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Pennsylvania Probate Guide

County-specific probate filing-office contacts, filing fees, required forms, and step-by-step guidance for families settling an estate in Pennsylvania.

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Do I Need Probate?Free assessment toolEstate ChecklistStep-by-step tasksFee CalculatorEstimate your costsGlossaryLegal terms explainedFirst StepsWhat to do firstEstate PlanningPlan your own will & POA

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Pennsylvania Probate Filing Offices by County

Choose your county to get its probate court contacts, filing fees, and required forms. 67 counties have detailed data.

Showing 36 of 67 counties. Search by county name or show the full list.

Full data available – AdamsFull data available – AlleghenyFull data available – ArmstrongFull data available – BeaverFull data available – BedfordFull data available – BerksFull data available – BlairFull data available – BradfordFull data available – BucksFull data available – ButlerFull data available – CambriaFull data available – CameronFull data available – CarbonFull data available – CentreFull data available – ChesterFull data available – ClarionFull data available – ClearfieldFull data available – ClintonFull data available – ColumbiaFull data available – CrawfordFull data available – CumberlandFull data available – DauphinFull data available – DelawareFull data available – ElkFull data available – ErieFull data available – FayetteFull data available – ForestFull data available – FranklinFull data available – FultonFull data available – GreeneFull data available – HuntingdonFull data available – IndianaFull data available – JeffersonFull data available – JuniataFull data available – LackawannaFull data available – Lancaster

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Pennsylvania Probate Guides

View all guides
Pennsylvania Probate Guide
PAMay 31, 2026-7 min read

Pennsylvania Probate Guide

Pennsylvania probate guide for grants of letters, small estate petitions, Register of Wills filings, Orphans' Court forms, deadlines, and inheritance tax timing.

How to Avoid Probate in Pennsylvania
PAMay 31, 2026-9 min read

How to Avoid Probate in Pennsylvania

Avoid probate in Pennsylvania with beneficiary designations, survivorship title, trusts, small-estate petitions, and recorder checks.

Pennsylvania Small Estate Petition
PAJun 10, 2026-9 min read

Pennsylvania Small Estate Petition

Pennsylvania small estate petition guide for the $50,000 personal property threshold and filing steps.

Pennsylvania Probate Timeline
PAMay 31, 2026-7 min read

Pennsylvania Probate Timeline

Pennsylvania probate timeline guide for Register of Wills filings, letters, publication, inventory, inheritance tax, small estate petitions, and distribution planning.

Pennsylvania Probate Forms
PAMay 31, 2026-6 min read

Pennsylvania Probate Forms

Pennsylvania probate forms guide for Register of Wills packets, Orphans' Court small estate petitions, short certificates, tax forms, and county filing checks.

Pennsylvania Executor Duties
PAMay 31, 2026-9 min read

Pennsylvania Executor Duties

Pennsylvania executor duties guide for Register of Wills filings, letters, publication, inventory, inheritance tax, records, and distribution planning.

Browse Pennsylvania guide topics

Jump to court, executor, tax, planning, property, and probate-avoidance guides that match your next task.

Probate Basics

3

Forms & Court

5

Executor Duties

2

Taxes & Deadlines

8

Planning Documents

8

Property Transfer

1

Avoiding Probate

1
Full guide library

Pennsylvania Probate Self-Help and Online Resources

Pennsylvania probate source navigation starts with state court, form, agency, legal-help, or referral links that are already tracked in Settled state data. These links are state-level starting points, not county-specific filing instructions.

Which Pennsylvania probate source should you use?

  • Start with the state court, form, or self-help source for general Pennsylvania probate context.
  • Use county filing-office, clerk, register, or court pages for local filing locations, local forms, fee schedules, and records portals.
  • Use legal-help, law-library, or referral links as research or referral paths, not as a substitute for counsel.
  • Verify current filing steps with the county office, court, clerk, register, legal-aid source, or counsel before filing.

Pennsylvania probate resource questions

Are these Pennsylvania probate resources county-specific?

No. This map shows state-level source links from Settled data. Use it with the Pennsylvania county page and the county office handling the estate before filing.

Which Pennsylvania source should I use first?

Start with the official court, form, or agency source for the task, then confirm local requirements with the county filing office, clerk, register, or office that accepts the filing.

Does the Pennsylvania Probate Resource Map replace attorney review?

No. The map is source navigation. It helps families find current public sources, but it does not decide eligibility, prepare filings, or replace advice from counsel.

Pennsylvania probate resource map by source type

Statewide process, forms, and code sources1

State court, form, statute, agency, and self-help sources for general probate and estate-settlement questions.

Show all Pennsylvania self-help resources (1 links)

Statewide process, forms, and code sources

State court, form, statute, agency, and self-help sources for general probate and estate-settlement questions.

Settled pairs these Pennsylvania source links with county pages, forms, first-step guides, transfer guides, and source notes so families can move from statewide context to the local office that handles the estate.

Types of Probate in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers several probate procedures depending on estate value and circumstances.

Most Common

Getting court authority to act for the estate

Legal name: Grant of Letters

Register of Wills process for appointing an executor or administrator when estate authority is needed.

Timeline
Varies by county and estate facts
Attorney
Recommended
Statute
20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3132, 3153, 3155
Simplified

A faster path for smaller estates

Legal name: Section 3102 Small-Estate Petition

Court-directed distribution path for qualifying personal property through the county Orphans' Court division.

Timeline
Varies by county and notice order
Attorney
Recommended
Statute
20 Pa.C.S. § 3102
Limited Payments

Collecting certain accounts without opening a case

Legal name: Section 3101 Payments Without Letters

Narrow payment paths for certain wages, deposit accounts, patient-care accounts, insurance payable to an estate, and unclaimed property.

Timeline
Varies by holder
Attorney
Recommended for uncertain claims
Statute
20 Pa.C.S. § 3101
Not sure which applies? Take the assessment →

Pennsylvania Estate Law Overview

Pennsylvania Estate Tax Info

Pennsylvania tax information for estates

Yes
State Estate Tax
Yes
Inheritance Tax
Yes
State Income Tax
Federal estate tax info

Federal estate tax only applies to estates exceeding $15,000,000 (2026).

Who Inherits Without a Will?

Intestate succession governs probate property when a Pennsylvania resident dies without a valid will.

Pennsylvania Homestead Protection

Information about homestead protection laws.

Exempt Property

Certain property may be exempt from estate creditors.