Title 231-RULE OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE

      Now, this 23rd day of December, 1998, upon the recommendation of the Orphans' Court Procedural Rules Committee; the proposal having been published for adoption at 25 Pa. Bulletin 2802-2804 (July 16, 1995) and 26 Pa. Bulletin 4079 (August 24, 1996):

       It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Orphans' Court Rule 5.6 is amended and new Rule 5.7 is adopted, all in the following form, and shall apply to decedents dying on or after January 1, 1999. Rule 5.6 as adopted on April 30, 1992 shall continue to apply to decedents dying on or after July 1, 1992 and before the date of adoption of these amendments.

Pa. O.C. Rule 5.6 Notice to Beneficiaries and Intestate Heirs

       (1) every person, corporation, association, entity or other party named in decedent's will as an outright beneficiary whether individually or as a class member;

       (2) the decedent's spouse and children, whether or not they are named in, or have any interest under, the will;

       (3) where there is an intestacy in whole or in part, to every person entitled to inherit as an intestate heir under Chapter 21 of the Probate, Estate, and Fiduciaries Code;

       [ (2) ] (4) the appointed guardian of the estate, parent or legal custodian of any beneficiary who is a minor child under the age of eighteen (18) years;

       [ (3) ] (5) the appointed guardian of the estate or, in the absence of such appointment, the institution or person with custody of any beneficiary who is an adjudicated [ mental incompetent ] incapacitated person;

       [ (4) ] (6) the Attorney General on behalf of any charitable beneficiary whose interest exceeds $25,000 or which will not be paid in full;

       [ (5) ] (7) the Attorney General on behalf of any governmental beneficiary or in default of the other heirs of the estate; [ or in default of the other heirs of the estate;

       (6) ] (8) the trustee of any trust which is a beneficiary; and

       [ (7) the spouse, children or other intestate heirs of the decedent as determined under Chapter 21 of the Probate Estates and Fiduciaries Code. ]

       (9) such other persons and in such manner as may be required by any local rule of court.

       [ (b) Contents of notice. The notice shall contain the following information:

       (1) the date and place of decedent's death;

       (2) whether decedent died testate or intestate;

       (3) the county in which original letters were granted;

       (4) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all appointed personal representatives and their counsel; and

       (5) a copy of the will or a description of the beneficiary's interest in the estate. ]

       (b) Definition of Beneficiary. "Beneficiary" shall be deemed to include any person who may have an interest by virtue of the Pennsylvania anti-lapse statute, 20 Pa.C.S. § 2514.

       (c) Manner of notice. Notice shall be given by personal service or by first-class, prepaid mail to each [ party ] person and entity entitled to notice under subdivision (a)(1)-(9) whose address is known or reasonably available to the personal representative.

       (d) Certification of notice. Within ten (10) days after giving the notice required by subdivision (a) of the Rule, the personal representative or [ his ] the personal representative's counsel shall file with the Register or Clerk [ his, her, or its ] a certification in [ substantially ] the [ attached ] from {sic} set forth in Rule 5.7(b) that notice has been given as required by this Rule. No fee shall be charged by the Register or Clerk for filing the certification required by [ paragraph (d) ] this subdivision.

       (e) Failure to file certification. Upon the failure by the personal representative or [ his ] the personal representative's counsel to file the certification on a timely basis, the Register shall, after ten (10) days prior written notice to the delinquent [ fiduciary ] personal representative and his counsel, notify the Court of such delinquency [ along with a request that the Court conduct a hearing to determine whether sanctions shall be imposed upon the delinquent personal representative or counsel ].

       Official Note: The 1998 amendment to subdivision (e) is not intended to limit the inherent power of the Court to impose sanctions upon a delinquent personal representative or counsel.

       (f) Effect of notice. This Rule shall not alter, diminish or confer [ additional substantive rights upon any beneficiary ] existing rights.

       (g) Copies of rule. The Register shall deliver a copy of [ this Rule ] Rules 5.6 and 5.7 to each personal representative and counsel at the time letters are granted.

       Official Note: It is not the intention of the Rule to require notice beyond the degree of consanquinity entitling a person to inherit under Chapter 21 of the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code.

       (Editor's Note: The form of Notice and Certification following Rule 5.6 is rescinded and new Rule 5.7 is adopted to replace the form of Notice and Certification. Rule 5.7 is printed in regular type to enhance readability.)

Rule 5.7 Form of Notice to and Certification of Notice to Beneficiaries and Intestate Heirs

          BEFORE THE REGISTER OF WILLS, COUNTY OF 
     PENNSYLVANIA

          In re Estate of                        , deceased,
     No.              of

     TO:


     (Name and Address)

     Please take notice of the death of decedent and the grant of letters to the 
personal representative(s) named below.

     The Decedent,                       , died on the 
day of                 , 20   , at                    County,
Pennsylvania.

     The Decedent died testate (with a Will); or

     The Decedent died intestate (without a Will).

     The personal representative of the Decedent is 
                          (name, address and telephone number).

     If the Decedent died testate, the will has been filed with the Office of the
Register of Wills of                    County (address and telephone number).

     If the Decedent died intestate, a Petition for the Grant of Letters of 
Administration was filed with the Office of the Register of Wills of 
County (address and telephone number).

     A copy of the Will or Petition may be obtained by contacting the Register 
of Wills and paying the charges for duplication.

     Date:                                  Signature:
                                            Name
                                            Address

                                            Telephone (   )

                                  Capacity:      Personal Representative
                                                 Counsel for personal 
                                                 representative

(b) Form of Certification of Notice.

Name of Decedent:

Date of Death:

Will No.                       Admin. No.

To the Register:

   I certify that notice of [beneficial interest] estate administration required by
Rule 5.6(a) of the Orphans' Court Rules was served on or mailed to the following 
beneficiaries of the above-captioned estate on

Name              Address

Notice has now been given to all persons entitled thereto under Rule 5.6(a)
except _______________________________________________________

Date:_________________                 Signature

                                       Name

                                       Address

                                       Telephone (   )

                                       Capacity:   Personal Representative

                                                   Counsel for Personal Representative