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Use This County Probate Reference Before You File

This page is built for the detailed county-level checks that generic probate guides usually miss: local filing fees, Register of Wills and Orphans' Court contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for Allegheny County.

Local Fee Schedule

Review county-specific probate filing charges before you estimate total case cost.

Court Rules and Orders

Check the local rules, judge procedures, and administrative orders that can change how a case moves.

Clerk and Filing Logistics

Confirm where to file, whether e-filing is allowed, and how hearings or notices are handled locally.

Allegheny County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Guide

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas · Register of Wills and Orphans' Court information · Updated May 2026

(412) 350-4180County Clerk

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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Petition for Probate
Standard probate filing fee
$41

Note: Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a per-county sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($41.25) records the statewide JCS/JCP surcharge (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) imposed on every petition for grant of letters; this county's graduated grant-of-letters fee was not machine-readable from its published schedule at audit time and must be confirmed from the linked fee schedule before quoting an estate total. Source: county Register of Wills fee schedule.

Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a per-county sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($41.25) records the statewide JCS/JCP surcharge (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) imposed on every petition for grant of letters; this county's graduated grant-of-letters fee was not machine-readable from its published schedule at audit time and must be confirmed from the linked fee schedule before quoting an estate total. Source: county Register of Wills fee schedule.

Required Documents

  • County Register of Wills probate or administration petition packet(County ROW packet)

    Opening forms are county-specific. Use the current Register of Wills packet for the county where probate or administration is being opened.

  • Certified death certificate

    Registers of Wills commonly require a certified death certificate for opening letters; confirm copy count and accepted format with the county office.

  • Original will and codicils

    If a will exists, Pennsylvania probate proof is governed by 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3132 and county Register practice.

  • Petition details for letters

    Section 3153 describes petition contents for letters, including decedent, petitioner, interested-party, estate, and requested-letter details.

  • Renunciations, consents, or bond papers

    Whether these are needed depends on the will, priority to serve, bond requirements, and county packet instructions.

  • Short certificate or certified-copy request

    Request after appointment when banks, title companies, agencies, or other holders need certified proof of authority.

  • Inventory materials

    20 Pa.C.S. Section 3301 governs inventory timing after appointment; this is not always an opening-day filing.

  • Small-estate petition and proposed distribution papers(20 Pa.C.S. 3102 petition)

    Use only when the estate may qualify for Pennsylvania small-estate settlement of personal property and the county Orphans' Court accepts the petition.

E-Filing & Filing Methods

Source ↗
Allegheny County Department of Court Records e-Filing and Retrieval SystemCase SearchProbate Forms

Records portal

Use this county-linked source to check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.

Open portal
Source foundSearchable, completeness not guaranteedMay require account

Official county DCR e-filing and retrieval surface for Wills/Orphans' Court records. Access and record completeness can depend on account status, record type, sealed status, and county system limits.

Filing Methods: in person, mail

Timelines & Proceedings

Deadlines & Creditor Claims

Key Deadlines

Will Deposit
Verify locally
Creditor Claims
12 months
Known Creditor Notice
60 days

Creditor Claims

Period Starts
first complete advertisement of grant of letters
Statute
20 Pa.C.S. Section 3532

Publication Requirements

Related Proceedings

Property Recording

Source ↗
Records Search Property Search

Allegheny County Treasurer

Room 108, Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

(412) 350-4100

Tax Collector Tax Search

Official Treasurer page links users to search by address or parcel number through the county real estate portal and warns users to use only county-approved payment channels.