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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 Luzerne 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.

Luzerne County Probate Court Guide

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

570-825-1668County Clerk
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Filing & Fees

Fee Schedule Signals

Source ↗

Probate Filing Fees

Specific fee amounts are not available for this county. The county Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court page links current fee schedules and estate forms. Confirm current estate opening, short-certificate, certified-copy, account, and petition fees with the office before customer packet use.

The county Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court page links current fee schedules and estate forms. Confirm current estate opening, short-certificate, certified-copy, account, and petition fees with the office before customer packet use.

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 account or payment

The county page says the public can access Register of Wills and most Clerk of Orphans' Court records filed from 2004 to present at office terminals or through Landex Remote, Landex Webstore, and IQS Infodex / E-Film Reader. Estate indexes from 1875 to 2004 are listed as available through IQS Infodex, and all estates from mid-1998 to present are listed as available on Landex. Certified copies and certain older, adoption, guardianship, and Orphans' Court records require office handling.

Filing Methods: in person, mail, online

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 ↗
Records Search Property Search

Luzerne County Treasurer's Office

Penn Place 3rd Floor, 20 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

570-830-5129

Tax Collector Tax Search

The County Tax Collection page says the Treasurer collects county taxes for Hazleton, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittston cities for 2026 and county/municipal taxes for Newport Township, links online property-tax payment, and gives payment period dates and convenience-fee details. The Tax Certification Requests page says the Treasurer only collects county taxes for parcels beginning with 42, 46, 71, 72, and 73, directs other parcels to local tax collectors, and says delinquent issues are handled by Elite Revenue Solutions. Use this as tax collection and delinquency context, not certified payoff or title reporting.