Lancaster County Probate Court Guide
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas probate court information · Updated May 2026
Feeling overwhelmed?
Free help is available in Lancaster County.
Not sure if you need probate?
Many estates can avoid probate entirely. Assets with beneficiary designations, joint accounts, and trust assets may pass automatically without court involvement.
First: Get Death Certificates
Required for everythingPennsylvania Division of Vital Records
Secure the Property
- Lock the residence and secure valuable items
- Forward mail to a responsible family member
- Make a list of what you find (don't throw anything away yet)
Locate Important Documents
County filing checklist
Lancaster County probate filing checklist
Use this checklist to confirm the local Pennsylvania Register of Wills or Orphans' Court office, compare common probate paths, gather starting documents, and verify county packet instructions before filing. This is an informational checklist, not legal advice, a court-approved packet, or a replacement for county Register of Wills instructions.
Where to verify locally
- Court
- Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas - Orphans' Court Division
- Clerk
- Lancaster County Register of Wills
- Address
- 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
- Phone
- (717) 295-5994
Common filing paths
Formal administration
Lancaster County probate and administration filings are handled by the Register of Wills, which also serves as Clerk of the Orphans' Court.
Small estate affidavit
Pennsylvania small-estate settlement is a court petition under 20 Pa.C.S. Section 3102. Lancaster County users should verify current local forms, Orphans' Court rules, and filing requirements with the Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans' Court.
- Threshold:
- $50,000 gross personal property, subject to statutory exclusions
Payments Without Letters
20 Pa.C.S. Section 3101 allows limited payment of certain wages, deposit accounts, patient-care accounts, life-insurance amounts payable to an estate, and unclaimed property without letters when the statute's amount, relationship, and documentation requirements are met.
Starting documents to verify
Statewide starting documents
- County Register of Wills probate or administration petition packet (County ROW packet)
- Certified death certificate
- Original will and codicils if applicable
- Petition details for letters
- Renunciations, consents, or bond papers if applicable
- Short certificate or certified-copy request if applicable
Filing links
Fee signals
- Use the current Lancaster County Register of Wills Bill of Costs before quoting a filing total. County notice says fee bills effective 1/1/26 are listed under Bill of Costs and JCP fees changed effective 12/1/25.
Deadline signals
- Creditor claims period: 12 months.
Help resources
Choose your next step
If you are not sure probate is required, start with the free assessment. If you are ready to organize a filing, use the county-aware plan handoff.
Check if probate is neededA personalized probate report for estates that likely need court administration.
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Checklist details combine county source links with Pennsylvania statutory and state-default source records. Confirm final packet forms, fees, and filing instructions with the county office before filing.