Title 20, DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES

This chapter modifies, limits and supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (Public Law 106-229, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.). This chapter shall not modify, limit or supersede section 101(c) of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce…

(a) General rule.--On a request from an authorized official of an eye bank for corneal tissue, a coroner or medical examiner may permit the removal of corneal tissue if all of the following apply: (1) The decedent from whom the tissue is to be removed died under circumstances req…

This subchapter applies exclusively to hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allografts donated by an individual whose death is imminent or who has died in the hospital.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide guidance to organ procurement organizations, hospitals, health care professionals and the public about the donation of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allografts when donated by an individual whose d…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Minor." An individual under 18 years of age. "Surrogate decision maker." An individual under section 8611(b)(1), (2)…

The following apply: (1) An individual of sound mind who is 18 years of age or older may authorize recovery of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allografts. The authorization may be in a will, living will, health care power of attorney, power of attorne…

The following apply: (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a surrogate decision maker, in order of priority stated when persons in prior classes are not available at the time of death, and in the absence of actual notice of contrary indications by the decedent as set forth in subparagrap…

The following applies to organ procurement organizations, health care professionals, donees under section 8662 (relating to donees and vascularized composite allografts) and other persons who request a gift of hands, facial tissue, limbs and other vascularized composite allograft…

(a) Applicability.--This section shall apply in all cases when the coroner or medical examiner must determine the cause of death and whether the death may have resulted from criminal acts or criminal neglect. (b) Denial of recovery of vascularized composite allograft.--If a coron…

(a) Applicability.--This section shall apply in all cases when the coroner or medical examiner: (1) must determine the cause of death and whether the death may have resulted from criminal acts or criminal neglect; and (2) the coroner or medical examiner is not the coroner or medi…

(a) Gift.--The following apply to vascularized composite allografts: (1) If the individual whose death is imminent or has died in the hospital has a document of gift which authorizes a gift of a vascularized composite allograft, the organ procurement organization representative o…

(a) General rule.--An individual who is in need of a vascularized composite allograft shall not be deemed ineligible to receive a vascularized composite allograft solely because of the individual's physical or mental disability, except to the extent that the physical or mental di…

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of section 8657 (relating to gift of vascularized composite allograft from decedent whose death is under investigation), the provisions of this subchapter are subject to the laws of this Commonwealth prescribing powers and duties with …

An organ procurement organization may, upon request and payment of associated fees, obtain certified copies of death records of a donor from the Division of Vital Records of the Department of Health.

The following persons may become donees of gifts of vascularized composite allografts for any of the purposes stated: (1) Any hospital, surgeon or physician for medical or dental education, research, advancement of medical or dental science, therapy or transplantation. (2) Any ac…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no organ procurement organization, eye bank or tissue bank may divulge any individually identifiable information acquired in the course of performing the organization's or bank's responsibilities under this chapter except f…

(a) General rule.--An organ procurement organization, an eye bank or a tissue bank shall not do any of the following with respect to recovery and transplantation of vascularized composite allografts: (1) Disparage the services or business of another organ procurement organization…

(a) General rule.--Except as set forth in subsection (b), a funeral director or a funeral establishment shall not: (1) remove vascularized composite allografts from a corpse; (2) permit others to remove vascularized composite allografts from a corpse; or (3) use funeral establish…

A person who acts in good faith in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability arising from any action taken under this subchapter. The civil immunity provided by this section shall not extend to persons if damages result …

Any trust created prior to January 1, 1948, primarily for the benefit of employees, their families or appointees, under any stock, bonus, pension, disability, death benefit, profit sharing or other employee-benefit plan, to which contributions are made by the employer or employee…

Whenever two or more trusts heretofore have been or hereafter shall be created primarily for the benefit of the employees of the same employer or their families or appointees under any stock, bonus, pension, disability, death benefit, profit sharing or other employee-benefit plan…

The trustee or trustees of any employee-benefit plan, such as a pension, welfare, profit sharing, share, purchase, or other plan, may transfer any part of the property and assets of the plan, in trust, to a corporate trustee which shall be a bank and trust company or trust compan…

The trustee, custodian or committee charged with the responsibility of disbursing funds from any trust, custodial account, annuity or other funding arrangement under a pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, deferred compensation, disability, death benefit or other plan established…

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Decedent." A person whose life is so taken. "Elder abuse." An offense under 18 Pa.C.S. Chs. 27 (relating to assault), 3…

No slayer shall in any way acquire any property or receive any benefit as the result of the death of the decedent, but such property shall pass as provided in the sections following.

An elder abuser may not acquire any property or receive any benefit upon the death of the victim, but such property shall pass as provided in this chapter. (July 1, 2024, P.L.444, No.40, eff. 180 days) 2024 Amendment. Act 40 added section 8802.1.

The slayer or elder abuser shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent or victim as to property which would have passed from the decedent or victim or his estate to the slayer or elder abuser under the statutes of descent and distribution or have been acquired by dower, by c…

Property which would have passed to or for the benefit of the slayer or elder abuser by devise or legacy from the decedent or victim shall be distributed as if he had predeceased the decedent or victim. (July 1, 2024, P.L.444, No.40, eff. 180 days)

One-half of any property held by the slayer or elder abuser and the decedent or victim as tenants by the entirety shall pass upon the death of the decedent or victim to his estate, and the other half shall be held by the slayer or elder abuser during his life, subject to pass upo…

(a) Joint ownership by slayer or elder abuser and decedent or victim.--One-half of any property held by the slayer or elder abuser and the decedent or victim as joint tenants, joint owners or joint obligees shall pass upon the death of the decedent or victim to his estate, and th…

Property in which the slayer or elder abuser holds a reversion or vested remainder and would have obtained the right of present possession upon the death of the decedent or victim shall pass to the estate of the decedent or victim during the period of the life expectancy of the d…

Any interest in property, whether vested or not, held by the slayer or elder abuser, subject to be divested, diminished in any way or extinguished, if the decedent or victim survives him or lives to a certain age, shall be held by the slayer or elder abuser during his lifetime or…

As to any contingent remainder or executory or other future interest held by the slayer or elder abuser, subject to become vested in him or increased in any way for him upon the condition of the death of the decedent or victim: (1) If the interest would not have become vested or …

(a) Property appointed by will.--Property appointed by the will of the decedent or victim to or for the benefit of the slayer or elder abuser shall be distributed as if the slayer or elder abuser had predeceased the decedent or victim. (b) Other property.--Property held either pr…

(a) Policies on life of decedent or victim.--Insurance proceeds payable to the slayer or elder abuser as the beneficiary or assignee of any policy or certificate of insurance on the life of the decedent or victim, or as the survivor of a joint life policy, shall be paid to the es…

Any insurance company making payment according to the terms of its policy or any bank or other person performing an obligation for the slayer or elder abuser as one of several joint obligees shall not be subject to additional liability by the terms of this chapter, if such paymen…

The provisions of this chapter shall not affect the rights of any person who, before the interests of the slayer or elder abuser have been adjudicated, purchases from the slayer or elder abuser for value and without notice property which the slayer or elder abuser would have acqu…

The record of his conviction of having participated in the willful and unlawful killing of the decedent or the elder abuse of the victim shall be admissible in evidence against a claimant of property in any civil action arising under this chapter. (July 1, 2024, P.L.444, No.40, e…

(a) Escrow required.-- (1) If a person has been charged, whether by indictment, information or otherwise, by the United States, the Commonwealth or any of the several states, with voluntary manslaughter or homicide, except homicide by vehicle, in connection with a decedent's deat…

This chapter shall not be considered penal in nature, but shall be construed broadly in order to effect the policy of this State that no person shall be allowed to profit by his own wrong, wherever committed.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, an elder abuser may acquire any property or receive any benefits as the result of the death of the victim if it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that either: (1) the victim knew of the conviction but expressed or ratified …