Probate is merely the first step of the Estate Administration process
And a relatively simple procedure in Pa

Probate begins by presenting a few documents to the Register of Wills

Death Certificate,
Decedent's Last Will
Brief Probate Petition, and
Check for payment of the (nominal) Fees

If a Last Will

Exists ~ it is formally accepted for Probate and Letters Testamentary are issued to the "Executor" named in the Last Will
Does not exist, or no named Executor is available ~ Letters of Administration are granted to an "Administrator"

Be aware of the assertion that Probate should be "avoided" at, virtually, all costs

Some states do have onerous Probate procedures (where avoidance of Probate may be a prudent strategy).  However, Pa is not one of those states, and Pa is a very "Probate-Friendly" state.  Virtually to the contrary, in Pa, the seemingly universal theme that Probate should be avoided at all costs, is just simply not true.  In fact, the word "Probate" is merely the Latin infinitive verb that means "to prove" ~ nothing more!