Do I Need Probate in Pennsylvania?

Your Starting Point in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court resources are starting points for estate administration. The judiciary provides public forms, but the appropriate procedure and local filing requirements depend on the estate and county. Ask about a small-estate route before assuming a full administration is necessary.

Resource reviewed October 21, 2026. This page does not determine eligibility or state a verified small-estate threshold.

Bring These Questions to the First Conversation

• Which assets are in the estate, and which may pass by another route?
• Does a simplified process apply, and what assets count toward its limit?
• Who can sign the documents or act for the estate?
• What deadlines, creditor steps, taxes, or local forms need attention?
• What are the expected fees and the likely timeline?

If You’re Also Looking for Missing Accounts

The state’s unclaimed-property program is a separate starting point. A search is free, and the agency can explain what documents it needs for a deceased owner.