Pennsylvania HB 167: An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in dispositions independent of letters, family exemption, probate of wills and grant of letters, further providing for payments to family and funeral directors.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 125
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 167
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BONNER, PICKETT, KHAN, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, BURGOS,
CIRESI AND COOPER, JANUARY 16, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 16, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in dispositions
independent of letters, family exemption, probate of wills
and grant of letters, further providing for payments to
family and funeral directors.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3101(b) of Title 20 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 3101. Payments to family and funeral directors.
* * *
(b) Deposit account.--Any bank, savings association, savings
and loan association, building and loan association, credit
union or other savings organization, at any time after the death
of a depositor, member or certificate holder, shall pay the
amount on deposit or represented by the certificate, when the
total standing to the credit of the decedent in that institution
does not exceed [$10,000] $20,000, to the spouse, any child, the
father or mother or any sister or brother (preference being
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given in the order named) of the deceased depositor, member or
certificate holder, provided that a receipted funeral bill or an
affidavit, executed by a licensed funeral director which sets
forth that satisfactory arrangements for payment of funeral
services have been made, is presented. Any bank, association,
credit union or other savings organization making such a payment
shall be released to the same extent as if payment had been made
to a duly appointed personal representative of the decedent and
it shall not be required to see to the application thereof. Any
person to whom payment is made shall be answerable therefor to
anyone prejudiced by an improper distribution.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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