you have agreed to pay for. 
5. Step #5 – Review & Signature Process: The fifth step is that once the drafting is complete, we have you review the will or estate planning documents to ensure that it is what you wanted and, if that is the case, then we normally bring you into the office where you will sign the relevant documents and we have witnesses in the office who will also sign. However, we could send the will to you in the mail; however, you would be responsible for getting the will notarized and witnessed. 

Call our Pittsburgh Will Attorneys today who can take care of drafting your will for you along with all of your estate planning needs. 

Many people come to us unsure of what information they should gather before their first meeting or how long the overall process might take from the initial consultation through a signed, valid document. When you work with a will lawyer in our firm, we explain what to expect at each stage, such as how we will help you identify your assets, choose appropriate beneficiaries, and decide who should serve in key roles like executor or guardian. We also discuss practical issues unique to Western Pennsylvania families, such as planning for real estate in multiple counties or coordinating with accounts held at local financial institutions. 

What Is a Will in Pittsburgh? 

A will is a document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and usually specifies who will care for any minor children. 

Under Pennsylvania law, a will generally must meet specific signing and witnessing requirements to be accepted by the Register of Wills in the county where you live, such as Allegheny County. A clear, properly executed will helps your loved ones move through the probate process with fewer delays and questions about your intentions. During our meetings, we take time to discuss how your will interacts with non-probate assets, like accounts with beneficiary designations, so that your overall plan reflects what you actually want to happen. 

What Are Some Benefits of a Will in Pittsburgh? 

1. Control Over Transfer of Assets: By drafting up a will and/or trust, you can take control over exactly who gets what after you die. If you die without a will or trust, then your assets and property will be distributed in accordance with Pennsylvania’s intestacy statute. You have zero control whatsoever as to who gets what because the statute will control who gets what. 
2. Appoint Someone to Manage the Estate: Once you die, your will has to go through a process called probate. You can appoint someone who you trust and you believe is responsible to be the executor of the will who will ensure that the estate is properly administered and that the estate is handled in accordance with your wishes. At Herb & Winters Law, our Pittsburgh will attorneys can also provide services relating to the probate process (estate administration) as well. 
3. Appoint Someone Who Will Take Care of Your Minor Children: Some people think that getting a will is for those near or in retirement. While such persons need wills, even young adults with minor children need wills. Who would you prefer to get custody over your children if something happened to you and your spouse (if you are married)? Without a will, you have no say in the matter. If you have a will, you can specify who exactly it is that you would want to have custody of your children were you to predecease them. 
4. Create Testamentary Trust for Minor Children: Minor children cannot own property in Pennsylvania (i.e. those under the age of 18 years old). One way to get around that rule is to create a trust so that the trust legally would own the property, it would be managed by a trustee, and the beneficiaries would be the children. Otherwise, without such a trust, a guardianship likely would have to be obtained to manage the children’s financial affairs which would likely be a substantially more costly process than the cost of putting a testamentary trust into a will.  
5. Tax Benefits: In certain situations, you can ensure that your assets and property will be distributed to persons who are subject to a lower inheritance tax bracket. 
6. Hopefully Reduce Chances of Family Infighting: If you set out a plan exactly how you want your assets and property distributed, then hopefully this reduces the chances of family infighting over property and assets after you die. 

If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with a Pittsburgh estate planning attorney, then please call Herb & Winters Law today. 

Beyond these core benefits, a carefully drafted will can also help you coordinate with lifetime planning tools such as financial powers of attorney or health care directives so that the people you trust are in a position to act if you become ill or incapacitated. When you meet with a will lawyer Pittsburgh residents rely on for guidance, you can discuss how your will fits with these other documents and whether you should update older paperwork that no longer matches your current wishes. We can also talk through common problem areas we see in local families, such as vacation homes shared by several relatives or small businesses that need a clear succession plan. 

Common Will Contests And Disputes In Pittsburgh

Many people worry about what will happen if a family member disagrees with the terms of their will or believes something was unfair. In Pennsylvania, will contests often focus on questions such as whether the person who signed the will had the mental capacity to understand what they were signing, whether someone exerted undue influence, or whether the document was properly signed and witnessed. By discussing these issues in advance with a will lawyer, you can take steps to reduce the chances of a dispute and make it easier for your executor to defend your wishes if a challenge is filed in the Allegheny County Orphans’ Court. 

If a disagreement does arise after a loved one passes away, it is important for the executor or concerned family member to understand the deadlines, procedures, and evidence that may apply in a will contest. Our attorneys can review the will, the circumstances surrounding its creation, and any previous planning documents to help you evaluate your options and the potential impact on the estate. We also explain the practical realities of litigation in local courts, including the time and expense involved, so that you can make informed decisions about whether to pursue a settlement, negotiate changes, or ask a judge to resolve the dispute. 

Do You Do Home Visits for Wills in the Pittsburgh Area? 

Yes, our Pittsburgh will attorneys are willing to travel to you if you are within the geographic region that our law firm serves. There is an additional fee should our attorneys have to travel, which could vary based upon the distance. We do serve counties that surround Allegheny County. We will consider traveling to counties that require more travel. 

For some clients, meeting at home, at a medical facility, or at another convenient location is the only practical way to move forward with important planning. When you contact our office, we can discuss your situation, where you are located, and whether an in-person visit, phone conference, or video meeting would be the best fit. We regularly assist individuals and families throughout the greater Pittsburgh area, and we are mindful of making the process as straightforward as possible for those who may have mobility or health challenges. 

Call our Pittsburgh Will Attorneys Near You

In short, Pittsburgh will attorneys at Herb & Winters Law can assist you with a variety of services. Be proactive and schedule a consultation today with the Pittsburgh estate planning attorney at Herb & Winters Law today, so that you can start getting answers to your legal questions. 

During your initial call or meeting, we encourage you to ask questions about the process, timing, and what information you should gather so that you feel prepared and confident moving forward. We understand that creating a will can feel overwhelming, especially if you have never worked with a will attorney Pittsburgh residents turn to for estate matters before, so we focus on clear communication and practical guidance. Our goal is to help you leave the office with a concrete plan and an understanding of the next steps to protect your family and your assets. 

Call (412) 533-4821 or contact Herb & Winters Law online to schedule a consultation so you can get answers to your questions about will contests.