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 Bucks 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.
Bucks County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Guide
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas · Register of Wills and Orphans' Court information · Updated May 2026
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Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Petition for Probate Standard probate filing fee | $50 |
Note: Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($50.00) is the lowest (smallest-estate) bracket; the fee rises with estate value. A separate statewide JCS/JCP surcharge of $41.25 (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) applies to every petition for grant of letters. Short certificate: $15.00 each. Source: buckscounty.gov ROW fee bill 12-04-2025. Confirm the current graduated fee and surcharges with the county Register of Wills before quoting an estate total.
Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($50.00) is the lowest (smallest-estate) bracket; the fee rises with estate value. A separate statewide JCS/JCP surcharge of $41.25 (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) applies to every petition for grant of letters. Short certificate: $15.00 each. Source: buckscounty.gov ROW fee bill 12-04-2025. Confirm the current graduated fee and surcharges with the county Register of Wills before quoting an estate total.
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.
- 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.
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Records portal
Use this county-linked source to check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.
Official county page links the Register of Wills case-search and e-filing surfaces. The county notes that some Orphans' Court records are sensitive and may require a judicial order, so this should not be treated as a complete probate index.
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 ↗Bucks County Tax Claim Bureau
55 East Court Street, 5th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901
Official county Tax Claim Bureau handles delinquent real estate tax claims and the county paying-your-taxes page links current online inquiry/payment instructions. Use the bureau for current instructions and certified needs.