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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, clerk contact details, administrative orders, e-filing rules, and hearing logistics for Fayette 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.

Fayette County Probate Court Guide

Fayette County Court of Common Pleas probate court information · Updated May 2026

724-430-1206County Clerk
Family Guide
Professional Reference
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas|

Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Specific fee amounts are not available for this county. The Register of Wills page links a fee schedule and says cash payments over $1,000 are not accepted effective 2026-01-13, requiring certified cashier checks for amounts over $1,000. Verify current Register of Wills, Orphans' Court, copy, certification, death-certificate, bond, and petition fees with the office before quoting totals.

The Register of Wills page links a fee schedule and says cash payments over $1,000 are not accepted effective 2026-01-13, requiring certified cashier checks for amounts over $1,000. Verify current Register of Wills, Orphans' Court, copy, certification, death-certificate, bond, and petition fees with the office before quoting totals.

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

Records portal

Use this county-linked source to check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record.

Source foundSearchable, completeness not guaranteedMay require account or payment

The Fayette County estate information page says probate records are on file from 1794 to the present, a non-refundable $5 search fee is required, and estate searches from 1993 to present are available through Landex. It also says remote record searches through Landex dating back to 1949 are coming soon. Treat this as fee-gated online records context, not a complete free public probate-estate index or certified estate-file response.

Filing Methods: in person, mail

Timelines & Proceedings

Deadlines & Creditor Claims

Key Deadlines

Will Deposit
0 days
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 ↗

Fayette County Tax Claim Bureau

2 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; open during lunch.

724-430-1208

The Tax Claim Bureau page says it collects delinquent real estate tax for the 42 districts in Fayette County, notifies taxpayers of delinquent taxes and pending sales, and conducts upset, judicial, and repository sales. The Tax Certificates page says tax certificate requests should include parcel number and property information, can be expedited by fax or email on request, and cost $15 per parcel. The Tax Assessment page says there are 42 municipalities, with the County Treasurer collecting county tax for Connellsville, Ohiopyle, and Uniontown and 39 elected tax collectors collecting county taxes. Online assessment, tax collector, and tax-certificate context is not a certified payoff or title report.