2020 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 20 - DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES
Extra - Appendix To Title

APPENDIX TO TITLE 20

DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES

Supplementary Provisions of Amendatory Statutes

1972, JUNE 30, P.L.508, NO.164

§ 4. Effective date and savings provision.

This act shall take effect on July 1, 1972. The provisions of this code, so far as they are common to those of laws repealed herein, are intended as a continuation of such laws, and not as new enactments. All rights provided by and liabilities incurred under such earlier law are preserved and may be enforced.

1974, OCTOBER 10, P.L.720, NO.242

§ 4. Effective date and applicability.

This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply without regard to the date of the instrument or court order under which a fiduciary is acting or may act.

Explanatory Note. Act 242 added section 3321(d) and (e) and amended section 7133(8) of Title 20.

1974, DECEMBER 10, P.L.867, NO.293

§ 20. Effective date and legislative intent.

(a) In general.--This act shall take effect immediately.

(b) Exceptions; legislative intent.--As it is the intent of the General Assembly that the language added to sections 908, 2510, the second, fourth and fifth sentences of section 3102, section 3351, paragraph (6) of section 5153, the first sentence of section 5154, section 5303, the second sentence of subsection (g) of section 5305, paragraph (31) of section 5521, section 5533.1, subsection (b) of section 6103, subsection (d) of section 6111, and paragraph (21.1) of section 7133, should have been enacted in the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code, said inclusions shall be retroactive to July 1, 1972, the effective date of said code.

1976, JULY 9, P.L.562, NO.136

§ 3. Effective date and applicability.

This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any disclaimer hereafter made of any interest that would have devolved by reason of a transfer or death whether before or after the effective date of this act.

Explanatory Note. Act 136 amended section 6103(a) and added Chapter 62 of Title 20.

1978, NOVEMBER 26, P.L.1269, NO.303

§ 5. Effective date and applicability.

This act shall be effective immediately, but its provisions shall not apply to wills or conveyances executed prior to its effective date or to rights from and through a child's father if the father had died prior to the effective date of this act.

Explanatory Note. Act 303 amended or added sections 2107, 2514(8), 3538, 6114(5) and 7183(14) of Title 20.

1982, FEBRUARY 18, P.L.45, NO.26

§ 13. Effective date and applicability.

This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the estates of all decedents dying on or after the effective date and, as to the termination of trusts under 20 Pa.C.S. § 6110 (relating to administration of charitable estates), it shall apply to all trusts regardless of the date the trust was created and, as to 20 Pa.C.S. § 2209 (relating to surviving spouse as witness), it shall be effective as of June 17, 1978 and shall apply to the estates of all decedents dying on or after that date; and, as to powers of attorney, it shall apply to all powers of attorney executed on or after the date of enactment of this act, provided nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the effectiveness of powers of attorney in effect prior to the date of enactment of this act, and provided further that all such powers of attorney which qualified under the provisions of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601 (relating to when power of attorney not affected by disability) prior to its repeal shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the said section as if no repeal occurred.

Explanatory Note. Act 26 amended, added or repealed sections 2206, 2209, 2210, 3101(c) and (d), 3132.1(b), 3701 through 3706, 4102(b), 5144, 5147(2), 5153, 5302, 5303, 5305(e), (f) and (g), 5308(a), (b), (d) and (e), 5309, 5505, 5515, 5521, 5536, 5537(a), 5601 through 5607, 6102(a), 6110, 6202, 7121, 7133, 7143, 7183, 7185(b) and 7186 of Title 20.

1984, OCTOBER 12, P.L.929, NO.182

§ 14. Applicability of prior amendment.

Section 7185 (relating to compensation), as amended by the act of February 18, 1982 (P.L.45, No.26), shall apply to all trusts regardless of whether the trust was created before, on or after February 18, 1982.

Explanatory Note. Act 182 amended, added or repealed sections 304, 745, 2514, 3132.1, 3301, 3501.2, 3502, 3539, 3540, 5163.1, 5533.1, 6201, 6202, 6204, 6205, 6206, 7183, 7314, 7315 and 7315.1 of Title 20.

§ 15. Effective date and applicability.

(a) Distributions.--The amendments to sections 3539 (relating to change in law after pattern of distribution established) and 7183 (relating to notice, audits, reviews, and distribution) shall take effect immediately and shall apply to distributions begun and changes in law occurring before, on or after the effective date of this act.

(b) Trusts and estates of decedents.--The amendments to sections 3501.2 (relating to annexation of account of terminated trust, guardianship or agency), 3540 (relating to absentee and additional distributees), 7314 (relating to common trust fund and mortgage investment fund), 7315 (relating to retention of investments) and 7315.1 (relating to retention of cash; temporary investments) shall take effect immediately and shall apply to trusts and the estates of decedents, whether the trust was created or the decedent died before, on or after the effective date of this act, as well as to funds presently held by the clerks.

(c) Estates of decedents.--The remainder of this act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to the estates of all decedents dying on or after the effective date.

1992, APRIL 16, P.L.108, NO.24

§ 20. Severability.

The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

Explanatory Note. Act 24 amended or added sections 102, 302, 711, 712, 721, 745, 777, 2206, 2514, 3122, 3155, 3182, 3324, 3504, 4112, 4121, 5115 and 5144, Chapter 54, the headings of Chapter 55 and Subchapter A of Chapter 55, sections 5501, 5502, 5505, 5511, 5512, 5512.1, 5512.2, 5512.3, 5513, 5514, 5515, 5516, 5517, 5518, 5518.1, 5521, 5522, 5524, 5525, 5533, 5534, 5535, 5536 and 5537, Subchapter F of Chapter 55 and sections 5603, 5604, 6202, 7133, 8301 and 8411 of Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries); sections 3307, 3508, 4405 and 8308 of Title 13 (Commercial Code); sections 311, 509, 2901, 2905 and 3206 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses); section 2711 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations); and section 5322 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

§ 21. Applicability.

Except for the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54, the amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. shall apply to all guardianship proceedings in which petitions for the appointment of a guardian are filed subsequent to the effective date of this section. Where a petition has been filed prior to the effective date of this section but where a guardian has not yet been appointed, the procedures of the amendment of 20 Pa.C.S., except for the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54, shall apply. Existing guardianship may be modified by the court in accordance with the amendment of 20 Pa.C.S., except for the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54, upon petition of any interested party.

1992, DECEMBER 16, P.L.1163, NO.152

§ 26. Applicability of Pennsylvania Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

(a) In general.--The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 53 (relating to Pennsylvania Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) shall apply to a transfer within the scope of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5302 (relating to scope and jurisdiction) made after the effective date of this act if:

(1) the transfer purports to have been made under the Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors Act repealed by this act; or

(2) the instrument by which the transfer purports to have been made uses in substance the designation "as custodian under the Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors Act" or "as custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act" of any other state, and the application of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 53 is necessary to validate the transfer.

(b) Validation of transfers.--Any transfer of custodial property now defined in 20 Pa.C.S. § 5301(b) (relating to short title of chapter and definitions) made before the effective date of this act shall be validated notwithstanding that there was no specific authority in the Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors Act for the coverage of custodial property of that kind or for a transfer from that source at the time the transfer was made.

(c) Transfers prior to Act 152.--The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 53 shall apply to all transfers made before the effective date of this act in a manner and form prescribed in the Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, except insofar as the application impairs constitutionally vested rights or extends the duration of custodianships in existence on the effective date of this act.

Explanatory Note. Act 152 amended or added sections 711, 911, 2204, 2507, 2514 and 2515, Chapter 27, sections 3316, 3321, 3503, 3532, 3701, 3702, 3703, 3706 and 5164, repealed and added Chapter 53, and amended or added sections 5536, 5601, 5601.1, 5602, 5603, 5604, 5605, 5606, 5608, 5704, 6111.1, 6111.2, 6114, 7188, 7191, 7314.1, 7315.1 and 8301 of Title 20.

§ 27. Applicability of other provisions.

(a) Contractual arrangements relating to succession.--The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 27 (relating to contractual arrangements relating to succession) shall apply to contracts made on or after January 1 of the calendar year following the year of enactment.

(b) Instruments, trusts and estates of decedents.--The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 711 (relating to mandatory exercise of jurisdiction through orphans' court division in general), 2514 (relating to rules of interpretation), 2515 (relating to devise or bequest to trust), 3316 (relating to investment of funds), 5604(b) (relating to durable powers of attorney), 6114 (relating to rules of interpretation), 7314.1 (relating to mutual funds), 7315.1 (relating to retention of cash; temporary investments) and 8301 (relating to powers of court to authorize sale, etc. of real property) shall apply to instruments, trusts and the estates of decedents whether the instrument was executed, the trust was created or the decedent died before, on or after the effective date of this act.

(c) Powers of attorney.--The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601.1 (relating to powers of attorney presumed durable) and 5605(c) (relating to powers of attorney not revoked until notice) shall apply to powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of the act.

(d) Estates of decedents.--The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 2204 (relating to disclaimers, releases and charges against elective share), 2507 (relating to modification by circumstances), 3503 (relating to notice to parties in interest), 3532 (relating to at risk of personal representative), 6111.1 (relating to modification by divorce) and 6111.2 (relating to effect of divorce on designation of beneficiaries) shall apply to the estates of decedents dying on or after the effective date of this act.

(e) Other amendments.--The remaining amendments in this act shall apply beginning with the effective date of this act.

1994, DECEMBER 1, P.L.655, NO.102

§ 9. Secondary education program.

Upon availability of funding established under 20 Pa.C.S. § 8622(b)(3), the Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Health and organ procurement organizations, shall establish a program that can be used for secondary education purposes, which shall include:

(1) Information about State law relating to anatomical gifts, including how to become an organ donor.

(2) General information about organ transplantation in the United States.

Explanatory Note. Act 102 amended, added or repealed sections 712, 724, 2101, 2502, 2517, 2521, 3101, 3102, 3121, 3504, 3531, 3701, 5101, 5404, 5602, 5603, 6110, 6111.2, 6117, 6201 and 7183 and Chapter 86 of Title 20.

1999, JUNE 25, P.L.212, NO.28

§ 6. Applicability.

(a) In general.--This act shall apply to all actions of fiduciaries occurring on or after the effective date of this subsection, regardless of whether the guardianship or trust was created before, on or after that effective date, except as provided in subsection (b).

(b) Exceptions.--

(1) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7204 shall not apply to guardianships created prior to the effective date of section 7204, even if the action of the guardian occurs after that date.

(2) (Repealed).

(3) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7206 shall apply to actions of guardians and trustees on or after the effective date of the addition of that section.

(4) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7208 shall apply to actions of trustees before, on or after the effective date of the addition of that section.

(Nov. 6, 2002, P.L.1101, No.133, eff. imd.)

2002 Repeal. Act 133 repealed subsec. (b)(2).

Explanatory Note. Act 28 amended or added sections 3316, 5145 and 7134, Chapter 72, Chapter 73 heading and section 7301 of Title 20 and section 5548 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).

1999, OCTOBER 12, P.L.422, NO.39

§ 13. Applicability.

This act shall apply as follows:

(1) The amendment or addition of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601(b), 5601.2(a), (b) and (c) and 5605(c) shall apply to powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of the amendment or addition of those sections.

(2) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(c) shall apply to powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of the addition of that subsection.

(3) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(d) shall apply to agents acting under powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of the addition of that subsection.

(4) The amendment or addition of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601.2(d) and (e) and 5603(a)(2)(i), (ii), (iv) and (v) and (u.1) shall apply to powers of attorney executed before, on or after the effective date of the amendment or addition of those sections.

(5) The amendment or repeal of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5602(a)(1) and 5603(a)(1) shall apply to powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of the amendment or repeal of those sections. The amendment or repeal of sections 5602(a)(1) and 5603(a)(1) shall not affect the authority of an agent to make unlimited gifts under any power of attorney relying on those sections, executed before the effective date of the amendment or repeal of those sections.

(6) The repeal of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5603(a)(2)(iii), (3), (4) and (5) shall apply beginning with the effective date of the repeal of that section.

(7) The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 8611(a) shall apply to agents acting under powers of attorney executed before, on or after the effective date of the amendment of that section.

(8) The remaining amendments in this act shall apply beginning with the effective date of the amendments of those sections.

Explanatory Note. Act 39 amended, added or repealed sections 711, 712, 751, 2206, 2514, 3316.1, 3319, 3321, 3504, 5144, 5306, 5521, 5552, 5601, 5601.2, 5602, 5603, 5604, 5605, 5606, 5607, 5608, 5609, 5610, 5611, 6202, 7133, 7191 and 8611.

2000, DECEMBER 20, P.L.881, NO.120

§ 2. References to Organ Donation Awareness Trust Fund.

A reference to the Organ Donation Awareness Trust Fund in any other law shall be deemed a reference to The Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund as if the reference to The Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund were specifically set forth therein.

Explanatory Note. Act 120 amended sections 8601, 8617, 8621 and 8622 of Title 20.

§ 3. Use of existing forms by Department of Revenue.

The Department of Revenue shall continue to use or recycle all forms which contain references to the Organ Donation Awareness Trust Fund for purposes of taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2000. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2001, the Department of Revenue shall use forms which contain references to The Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund.

§ 4. Use of existing forms by Department of Transportation.

The Department of Transportation shall continue to use or recycle all forms which contain references to the Organ Donation Awareness Trust Fund until the existing forms are depleted.

2002, MAY 16, P.L.330, NO.50

§ 14. Applicability.

(a) In general.--Except as otherwise expressly provided in the governing instrument, in the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 81 or in subsection (b), this act shall apply to all of the following:

(1) A trust existing on or after the effective date of this act.

(2) The estate of a decedent who dies on or after the effective date of this act.

(b) Trusts, intestacies and disclimers.--This act shall apply as follows:

(1) The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 724 shall apply to trusts created before, on or after the effective date of this act.

(2) The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 2104 shall apply to intestacies occurring on or after the effective date of this act, even if the trust became irrevocable before the effective date of this act.

(3) The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 6205 shall apply to disclaimers made on or after the effective date of this act and shall apply to disclaimers made before the effective date of this act to the extent the distribution thereunder is made after the effective date of this act or, if made prior to the effective date, such distribution was consistent with this act.

(4) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 7104 and 7105 shall apply to trusts created before, on or after the effective date of this act.

Explanatory Note. Act 50 amended or added sections 724, 2104, 3701, 3702, 5164, 5301, 5320, 5321, 5536, 5601, 5706, 6205, 7104 and 7105 and repealed and added Chapter 81 of Title 20.

2006, JULY 7, P.L.625, NO.98

§ 15. Consolidation of Pooled Trust Act.

(a) General rule.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7799.3 is a consolidation of the act of December 9, 2002 (P.L.1379, No.168), known as the Pooled Trust Act. Any differences between 20 Pa.C.S. § 7799.3 and the Pooled Trust Act are intended only to conform to the style of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and are not intended to change or affect the legislative intent, judicial construction or administration and implementation of the Pooled Trust Act.

(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7799.3(d)(1), (e)(1), (f) and paragraph (5) of the definition of "pooled trust" in subsection (h).

Explanatory Note. Act 98 amended, added or deleted sections 723, 724, 725, 751, 908, 3384.1, 3534.1, 3543, 3702, 6101, 6102, 6104, 6106, 6107, 6107.1, 6110, 6112 and 6114, Chapter 71, sections 7201, 7314.1, 7503, 7504 and 7506, Chapter 77 and sections 8102, 8104, 8105, 8107, 8113, 8121 and 8141 of Title 20.

2006, NOVEMBER 29, P.L.1484, NO.169

§ 6. Regulations.

The Department of Health shall adopt regulations, as necessary, to facilitate implementation of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54 Subch. E. Regulations adopted under former 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54A shall remain effective unless they are inconsistent with 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54 or until they are superseded by regulations promulgated under this act.

Explanatory Note. Act 169 amended, added or deleted section 711 and Chapters 54 and 54A of Title 20.

§ 7. Validity of declarations under former chapter.

The repeal of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 54 shall not affect the validity of any declaration executed pursuant to the sample form provided in former 20 Pa.C.S. § 5404(b) before, on or after the effective date of this section.

2012, JULY 5, P.L.975, NO.108

§ 2. Application of law.

Applicability is as follows:

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 59 applies to guardianship and protective proceedings begun on or after the effective date of this act.

(2) The addition of the following provisions of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 59 apply to proceedings begun before the effective date of this section, regardless of whether a guardianship or protective order has been issued:

(i) Subchapter A.

(ii) Subchapter C.

(iii) Subchapter D.

(iv) Subchapter E.

Explanatory Note. Act 108 added Chapter 59 of Title 20.

2014, JULY 2, P.L.855, NO.95

§ 9. Application of law.

The following shall apply:

(1) Except as provided by this section, the provisions of this act apply to powers of attorney created before, on or after the respective effective dates of such provisions, but do not apply to the acts or omissions of agents, or third parties presented with instructions by agents, that occur before such respective effective dates.

(2) Except as provided by this section, the provisions of this act apply to judicial proceedings concerning a power of attorney commenced before, on or after the respective effective dates of such provisions, unless the court finds that application of a provision of this act would substantially interfere with the effective conduct of the judicial proceeding or prejudice the rights of a party, in which case that provision does not apply and the superseded law applies.

(3) The amendment, addition or repeal of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601(b), (c), (d) and (e.2), 5601.2, 5601.4, 5602(a)(5) and (17) and 5603 apply only to powers of attorney created on or after the effective dates of those provisions.

(4) The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601(f) and 5608 shall apply retroactively to acts performed after December 15, 1992, and to judicial proceedings commenced prior to the effective dates of those provisions.

(5) In interpreting and applying the amendment or addition of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5601(f), 5608, 5608.1, 5608.2 and 5611, a court shall give due consideration of the intent of the General Assembly to reverse the interpretation of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5608 as set forth in Teresa M. Vine v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State Employees' Retirement Board, 9 A.3d 1150 (Pa. 2010).

Explanatory Note. Act 95 amended, added or repealed sections 5601, 5601.2, 5601.3, 5601.4, 5602, 5603, 5608, 5608.1, 5608.2, 5611 and 5612 of Title 20.

2016, JULY 8, P.L.497, NO.79

§ 21. Applicability.

This act shall apply as follows:

(1) Except as set forth in paragraphs (2) and (3), this act shall apply to all powers of attorney executed on or after the effective date of this paragraph.

(2) (i) Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the effectiveness of powers of attorney in effect prior to the effective date of this paragraph.

(ii) The amendment or addition of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 5603(r), 5610, 5613 and 5614 shall apply to all powers of attorney executed before, on or after the effective date of this paragraph.

(iii) Any provision in a power of attorney incorporating by reference a power under 20 Pa.C.S. § 5602(a)(8), (9) or (23) prior to the repeal of 20 Pa.C.S. § 5602(a)(8), (9) or (23) shall be governed by the respective paragraph of § 5602(a) as if no repeal occurred.

(3) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 76 shall apply to all powers of appointment created before, on or after the effective date of that chapter.

(4) The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 79 is a continuation of the act of June 17, 1971 (P.L.181, No.23), known as the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971. The following apply:

(i) All activities initiated under the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971 shall continue and remain in full force and effect and may be completed under 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 79. Resolutions, orders, regulations, rules and decisions which were made under the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971 and which are in effect on the effective date of this paragraph shall remain in full force and effect until revoked, vacated or modified under 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 79. Contracts, obligations and agreements entered into under the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971 are not affected nor impaired by the repeal of the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971.

(ii) Any difference in language between 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 79 and the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971 is intended only to conform to the style of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and is not intended to change or affect the legislative intent, judicial construction or administrative interpretation and implementation of the Charitable Instruments Act of 1971.

Explanatory Note. Act 79 amended, added or repealed sections 712, 2514, 3163, 3314, 3315, 3546, 5422, 5454, 5456, 5460, 5601, 5601.4, 5602, 5603, 5604, 5610, 5613, 5614, 6103, 6103.1, Chapter 76, sections 7710.1, 7722, 7740.7, 7765, 7780.3, 7785, 7792, Chapter 79 and section 8113 of Title 20.

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