Skip to main content

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 Warren 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.

Warren County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Guide

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

814-728-3430County Clerk

Viewing the professional reference · Switch to the family guide

Warren County Court of Common Pleas|
Case Search
Jump to:FeesDocumentsFilingDeadlines

Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Petition for Probate
Standard probate filing fee
$18

Note: Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($18.00) 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: $3.00 each. Source: warrencountypa.gov ROW fee schedule 11/17/2025. 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 ($18.00) 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: $3.00 each. Source: warrencountypa.gov ROW fee schedule 11/17/2025. 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.

  • 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 page
Source foundSearchable, completeness not guaranteedMay require payment

The county Register of Wills fee schedule lists letters, probate of will, proof of death, affidavits, inventory, inheritance-tax return, short certificates, certified copies, exemplified copies, and related estate filings. The county page lists the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court office and says written document requests require a fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Treat this as official manual or paid estate-record routing, not a complete online probate index, certified-copy workflow, or legal review.

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
$86.25
Additional Pages
$2.00

Documentary Stamps

Deed Rate
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is generally 1% at the state level; Warren County recording and local transfer-tax handling require current document review before filing.
Records Search Property Search

Warren County Tax Claim Bureau

204 Fourth Avenue, Warren, PA 16365

Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

814-728-3415

Tax Collector Tax Search

The Tax Claim page says the bureau accepts real-estate tax liens for delinquent county, township or borough, and school district taxes and participates in upset, judicial, and repository sales. It explains the 2026 split duplicate for county/municipal and school taxes and says school taxes not paid with elected tax collectors by December 31, 2026 will be returned to Tax Claim. The payment page links online delinquent-tax payment through MuniciPAY and describes check, money order, card, and electronic-check payment methods and service fees. Use this as tax collection, delinquency, payment, tax-sale, and local tax-collector routing context, not certified payoff, sale-status guarantee, or title review.