Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
McKean County grant-of-letters (probate) fees (probate of the will and granting letters) are graduated on the estate value: $50 (not exceeding $1,000), $60 ($1,001 to $5,000), $70 ($5,001 to $10,000), $80 ($10,001 to $20,000), $90 ($20,001 to $30,000), $100 ($30,001 to $40,000), $110 ($40,001 to $50,000), $120 ($50,001 to $75,000), $130 ($75,001 to $100,000), plus $50 for each additional $100,000. A $41.25 JCS fee and a $10 automation fee apply to first filings. A short certificate is $5. Confirm current amounts on the county fee schedule. Source: McKean County Register of Wills fee schedule, effective January 2026.
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.
- 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.
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Records portal
Check live court-record information when available. Search results may not include every probate record. An account may be required.
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
Advertising the grant of letters
Frequency: Once a week for three successive weeks
- One newspaper of general circulation published at or near the decedent's residence, or near where letters were granted for a nonresident decedent
- The legal periodical designated by rule of court for legal notices, if any
The notice must include the personal representative's name and address and request claims and debts to be presented or paid without delay.
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗McKean County Tax Claim Bureau
500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; occasionally closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Tax Claim Bureau page says it collects delinquent real estate taxes for the six school districts, twenty-two municipalities, and the county, plus delinquent per capita taxes for the county only. It receives delinquent information each January from county tax collectors, allows partial payments during the first year in Tax Claim, says claims become absolute at the end of the first year, and describes Upset, Judicial, and Repository sale handling. Use this as tax and delinquency context, not certified payoff or title reporting.
Sources for this page (6)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- mckeancountypa.govhttps://www.mckeancountypa.gov/government/other_elected_officials/register_of_wills___clerk_of_orphans_court/index.php
- mckeancountypa.govhttps://www.mckeancountypa.gov/government/other_elected_officials/register_of_wills___clerk_of_orphans_court/documents___forms.php
- mckeancountypa.govhttps://www.mckeancountypa.gov/RW%20fees%201%2026%202026.pdf?t=202601261446010
- mckeancountypa.govhttps://www.mckeancountypa.gov/OC%20fees%2012%202%202025.pdf?t=202512021103310
- infoconcountyaccess.comhttps://www.infoconcountyaccess.com/countiesandoffices.html
- pacourts.ushttps://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public/orphans-court-forms