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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 Franklin 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.

Franklin County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Guide

Thirty Ninth Judicial District of Pennsylvania · Register of Wills and Orphans' Court information · Updated May 2026

717-261-3872County Clerk

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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Petition for Probate
Standard probate filing fee
$30

Note: Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($30.00) 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: $5.00 each. Source: franklincountypa.gov ROW permanent fee schedule 11.17.25. 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 ($30.00) 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: $5.00 each. Source: franklincountypa.gov ROW permanent fee schedule 11.17.25. 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.

  • 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

Case 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 payment

The Archives page says select digitized birth, marriage, death, estate, land, and tax records are in the online repository, and that some estate papers are available through the Register and Recorder's LANDEX system for searching and ordering records. For the most recent estate papers, it directs users to the Register and Recorder's Office. Treat this as partial public-record search context, not a complete probate index.

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 ↗

Recording Fees

First Page
$92.75
Additional Pages
$2.00

Documentary Stamps

Deed Rate
Franklin County publishes that state realty transfer tax is 1% of consideration or assessed value and local tax of the same is due when recording, subject to statement-of-value and exemption review.
Records Search Property Search

Franklin County Tax Claim

Administration Building, 272 North Second Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for payments; office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

717-261-3884

taxclaim@franklincountypa.gov

Tax Collector Tax Search

The Tax Claim page says the office collects delinquent real estate taxes levied in the county, including school and municipal taxes, and provides online delinquent-tax payment by credit card or debit card with a credit feature. It says delinquent-tax totals cannot be found online and users must call Tax Claim for the correct amount. Use this as delinquency, tax-sale, and payment context, not certified payoff or current-tax completeness.