Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
Philadelphia County probate is graduated on the estate value, and the total probate fee (which bundles the base fee, family-court tax, filing fees, inventory, inheritance tax, and the state Judicial Computer Project fee) runs from about $174 (estates up to $250) to $370 ($10,001 to $50,000), $475 ($50,001 to $200,000), $685 ($300,001 to $400,000), and $1,315 for the first $1,000,000, plus about $90 for each additional $100,000. A short certificate is $10. Confirm current amounts on the county fee schedule. Source: Philadelphia Register of Wills probate and estate services fee schedule.
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.
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 ↗Philadelphia Department of Revenue
Use Philadelphia Tax Services to look up city tax balances and payment context; verify estate-specific transfer issues separately.
Sources for this page (8)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- phila.govhttps://www.phila.gov/departments/register-of-wills/
- phila.govhttps://www.phila.gov/services/birth-marriage-life-events/death-probate-and-inheritances/begin-the-probate-process-with-a-will/
- phila.govhttps://www.phila.gov/services/birth-marriage-life-events/death-probate-and-inheritances/begin-the-probate-process-without-a-will/
- phila.govhttps://www.phila.gov/services/birth-marriage-life-events/death-probate-and-inheritances/request-probate-records/
- phila.govhttps://www.phila.gov/departments/register-of-wills/resources/
- secureprod.phila.govhttps://secureprod.phila.gov/row/
- courts.phila.govhttps://www.courts.phila.gov/common-pleas/orphans/
- legis.state.pa.ushttps://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/20/00.031.002.000..HTM