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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 Lackawanna 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.

Lackawanna County Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Guide

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

(570) 963-6702County Clerk

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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Filing TypeFee
Petition for Probate
Standard probate filing fee
$41

Note: Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a per-county sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($41.25) records the statewide JCS/JCP surcharge (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) imposed on every petition for grant of letters; this county's graduated grant-of-letters fee was not machine-readable from its published schedule at audit time and must be confirmed from the linked fee schedule before quoting an estate total. Source: lackawannacounty.org ROW fee schedule (OCR partial).

Pennsylvania Register of Wills grant-of-letters fees are a per-county sliding scale on the gross probate estate value. petition_probate ($41.25) records the statewide JCS/JCP surcharge (42 Pa.C.S.; Act 45 of 2025, eff. 11/17/2025) imposed on every petition for grant of letters; this county's graduated grant-of-letters fee was not machine-readable from its published schedule at audit time and must be confirmed from the linked fee schedule before quoting an estate total. Source: lackawannacounty.org ROW fee schedule (OCR partial).

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

A complete public online probate-estate index was not verified. The county Register of Wills page links the LPA Public Inquiries records search (lpa-homes.org) for Register of Wills, Orphans' Court, and marriage records, but estate-record completeness and certified copies should be confirmed with the Register of Wills.

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 ↗
Records Search Property Search

Lackawanna County Tax Claim

Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503

Confirm current office hours before visiting.

(570) 963-6734

Tax Collector Tax Search

Lackawanna County Tax Claim is the official county source for delinquent real estate tax claim context. The online tax payment endpoint redirects to a county payment search but should not be treated as certified payoff, lien, or title reporting.