Each county in Pennsylvania has a Register of Wills which is tasked with reviewing the Will and death certificate of the deceased and deciding if Letters Testamentary should be issued to the Executor or, if there is no Will, if Letters of Administration should be issued to the Administrator. Some offices can do this review and immediately issue the Letters, others review the information and then issue the letters at a later date. All require the person asking for recognition as an Executor or Administrator to fill out a Petition for Letters and an Estate Information Sheet. They also require photo ID and payment of the filing fee, the fee varies from County to County. In my experience, it is best to go to the Register’s office as early in the morning as possible as the line can get long during the afternoon. Below you will find a list of the Registers in every Pennsylvania County. I find that the people who work in the Register of Wills office are very helpful and are willing to take the time to answer your questions. The Register of Wills is also the Agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and collects the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax form 1500 and the payments towards the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax.

Pennsylvania