Cumberland County
Probate Court
In Pennsylvania, estates are probated in the Court of Common Pleas (Orphans' Court Division) / Register of Wills. This page gathers where to file in Cumberland County, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.
Where to file in Cumberland County
- Handled by
- 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.
- Location
- Probate filings are made in the county seat, Carlisle. We have not found an open, verifiable address for the office yet — use the county website below.
- Phone
- No phone number published in an open source. Use the county website's contact page — we don't list numbers we can't source.
- Opening hours
- Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
- County website
- ccpa.netWikidata
- State courts & e-filing
- pacourts.usCase search: Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal (UJS Portal / County Register of Wills)
How probate runs in Cumberland County
Six stages, with the Pennsylvania rules that set the pace.
- 01
Secure the original will
Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Pennsylvania deadline: Must be filed with Register of Wills promptly upon death.
- 02
Pick the right track
If the probate estate is under $50,000, a small-estate procedure (20 Pa.C.S. § 3102 (Settlement of Small Estates on Petition)) may avoid full administration.
- 03
Petition the court
File the petition with the Court of Common Pleas (Orphans' Court Division) / Register of Wills for Cumberland County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.
- 04
Inventory the estate
Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.
- 05
Notify creditors
Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 1 year from the date of first complete advertisement of grant of letters (20 Pa.C.S. § 3385).
- 06
Account and distribute
Pay debts, taxes and fees (20 Pa.C.S. § 3537 (Compensation)), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 Pennsylvania courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
Pennsylvania rules that apply here
Probate law is state law — these apply in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
- 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) · estimate the fee
- Handwritten wills
- Recognized. 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).
- Estate tax
- No state estate tax.Pennsylvania has no state estate tax.
- Inheritance tax
- Yes.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.
- Typical duration
- 9 to 18 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.
Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: law.justia.com (statute)