Probate in Pennsylvania · 67 counties

Pennsylvania Probate Courts

Estates here go through the Court of Common Pleas (Orphans' Court Division) / Register of Wills. Pick a county on the map or search below — each record shows where to file and where every detail comes from.

Small-estate limit

$50,000

No statutory wait

Death taxes

Yes

Inheritance tax on heirs

Executor fee

Reasonable

Reasonable fee set by the court

Handwritten wills

Valid

Unwitnessed, in testator’s hand

Plate · PA

Every Pennsylvania county, on one map

Population, low → high courthouse probate office checked

§ I

Pennsylvania probate rules

Court: Court of Common Pleas (Orphans' Court Division) / Register of WillsIn Pennsylvania, uncontested probate of wills and grant of letters are conducted by the elected Register of Wills in each county. The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over contested probates, trust administration, and accountings.
Small estates: $50,000 (excluding real estate and family exemptions)20 Pa.C.S. § 3102 (Settlement of Small Estates on Petition)
Filing the will: Must be filed with Register of Wills promptly upon death
Creditor claims: 1 year from the date of first complete advertisement of grant of letters (20 Pa.C.S. § 3385)20 Pa.C.S. § 3155 & § 3385
Executor fees: Reasonable compensation approved by Orphans' Court; Johnson Estate schedule provides standard guidance (~5% on first $100k, 4% next $100k, 3% next $800k, 2% next $1M)20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (Compensation) · calculator
Estate tax: NonePennsylvania has no state estate tax.
Inheritance tax: YesPennsylvania inheritance tax: 0% to surviving spouse and on transfers from a child aged 21 or younger to a parent; 4.5% to lineal descendants/parents; 12% to siblings; 15% to other heirs.
Typical duration: 9 to 18 months
Official courts site: pacourts.usCase search: Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal (UJS Portal / County Register of Wills)

Re-checked Sept 2026 against: law.justia.com (statute)

Need help with an estate in Pennsylvania?

Where to get help.

We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.

§ II · Register

All 67 counties

Sorted by population. office checked = probate office address/phone confirmed on the court's own website. courthouse mapped = located in OpenStreetMap.

#	County	Seat	Population	Record
1	Philadelphia County	Philadelphia	1,550,542	office checked
2	Allegheny County	Pittsburgh	1,224,825	office checked
3	Montgomery County	Norristown	868,742	office checked
4	Bucks County	Doylestown	645,984	office checked
5	Delaware County	Media	576,720	office checked
6	Lancaster County	Lancaster	558,589	courthouse mapped
7	Chester County	West Chester	549,784	courthouse mapped
8	York County	York	464,640	courthouse mapped
9	Berks County	Reading	432,821	courthouse mapped
10	Lehigh County	Allentown	377,754	courthouse mapped
11	Westmoreland County	Greensburg	351,163	courthouse mapped
12	Luzerne County	Wilkes-Barre	327,388	courthouse mapped
13	Northampton County	Easton	319,091	courthouse mapped
14	Dauphin County	Harrisburg	289,234	courthouse mapped
15	Cumberland County	Carlisle	270,738	county site
16	Erie County	Erie	267,571	courthouse mapped
17	Lackawanna County	Scranton	216,123	courthouse mapped
18	Washington County	Washington	210,232	courthouse mapped
19	Butler County	Butler	198,413	courthouse mapped
20	Monroe County	Stroudsburg	166,053	courthouse mapped
21	Beaver County	Beaver	165,631	courthouse mapped
22	Franklin County	Chambersburg	157,854	courthouse mapped
23	Centre County	Bellefonte	157,795	courthouse mapped
24	Lebanon County	Lebanon	144,252	courthouse mapped
25	Schuylkill County	Pottsville	143,786	courthouse mapped
26	Cambria County	Ebensburg	130,668	courthouse mapped
27	Fayette County	Uniontown	123,915	courthouse mapped
28	Blair County	Hollidaysburg	120,273	courthouse mapped
29	Lycoming County	Williamsport	112,724	courthouse mapped
30	Mercer County	Mercer	108,503	courthouse mapped
31	Adams County	Dover	106,748	courthouse mapped
32	Northumberland County	Sunbury	90,120	courthouse mapped
33	Lawrence County	New Castle	84,472	courthouse mapped
34	Indiana County	Indiana	83,094	courthouse mapped
35	Crawford County	Meadville	82,001	courthouse mapped
36	Clearfield County	Clearfield	77,090	courthouse mapped
37	Somerset County	Somerset	72,197	courthouse mapped
38	Carbon County	Jim Thorpe	65,458	courthouse mapped
39	Columbia County	Bloomsburg	65,439	courthouse mapped
40	Armstrong County	Georgetown	64,074	courthouse mapped
41	Pike County	Milford	61,247	courthouse mapped
42	Bradford County	Towanda	59,695	courthouse mapped
43	Wayne County	Honesdale	51,262	county site
44	Venango County	Franklin	49,431	courthouse mapped
45	Bedford County	Bedford	47,350	courthouse mapped
46	Perry County	New Bloomfield	46,083	courthouse mapped
47	Mifflin County	Lewistown	45,922	courthouse mapped
48	Jefferson County	Brookville	43,612	courthouse mapped
49	Huntingdon County	Huntingdon	43,514	courthouse mapped
50	Union County	Lewisburg	42,042	courthouse mapped
51	Tioga County	Wellsboro	40,840	courthouse mapped
52	Snyder County	Middleburg	39,717	county site
53	McKean County	Smethport	39,519	courthouse mapped
54	Susquehanna County	Montrose	38,109	courthouse mapped
55	Clinton County	Lock Haven	37,607	courthouse mapped
56	Warren County	Warren	37,572	courthouse mapped
57	Clarion County	Clarion	36,970	courthouse mapped
58	Greene County	Waynesburg	34,357	courthouse mapped
59	Elk County	Ridgway	30,198	county site
60	Wyoming County	Tunkhannock	25,902	courthouse mapped
61	Juniata County	Mifflintown	23,243	county site
62	Montour County	Danville	17,860	courthouse mapped
63	Potter County	Coudersport	15,999	courthouse mapped
64	Fulton County	McConnellsburg	14,468	courthouse mapped
65	Forest County	Tionesta	6,449	courthouse mapped
66	Sullivan County	Laporte	5,834	courthouse mapped
67	Cameron County	Emporium	4,380	courthouse mapped

§ III

Pennsylvania probate questions

What is the small estate affidavit limit in Pennsylvania?

$50,000 (excluding real estate and family exemptions) (20 Pa.C.S. § 3102 (Settlement of Small Estates on Petition)). There is no statutory waiting period. Court petition to settle small estate up to $50,000 in gross personal property (excluding statutory family exemption of $10,000). Real estate excluded.

How are executor and administrator fees calculated in Pennsylvania?

Reasonable compensation approved by Orphans' Court; Johnson Estate schedule provides standard guidance (~5% on first $100k, 4% next $100k, 3% next $800k, 2% next $1M) (20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (Compensation)). Courts can award more for extraordinary services, such as running a business or litigation.

What is the creditor claim deadline for estates in Pennsylvania?

1 year from the date of first complete advertisement of grant of letters (20 Pa.C.S. § 3385) (20 Pa.C.S. § 3155 & § 3385). Claims filed after the deadline are generally barred.

Does Pennsylvania recognize handwritten (holographic) wills?

Yes. Pennsylvania recognizes holographic wills if signed by the testator at the end, proved by two credible witnesses to testator's signature (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502).

Does Pennsylvania have a state estate tax or inheritance tax?

Pennsylvania has no state estate tax. It also has an inheritance tax paid by heirs. Pennsylvania inheritance tax: 0% to surviving spouse and on transfers from a child aged 21 or younger to a parent; 4.5% to lineal descendants/parents; 12% to siblings; 15% to other heirs.