Filing & Fees
Fee Schedule Signals
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
Sullivan County grant-of-letters (probate) fees are graduated on the estate value: $20 (not exceeding $1,000), $30 ($1,000 to $5,000), $40 ($5,000 to $10,000), $45 ($10,000 to $20,000), $55 ($20,000 to $30,000), $60 ($30,000 to $40,000), $65 ($40,000 to $50,000), $75 ($50,000 to $75,000), $90 ($75,000 to $100,000), plus $45 for each additional $100,000. A $41.25 JCS fee also applies. A short certificate is $5. Confirm current amounts on the county fee schedule. Source: Sullivan County Register of Wills 2026 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. 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 ↗Recording Fees
- Additional Pages
- $2.00
Documentary Stamps
- Deed Rate
- Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is generally 1% at the state level; Sullivan County recording and transfer-tax handling require current document review before filing.
Sullivan County Tax Claim Bureau
245 Muncy Street, Suite 105, P.O. Box 157, Laporte, PA 18626
The Assessment and Tax Claim page links a delinquent-tax payment form for delinquent taxes only, tax-sale resources, tax collector list, and tax certificate instructions. It says delinquent tax certificates cost $15 and tax statements cost $10, payable to the Sullivan County Tax Claim Bureau, and requests must specify owner names and parcel number. Use this as delinquency, tax-sale, payment, tax-certificate, and local tax-collector routing context, not a certified payoff, title search, sale-status guarantee, or current-year tax collector confirmation.
Sources for this page (6)
The facts above come from these official sources. Verify current details with the office before filing.
- sullivancountypa.govhttps://www.sullivancountypa.gov/offices/prothonotary
- sullivancountypa.govhttps://www.sullivancountypa.gov/phone-directory
- sullivancountypa.govhttps://www.sullivancountypa.gov/s/20251231154343.pdf
- sullivancountypa.govhttps://www.sullivancountypa.gov/s/20260102111546.pdf
- ujsportal.pacourts.ushttps://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Guardianship/Overview
- pacourts.ushttps://www.pacourts.us/forms/for-the-public/orphans-court-forms