The Short Answer

In Pennsylvania, signing a renunciation of your right to letters of administration generally means you are giving up your priority to be appointed as the estate’s administrator, allowing the Register of Wills to appoint someone else. Depending on how it’s drafted, it can also allow the Register to appoint your nominee instead of moving down the statutory priority list.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

When someone dies without a will (or without a qualified executor), Pennsylvania law sets an order of priority for who should receive letters of administration. If a person with higher priority signs a renunciation, the Register of Wills can treat that person as having declined the appointment and move to the next eligible person—or, in some cases, appoint the renouncing person’s nominee.

If your question is really about renouncing your right to serve as administrator (not renouncing an estate asset), the key issue is how renunciation affects who gets appointed and how much control you keep over the administration.

The Statute

The primary law governing this issue is 20 Pa.C.S. § 3155.

This statute establishes a priority order for granting letters of administration and provides that if a person with priority renounces the right to letters, the Register may appoint that person’s nominee ahead of people in the next priority category. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3155(b)(6).

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

While the statute provides the general rule, applying it to your specific situation is rarely simple. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Pennsylvania law limits when lower-priority people (like creditors or “other fit persons”) can be appointed without consent—generally not until 30 days after death in many cases. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3155(c).
• Burden of Proof: If there’s later a dispute about whether your renunciation was valid (or whether someone was “entitled” to letters), it can trigger litigation and even revocation of letters. The Register may revoke letters if it appears the person granted letters was not entitled. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3181(a).
• Exceptions: Renunciation language can be broader than people realize (for example, renouncing in favor of a specific nominee vs. renouncing without conditions). Also, practical issues like residency can affect who can serve—Pennsylvania gives the Register discretion to refuse letters of administration to nonresidents. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3157.

Once you sign, you may lose leverage over who controls estate assets, deadlines, creditor issues, and distributions. An attorney can review the renunciation form and the family/creditor dynamics to help you avoid unintentionally handing control to the wrong person—or creating a fight that delays the estate.

If you want more background, you may find these helpful: What Forms and Steps Are Needed to Get Letters of Administration in Pennsylvania? and How Do I Handle a Dispute Over Who Should Be the Executor or Administrator in Pennsylvania?.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.